Image processing software increases the visibility of catheters

Agfa HealthCare’s has developed an image processing software called MUSICA2 that increases the visibility of catheters and other low contrast, tube-like structures in digital radiology.

Radiographic evaluation of peripherally-inserted central catheter (PICC) line placement has always been a challenging aspect of critically-ill patient care, so MUSICA2’s advanced image processing capabilities make the process much easier for the clinician and the patient, said Greg Cefalo, US Digital Imaging Unit Business Manager, Agfa HealthCare.

"Dense areas in the radiograph and/or complex anatomical structures can easily mask the PICC line, making it difficult and time consuming to verify the exact placement,” he said in the press release. “We've created a special version of MUSICA2 image processing that instantly enhances the catheter detail, causing the line to pop in the image and be clearly identified; this eliminates time-consuming re-processing and more importantly, can reduce the need for additional patient exposures."

Propriety image processing algorithms in the software are tuned to enhance the visibility of the catheter in a way that improves edge and tip detection. It shows soft tissue and boney detail in a single image across the entire dynamic range, without having to make manual adjustments. The software then creates a second image with the enhanced detail so there is little or no need for manual reprocessing, which not only saves time, but also lowers the patient dose and exposure.

In addition, MUSICA2 software analyzes the characteristics of each image and optimizes by the processing independent of user input and exposure levels. It is also unaffected by the presence of collimation of X-ray exposure in the image background.

View the Agfa HealthCare press release.

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