FDA Clears Riverain’s Chest X-ray Software

Riverain Technologies has received FDA 510(k) clearance for software aimed at improving clarity of conventional chest X-rays, the company announced.

ClearRead + Confirm also allows radiologists to confirm the proper placement of tubes, lines, and wires, the company said. Portable chest X-ray machines, typically used to confirm line and tube placement, doesn’t have high quality images, and radiologists spend time adjusting the machines to make the edges stand out.

This software increases the readability of the chest X-ray by selectively increasing contrast and suppressing the clavicles and ribs in the image, removing items that could obscure visibility of the lines and tubes.

A Georgetown University reader study assessed the time it took radiologists to locate PICC lines, nasogastric tubes, and wires that conduct or measure electrical impulses. Ten radiologists reviewed 334 X-rays with and without the software, and the software reduced the reading time by 19 percent, according to the company.