What to know
To minimize variability resulting from different approaches to reading digital chest radiographs, NIOSH funded development of computer software that strictly controls chest image displays for classifying radiographs. This software is called NIOSH BViewer©.
The software
Digital radiography, with its attendant opportunity for image manipulation poses, unique challenges for classification of pneumoconioses. Image manipulation runs counter to the fundamental principles of pneumoconiosis classification. This is where the underlying principle has been the standardization of images and the reading environment. NIOSH BViewer© provides a standardized approach to displaying and classifying digital chest images and is free to download.
Disclaimer
The NIOSH BViewer© software is provided to support health care practitioners in their management of digital posterior-anterior radiographic chest images used in occupational medical monitoring programs. The software is only intended to assist the user in assembling and organizing the information required to make medical decisions and cannot be substituted for competent and informed professional judgment. To assure appropriate utilization of this software, users need to adhere to accepted professional standards and applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations regarding the collection, display, storage, transfer, and interpretation of medical images. NIOSH does not warrant the reliability or accuracy of the software, graphics, or text.
Software requirements
The NIOSH BViewer software is designed to run on a personal computer running Windows 10 and newer. It should be run on a computer system with three display monitors:
-Primary Monitor: The Windows desktop monitor for displaying the Control Panel, the Standard Image Selector Panel and the Report Display Window.
-Medical Display Monitor #1: A calibrated high-resolution monitor for displaying the Standard Image Display Window.
-Medical Display Monitor #2: A calibrated high-resolution monitor for displaying the Subject Study Display Window.
The two medical display monitors should be arranged side-by-side to facilitate comparing the subject study image with the various standard images.
Computer and monitor requirements
Computer
-CPU: dual-core (or better) running at 3 Gigahertz (or better).
-Memory: 16 Gigabytes of ram (or better).
-PCI Express: At least 1 slot for a PCI Express 3.0 x 16 graphics controller card.
-Hard Drive: 150 Gigabytes of storage (or better).
-CD/DVD Drive (if needed): Able to read image files on a removable CD or DVD platter.
-USB 2 Ports: Able to read image file on a removable flash drive.
-Network Adapter: A high-speed network adapter card or motherboard connector.
-Mouse: Should have a left and right button and a wheel, or equivalent.
-Keyboard.
-Desktop Display Monitor: A conventional color display panel about 20-inch diameter or greater.
Medical Display Monitors
-Grayscale depth: 10-bit or better
-Resolution: 3MP (5MP preferred)
-Brightness: 171 cd/m2
-Contrast ratio: 250:1 cd/m2
-Graphics Controller: High performance controller that supports Open GL 4.3 or greater.
Readers should use two side-by-side flat panel color-matched diagnostic quality medical displays. They should be capable of monochrome display and compliant with the DICOM® Grayscale Standard Display Function (GSDF) standard. Viewing devices should be the identical make and model. Color displays may be used if the devices adhere to the above specifications.
The NIOSH BViewer can function with fewer than three display monitors and with less than 10-bit grayscale resolution. In this situation, image quality and reading facility will be reduced. Ordinary display monitors typically support only 8-bit grayscale. This leads to a reduction to 256 distinct shades of gray from the optimum 1024 shades.
Display and graphic specifications
NIOSH does not recommend specific brands or models of hardware to use with NIOSH BViewer software. We advise using sufficiently powerful computers running the Windows operating system. Computers should be equipped with appropriate graphics cards for users' medical display monitors. Ideally, three displays should be used - two for viewing images and one conventional display for operating the software.
The configuration below works with the NIOSH BViewer and is able to display 10-bit images (up to 1024 shades of gray). Please inform NIOSH if you find additional configurations that work well for this application.
Graphic Controllers
-Nvidia Quadro T1000, AMD Radeon 6700, Barco MXRT 5600 and 6700
-Discontinued Nvidia cards, but still compatible: Quadro FX1700, FX3700, 2000D, K2000D, P2000, P2200
Portrait Dual Medical Diagnostic Monitors
- Double Black Imaging M5MPn, C5MPn
- Eizo GX 550 (5MP grayscale)
- Eizo RX 540 (5MP color)
- Barco Nio Color 5MP
- Barco Nio 5MP grayscale
Landscape Single Medical Diagnostic Monitors
- Double Black Imaging (Image Systems) Gemini Series 12MP and 8MP
- Eizo RadiForce 850 (8MP color)
- Barco Coronis Uniti (12 MP color)
Download BViewer©
NIOSH BViewer software version 1.2n (February 2020)
NIOSH would be pleased to receive feedback on the NIOSH BViewer©. Send an email to cwhsp@cdc.gov if you have comments on its performance, utility, or installation.