What does PIPSpro do? Using PIPSpro you can import digital images and apply a wide range of image processing techniques, most of them specially developed or adapted for the requirements of portal images, which typically exhibit low contrast, limited SNR, and low spatial resolution. Image processing is very simple, allowing you to enhance image contrast, improve high frequency response, reduce noise, improve the visual display of anatomical features, and save the processed images. PIPSpro has numerous algorithms for image enhancement, with many adjustable parameters, and a "macro" facility that permits you to preselect a series of operations, which can then be launched with a single command when routine analysis is being performed. Tools are provided for measurements of distances, gray levels, profiles, histograms, and so on. Notes can be attached to images to communicate instructions or observations between different users or sites. A major feature is the registration of portal images with a reference image to determine the extent of any patient setup errors or field displacements.

What about image size, bits and other technical stuff? PIPSpro will import EPI images from the Varian PortalVision, Varian aS500, Eliav PORTpro, Philips SRI-100, Elekta iView, Elekta iViewGT, Siemens Beamview^PLUS, Theraview and TargetView, as well as uncompressed MR and CT images and Varian CT images (compressed). PIPSpro will also open 8-bit image files with extensions *.bmp (BITMAP), *.tif (uncompressed TIFF) and *.jpg (compressed JPEG), as well as images conforming to the DICOM, PPM, CART, and POSEIDON standards. PIPSpro will import 8-bit and 16-bit images with most formats by setting the image size and dynamic range, and selecting the byte order and sign convention. PIPSpro is essentially an 8-bit system, so that 16-bit images are converted to 8-bit by selecting the operational bit planes (e.g. 0-11 for a 12-bit signal) and optionally truncating the maximum and minimum data values before conversion. Most image processing operations are performed on the 8-bit images, although some routines operate on the original 16-bit data, while displaying the 8-bit image for operator review. Images can be saved as 8-bit *.bmp, *.jpg and *.tif files. The matrix size is limited only by the available memory in your computer.

What hardware/software do I need? PIPSpro will work on any standard Pentium PC running under Windows 9x/Me/NT/2000/XP. No special hardware is required, but you need at least 32 MB RAM. We recommend 256 colors, at least 1024x768 pixel display, and a 3-button mouse. PIPSpro is a software product, and no frame buffers or film digitizers are provided, so you will need to digitize films on an external film digitizer, and import the files to PIPSpro over a LAN or by floppy disk.

How does PIPSpro handle image registration (matching)? Registration of a reference and a treatment image can be performed by template alignment, chamfer matching, or by a 2-dimensional rigid-body least squares analysis of selected fiducial points. In all cases the prescribed and treated field contours, after matching, are displayed as overlaid colored lines or as images of regret. Quantitative analysis is provided of in-plane translation and rotation of the patient relative to the treatment field, even when the reference and treatment images have arbitrary orientations and scaling factors. Tools for image comparison include algebraic and Boolean operations, VU-THRU, and CopyCat.

How do you control the color palette? Images are displayed with an 8-bit colour look-up-table (LUT), which can be edited by the user to provide any combination of the red, green and blue color palettes. LUTs can be saved and retrieved, and recalled automatically when the image is viewed at a later time. Standard interactive windowing is provided, and selected windowing parameters can be attached to individual images.

Can I incorporate my own software? Yes, user-supplied software can be run directly from the PIPSpro window, so you can apply your own processing routines to any images displayed by PIPSpro. Detailed instructions and sample programs are provided.

What optional modules are available with PIPSpro? Several optional modules provide specialized applications: Quality Control consists of 3 applications - QC of an EPID using a special QC phantom, checking light field - radiation field alignment, and automatic analysis of star shots from film or from an EPID. Dosimetry converts grey scale pixel values to dose, permitting profiles, isodose plots, and so on in dose units. Movie displays sequences of images as a movie loop, providing invaluable information on patient movement and setup errors. Dewarp corrects images suffering from spatial distortion. Stereo provides QA for stereotactic radiosurgery. DRR computes digital reconstructed radiographs from CT data sets. Phantoms are not included in the price of a PIPSpro license.

What kind of documentation do you provide? There is a Help button on the PIPSpro screen that provides detailed context-sensitive instructions. Clicking on function key F1 from any menu item will display the appropriate help page. A detailed User's Guide explains the operation of each menu, and includes training tutorials to assist the new user in getting acquainted with the system. Numerous images are provided to allow you to learn how to open, process, register, and save them, before you start using your own images. Technical Notes are provided which include detailed information on some of the algorithms and technical considerations. A 39-minute training video is supplied to all users (available in English or French). We don't have a 24-hour "hot line", but we will try to assist registered users by phone, fax or e-mail with any questions or concerns.

What are your plans for further development? We have an active development program, and new routines are being included in PIPSpro on a regular basis, often as a result of suggestions made by users. We see the development of PIPSpro as a collaborative venture with the users, and will try to include new features as the need arises.

What won't PIPSpro do? Since PIPSpro works on 2-dimensional images, usually in 8 bits, it cannot give 3-D graphical representation of multi-slice data sets and will not register 3D images. PIPSpro will not process or export 16-bit images, although they can be imported and converted to 8-bit images for processing. PIPSpro can open DICOM files which have been saved to disk, or are "pushed" from a remote node using the PIPSpro Dicom Server Utility. There are no audio capabilities. There is no database in PIPSpro for organizing the images from Beamview, PortalVision, Theraview, or PORTpro by patient, fraction, or field (although a data base interface is available for the Elekta iView). PIPSpro will not run on UNIX workstations or Macs.

How is PIPSpro distributed? PIPSpro is distributed with an end-user license for use either on a single computer, or for use on several computers at the same site. For many countries we have local distributors who can provide demonstrations, technical information, and price quotations.

How do I get more information? For detailed information see PIPSpro Introduction, Tools, Image Processing, Specifications, Applications, Publications, PIPS Users and FAQ ( Frequently Asked Questions ).