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Reading FilmX Picture Files?

Posted by Cliff on from the accessing-unconventional-file-types dept.

bzlman asks: "I just broke my finger and instead of conventional x-rays, the ER gave me a CD with huge picture files on it from the company called FilmX from sorna.com. Unfortunately, the software to read the pics is for Windows, and the file type for the images (each about 10 MB) is 'command line' (the files are of no conventional type). I've tried opening the files with every image program for Mac OS X and Classic, to no avail. These are high quality images I want to see, and I hope someone can help me find a Mac OS X way to view them. Thanks."

12 of 71 comments (clear)

  1. The wonders of searching VT by RalphBNumbers · · Score: 5, Informative

    Hmm... their homepage says they are "a dicom solution".

    A versiontracker search for "dicom" under MacOSX returns these programs.

    Or you could just use the ubiquitous GraphicConverter which handles just about everything, including dicom images iirc.

    --
    "The worst tyrannies were the ones where a governance required its own logic on every embedded node." - Vernor Vinge
  2. Is this a joke? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Informative

    It says on the freakin' link you supplied what the format is: DICOM

    Use Google and find plenty of viewers (ImageMagick works, for instance).

    It would've taken you less typing then your slashdot story.

  3. Virtual PC by macrealist · · Score: 1, Informative

    The viewer is on the CD. Not the best solution, but Virtual PC should allow you to view it.

    --
    I am living proof of the Peter Principle
  4. Try raw image loader by Rikus · · Score: 3, Informative

    I know nothing about the specific file format being used here, but the fact that the images are quite large might suggest that they contain an uncompressed representation of the image data, possibly viewable with a raw image data loader (such as the GIMP plugin called raw.c).
    Of course, even if that is the case, it might not be possible to get a decent picture from it, but it's worth a shot.

  5. use iRad or Osirix by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    the pictures may be in DICOM format, which is the standard for radiographic images. Either of these programs will read that format and allow you to manipulate the image series.

    1. Re:use iRad or Osirix by eyv · · Score: 5, Informative

      I'll be a karma whore. Here is a page of information and links to some free viewers.

    2. Re:use iRad or Osirix by Smurf · · Score: 3, Informative

      Yes, judging from the web page, the pictures appear to be in DICOM format. If so, I highly recommend OsiriX, an extremely cool, free, open source (GPL), DICOM viewer and PACS workstation/server that happens to be Mac only.

      There are other programs that will open DICOM files, like the NIH's ImageJ. There are other cool, free medical image viewers for Mac and other systems (MRIcro comes to mind). And there are professional tools that spank OsiriX's ass, but cost over $70,000. But I have seen nothing for a reasonable price that is as good and as easy to use as OsiriX. Make sure you give it a look!

    3. Re:use iRad or Osirix by Midnight+Thunder · · Score: 3, Informative

      There are a few more for OS X:

      Escape Medical Viewer
      DreamFird aka jBoxView
      iRad

      More search results here and here . So in this regards you have your choice of solutions. I think even GraphicsConverter might be able to view the images, but not the associated data.

      --
      Jumpstart the tartan drive.
  6. 'Command line' huh. by cbiffle · · Score: 3, Informative

    I have to assume you checked the type of the file by pointing at it in the Finder.

    Pull up a Terminal and enter 'file name-of-one-of-the-files' without the quotes. It will tell you.

    It's likely to say DICOM Medical Imaging Data, but we'll see.

    Search for a reader for the format it suggests.

  7. openrad.com to the rescue! by whiteSanjuro · · Score: 5, Informative

    what you are looking for is an open-source DICOM Viewer. OpenRad is a great source for open source radiology projects and information.

  8. Osirix: open/free cocoa DICOM viewer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    Many programs will view DICOM files these days, even the most excellent and venerable ImageMagik. Osirix is an excellent tool for visualising and analysing medical images, volumetric data, and will let you manipulate the data, view in 3D and all sorts of funky things.

  9. iRad will do the Trick!!! by tommyleebyron · · Score: 1, Informative

    http://irad.sourceforge.net/