Apteryx XrayVision

Apteryx XrayVision is a family of dental X-ray imaging programs from Apteryx Imaging, now part of Planet DDS, used to capture and store images from almost any brand of sensor, phosphor plate scanner or panoramic unit. It is commercial software with no free edition or viewer. Before you look for an “Apteryx XrayVision download”, you should know that the classic desktop product, XrayVision version 4, has been discontinued; only the enterprise product XrayVision DCV and the cloud service XVWeb are still maintained.

Planet DDS acquired Apteryx in 2020. In June 2021 it announced the sunset of XrayVision 4 for private offices: the last sale was at the end of 2021, support ended on 31 December 2022, and the registration server went offline on 1 June 2023. XrayVision DCV (DICOM Capture View), aimed at large organisations, was explicitly excluded from that sunset. This page explains both products honestly and what existing users can do.

Apteryx XrayVision at a glance

What it does

• Captures images from a very wide range of devices through extensions: Planet DDS lists drivers for Acteon, Air Techniques ScanX, Carestream, Gendex/DEXIS, Planmeca, Schick, Sirona (Sidexis XG and Sidexis 4+), Vatech, XDR and many other sensors, scanners and pans.
• Organises images into anatomical layouts (“progressions”) so full-mouth series and bitewings are placed automatically.
• XrayVision DCV stores images in DICOM and can work as a standalone enterprise PACS or as a capture station that forwards images to an existing PACS.
• Supports DICOM Modality Worklists, so patient data can come from a scheduling or hospital system.
• Imports CBCT (CT Importer), STL files and ordinary images, and can export CBCT/3D data as DICOM.
• Includes utilities such as a print layout editor, a progression editor and a disk burner.
• The cloud successor XVWeb adds browser access, AI analysis of X-rays, CBCT and STL viewing with implant planning tools, and offsite backup.

How dental teams use it

Keep an old XrayVision 4 system running safely

1. Do not reinstall it on a new PC: since June 2023 XrayVision 4 can no longer be registered on a new server.
2. Keep the existing server and its backups intact and isolated as far as your IT policy allows.
3. Plan the move: Planet DDS offers an upgrade path from XrayVision 4 to XVWeb.

Capture with XrayVision DCV in a multi-site organisation

1. Install the hardware extension for each device type from the current downloads list.
2. Select the patient from the worklist or enter data manually, then choose a progression.
3. Expose the images; DCV files them into the layout and forwards them to the central store or PACS.

Send a CBCT to a colleague

1. Open the patient in XVCapture or XrayVision DCV.
2. Use the DICOM CBCT/3D export described in the Apteryx knowledge base.
3. Send the DICOM set; the recipient can open it in any DICOM viewer.

Install and first run

• Installers, upgraders and device extensions are listed on Planet DDS’s Apteryx support site for licensed customers. The current list offers XrayVision DCV 3.5.6 and XVCapture upgraders plus device drivers mostly in the 11.x and 12.x series.
• Planet DDS’s published requirements for XrayVision DCV are old (32- or 64-bit Windows XP SP2 to Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, including Terminal Services and Citrix), with 4 GB RAM and a 2 GHz processor recommended. For current Windows versions and server sizing, contact Apteryx support.
• Server size for DCV depends on database growth and the number of simultaneous users.
• Whitelist the Apteryx programs in antivirus software, as the support site recommends.

Limitations

• XrayVision 4 is end-of-life: no new licences, no support and no registration on new servers.
• XrayVision 4 was a 32-bit program and, unlike Apteryx’s later products, was not built on the DICOM standard.
• XrayVision DCV has not had a new build since 3.5.6 in late 2022, while development focuses on XVWeb.
• No free viewer: colleagues need DICOM or image exports.
• The recommended successor, XVWeb, is a paid cloud service that needs an internet connection for most work (it offers an offline capture mode).

Apteryx XrayVision vs alternatives

Apteryx’s main advantage has always been device independence: one program for sensors and pans from many brands. Vendor suites such as DEXIS Imaging Suite, Sidexis 4 and CS Imaging work best with their own hardware, although DEXIS also accepts third-party sensors. Former VixWin users face a similar choice between a vendor suite and a device-agnostic system. For organisations that need a free, open-source DICOM archive behind their capture stations, dcm4che is a common building block.

FAQ

Can I still download Apteryx XrayVision?

Not for new installations of XrayVision 4: sales ended in 2021 and new registrations stopped in June 2023. XrayVision DCV upgraders are available to licensed enterprise customers through Planet DDS support.

What is Apteryx XrayVision DCV?

DCV stands for DICOM Capture View. It is Apteryx’s enterprise, DICOM-based system for capturing, storing and viewing dental images across many sites, and it can act as a PACS or feed an existing one.

Is Apteryx XrayVision free?

No. All Apteryx products are commercial. There is no free viewer or demo download.

What replaced XrayVision 4?

Planet DDS recommends XVWeb, its cloud-based imaging platform, and offers existing XrayVision clients an upgrade path.

Does XrayVision still work after the end of support?

According to Planet DDS, XrayVision 4 keeps running after the end-of-support date, but it cannot be registered or installed on a new server, and it no longer receives fixes.

Which sensors does Apteryx support?

The current downloads list includes extensions for most major brands, including Carestream, Gendex/DEXIS, Planmeca, Schick, Sirona and Vatech, plus TWAIN capture for other devices.

Last checked against official sources: 28 September 2026 (developer website: planetdds.com). Versions and licence terms change — confirm on the developer's site before deploying in a clinic.