Mirth (software)
Mirth is an open source cross-platform HL7 interface engine that enables bi-directional sending of HL7 messages between systems and applications over multiple transports available under the Mozilla Public License (MPL) 1.1 license.
Background
HL7 has established itself as a standard in healthcare information exchange. In order for an electronic health record system to integrate or exchange data with HL7 systems, an adapter layer must be implemented to transform messages.
Mirth allows messages to be filtered, transformed, and routed based on user-defined rules. A web-based interface and channel creation wizard associates applications with Mirth engine components.
Mirth uses a channel-based architecture to connect systems with other HL7 systems. Channels consist of endpoints (both inbound and outbound), filters, and transformers. Multiple filters and a chain of transformers can be associated with a channel. The Mirth web interface allows for reuse of filters and transformers on multiple channels.
Endpoints are used to configure connections and their protocol details. Inbound endpoints are used to designate the type of listener to use for incoming messages, such as TCP/IP or a web service. Outbound endpoints are used to designate the destination of outgoing messages, such as an application server, a JMS queue, or a database.
Connector varieties
Mirth Connect can listen to and send HL7 messages and connect to a variety of protocols:
- TCP/MLLP
- Database (MYSQL, Postgres, Oracle, MS SQL, ODBC)
- File (local file system and network shares)/PDF
- JMS
- FTP/SFTP
- SOAP (over HTTP)
An open architecture allows for the easy addition of custom and legacy interfaces.
Types of transforms
- Mapping transformer: map data from incoming message to variables
- Script transformer: execute custom script on message (Ex. JavaScript, Python, Tcl)
- HL7 message generator: construct HL7 messages from data source
- XSLT transformer: run XSL Transformations on incoming HL7 v3 or XML encoded messages
Supported OS's
Mirth supports all major operating systems (requires Sun Java 1.5/5.0 or later).
Logging
All messages and transactions are logged to an internal database. Mirth can be configured to auto-generate an HL7 acknowledgement response (ACK).
Engine
Mirth is based on the open source Mule ESB engine to provide speed, stability and security in a flexible environment
Adopters
The Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology (CCHIT), in a push to ensure interoperability standards between electronic health records, has adopted Laika, an open source standards software program. At the 2009 HIMSS, Mirth, was selected as one of the testing tools for the coming interoperability tests.