Enterprise imaging and interoperability solution provider Merge Healthcare announced that it will launch its new cloud-based platform in the first quarter of 2012, according to media reports.

Following the announcement at the Radiological Society of North America conference in Chicago, the medical device maker’s shares shot up 22 percent, Reuters reported.

Company officials said its first application in the cloud would allow free sharing of medical images from any web-enabled device. Shares of Merge rose as high as $5.40 on Monday on Nasdaq.

Earlier this month, Merge Healthcare announced its financial and business results for the third quarter of 2011. Revenue grew to $60.1 million ($60.6 million on a pro forma basis) in the quarter, compared to $45.2 million ($48.5 million on a pro forma basis) in the third quarter of 2010 – an increase of 33 percent.

“Our third quarter results reflect the market’s growing need for enterprise imaging solutions, as well as the increase in momentum we’re seeing regarding the adoption of Meaningful Use solutions,” said Jeff Surges, CEO of Merge Healthcare. “With our premier client base, industry-leading solutions and expansion into new markets, we are well-positioned for continued growth in 2012 and beyond.”

In October, Merge Healthcare announced it had selected Dell as a preferred provider of cloud computing services, storage and enterprise hardware products to simplify information access, management and archiving among its portfolio of image interoperability solutions.