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                                                                  Exhibit 10.22

                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

         THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into as of this 1st day of February,
1998, by and between Vital Images, Inc. (the "Company") and Douglas M. Pihl (the
"Executive").

                              W I T N E S S E T H :

         WHEREAS, the Company desires to retain the services of the Executive in
the capacity of President and Chief Executive Officer and the Executive hereby
accepts and agrees to such employment, subject to the supervision of the Board
of Directors of the Company (the "Board") and the further terms and conditions
set forth herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained
herein, the sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto
agree as follows:


         1.   EMPLOYMENT. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein
              contained, the Company hereby employs the Executive as President
              or in such other capacity as may be determined from time to time
              by the Board, and the Executive hereby accepts such employment.

         2.   SALARY. In exchange for the provision of services, the Executive
              shall receive an annual salary in the amount of One Hundred Twenty
              Thousand Dollars ($120,000.00) (the "Salary") payable in
              accordance with the Company's payment practices. The Salary may be
              adjusted in such manner as the Board deems appropriate.

         3.   BENEFITS. Except as the Board may otherwise provide, Executive
              shall be entitled to participate in any life insurance, health
              insurance, dental insurance, disability insurance or any other
              fringe benefit plan which the Company may from time to time make
              available to its salaried senior executives. Any of such benefits
              may be modified or withdrawn by the Company in its discretion to
              the extent the same are withdrawn or modified or supplemented for
              other employees similarly situated.

         4.   DISCRETIONARY BONUS. The Executive may from time to time receive a
              bonus in the sole discretion of the Board.

         5.   VACATION. Executive shall be entitled to as many days paid
              vacation per calendar year as he wishes to take; provided,
              however, that the Executive complies with Section 7 of this
              Agreement.

         6.   EXPENSES. The Company shall reimburse the Executive for all
              reasonable expenses properly incurred by the Executive in the
              discharge of his duties hereunder upon production of evidence
              therefor.

         7.   SERVICES; DUTIES. Executive shall have the normal duties,
              responsibilities and authority of a Chief Executive Officer,
              subject to the power of the Company's Board of Directors to expand
              or limit such duties, responsibilities and authority. The
              Executive shall devote as much of his time and effort to the
              business of the Company as is required to perform his duties and
              responsibilities hereunder in a satisfactory manner. The Executive
              shall perform the duties and obligations required of the Executive
              hereunder in a competent, efficient and satisfactory manner at
              such hours and under such conditions as the performance of such
              duties and obligations may require.

         8.   CONFIDENTIALITY AND LOYALTY. Executive acknowledges that,
              during the course of his employment he will produce and have
              access to materials, records, data and information not
              generally available to the public regarding the Company, its
              customers and affiliates (collectively "Confidential
              Information"). Accordingly, during and subsequent to the
              termination of this Agreement, Executive shall hold in
              confidence and not directly or indirectly disclose, use, copy
              or make lists of any Confidential Information, except to the
              extent authorized in writing by the Company, or as required by

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              law or any competent administrative agency or as otherwise is
              reasonably necessary or appropriate in connection with the
              performance by Executive of his duties pursuant to this
              Agreement. Upon termination of his employment under this
              Agreement, Executive shall promptly deliver to the Company (i)
              all records, manuals, books, documents, client lists, letters,
              reports, data, tables, calculations and all copies of any of
              the foregoing which are the property of the Company or which
              relate in any way to the business or practices of the Company,
              and (ii) all other property of the Company and Confidential
              Information which in any of these cases are in his possession
              or under his control.

         9.   REMEDIES. Executive agrees and understands that any breach of
              any of the covenants or agreements set forth in Section 8 of
              this Agreement will cause the Company irreparable harm for
              which there is no adequate remedy at law, and, without
              limiting whatever other rights and remedies the Company may
              have under this Agreement, Executive consents to the issuance
              of an injunction in favor of the Company enjoining the breach
              of any of the aforesaid covenants or agreements by any court
              of competent jurisdiction. If any or all of the aforesaid
              covenants or agreements are held to be unenforceable because
              of the scope or duration of such covenant or agreement, the
              parties agree that the court making such determination shall
              have the power to reduce or modify the scope and/or duration
              of such covenant to the extent that allows the maximum scope
              and/or duration permitted by applicable law.

         10.  AT-WILL EMPLOYMENT. The Executive shall be employed on an at-will
              basis, and not for any definite term. The Executive or the Company
              may terminate the employment relationship at any time, for any or
              no reason, upon 10 days' notice to the other party.

         11.  SURVIVING RIGHTS. Notwithstanding the termination of the
              Executive's employment, the parties shall be required to carry out
              any provisions hereof which contemplate performance subsequent to
              such termination; and such termination shall not affect any
              liability or other obligation which shall have accrued prior to
              such termination, including, but not limited to, any liability for
              loss or damage on account of a prior default.

         12.  NOTICES. All notices, requests, and other communications shall be
              in writing and except as otherwise provided herein, shall be
              considered to have been delivered if personally delivered or when
              deposited in the United States Mail, first class, certified or
              registered, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, addressed
              to the proper party at its address as set forth below, or to such
              other address as such party may hereafter designate by written
              notice to the other party:

              (a) If to the Company, to:           Vital Images, Inc.
                                                   West Lake Street - Suite 100
                                                   Minneapolis, MN  55416-4510
                                                   ATTN:   Greg Furness

                         With a copy to:           Richard A. Hoel
                                                   Winthrop & Weinstine, P.A.
                                                   Dain Rauscher Plaza
                                                   60 South Sixth Street
                                                   Minneapolis, MN 55402

                (b) If to Executive, to:           Douglas M. Pihl
                                                   REX Capital Partners
                                                   520 Marquette Avenue
                                                   Suite 900
                                                   Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

         13.  WAIVER, MODIFICATION OR AMENDMENT. No waiver, modification or
              amendment of any term, condition or provision of this Agreement
              shall be valid or of any effect unless made in writing, signed by
              the party to be bound or its duly authorized representative and
              specifying with particularity 

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              the nature and extent of such waiver, modification or
              amendment. Any waiver by any party of any default of the other
              shall not affect or impair any right arising from any
              subsequent default. Nothing herein shall limit the rights and
              remedies of the parties hereto under and pursuant to this
              Agreement, except as set forth above.

         14.  ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement contains the entire understanding
              of the parties hereto in respect of transactions contemplated
              hereby and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
              between the parties with respect to such subject matter.

         15.  INTERPRETATION. The provisions of this Agreement shall be applied
              and interpreted in a manner consistent with each other so as to
              carry out the purposes and intent of the parties hereto, but if
              for any reason any provision hereof is determined to be
              unenforceable or invalid, such provision or such part thereof as
              may be unenforceable or invalid shall be deemed severed from this
              Agreement and the remaining provisions shall be carried out with
              the same force and effect as if the severed provision or part
              thereof had not been a part of this Agreement.

         16.  GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed and enforced in
              accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota.

         17.  ASSIGNMENT. Executive acknowledges that Executive's services are
              unique and personal. Accordingly, Executive may not assign
              Executive's rights or delegate Executive's duties or obligations
              under this Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
              and be enforceable by the Company and any successor or permitted
              assignee, and may be assigned by the Company to any purchaser of
              all or substantially all of the Company's business or assets (by
              merger, sale of assets, consolidation, acquisition of stock or
              otherwise) without the consent of Executive, and may otherwise be
              assigned by the Company only with Executive's consent.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the day and year first above written.


                                            VITAL IMAGES, INC.


                                            By:    /s/ GREGORY S. FURNESS
                                                   Its: CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER



                                            EXECUTIVE:


                                            /s/ DOUGLAS M. PIHL
                                            Douglas M. Pihl

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