Information Technology Reference
In-Depth Information
8 Open-Source Software Tools for Rapid System
Development
The complexity of image-guided needle navigation systems requires continuous
software development and maintenance. Regular tasks include
fixing errors, adding
features, modifying the user interface, and adding support for new imaging and
tracking hardware. Reliable software requires so much resources that it can only be
achieved through a collaborative common platform that is shared between research
groups and commercial partners. A medical engineering research group, or a
medical device company would not develop a computer operating system, a pro-
gramming language, or a computer graphics library. Similarly, they do not need to
spend efforts on re-implementing device interfaces, calibration algorithms, or
visualization methods, etc. To maximize productivity, they should focus on
implementing new methods, building on previous results. Unfortunately previous
results are typically published in journal and conference papers, which are not
suitable to archive software methods. These publication are most effective if they
are accompanied by an implementation of the published methods in an open-source
software platform.
A commonly used software platform for tracked ultrasound system consists of
two main parts (Fig.
10
). The Public Software Library for Ultrasound Research
(PLUS) implements lower level software components, including device interfaces,
Spinal tumor
ablation
Needle
guidance
Pedicle screw
placement
Spinal curvature
assessment
SlicerIGT
...
Perk Tutor
Ultrasound snapshots
Transform recorder
SlicerRT
3D Slicer
3D Slicer extension manager
Registration: point -based, image-
based, rigid/deformable
Segmentation
...
Visualization: image fusion,
surface/volume rendering, ...
OpenIGTLink
VTK, ITK, CTK, QT, DCMTK, …
PLUS
Calibration, ultrasound simulation,
volume reconstruction, …
OpenIGTLink
Video interface
Tracker interface
software
hardware
Ultrasound / video
Tracker system
CT/MRI scanners
Robots, needle guides
Fig. 10 Architecture overview of image-guided spinal disease diagnosis and treatment systems
made from reusable software components
