OpenIGTLink/Slicer

<< OpenIGTLink

Introduction

The OpenIGTLink module for Slicer 3 provides network communication with various kinds of imaging devices and manipulators that comply OpenIGTLink protocol to support real-time image display, device monitoring and device control. The module works with MRML to exchange coordinate and image data with other clinical modules e.g. NeuroNav and ProstateNav in the Slicer. The module has a dedicated graphical user interface to manage and control multiple connections.

How to Get Started

The OpenIGTLink module is currently available in the svn branch repository named IGT2 (http://www.na-mic.org/svn/Slicer3/branches/IGT2). The module is activated in default configuration and you don't need to change any configuration to use it. The module is being developed on Mac OS X and Linux. It should also work on Windows, but has not sufficiently tested yet.

First, get source code using SVN. On Linux and Mac OS X, run following commands:

$ mkdir <working directory>
$ cd <working directory>
$ svn co http://www.na-mic.org/svn/Slicer3/branches/IGT2 Slicer3

Run building script:

$ cd Slicer3
$ ./Scripts/getbuildtest.tcl

It takes about 20-30 min. to complete the building process (in case of Intel Core 2 Duo 2.0 GHz). Once the building process is completed, you can lunch the Slicer by:

$ cd ..
$ cd Slicer3-build
$ ./Slicer3

How to Test It

You need to have OpenIGTLink server or client. We offer scanner and tracker simulator program, which can be obtained from NA-MIC SandBox.

To get the source code, run following commands:

$ mkdir <working directory>
$ svn co http://www.na-mic.org/svn/NAMICSandBox/trunk/BRPTools BRPTools

Then configure the source code

$ cd BRPTools
$ ccmake .

Usually, you don't need to change any setting. Just press 'c' key to configure followed by 'g' key to generate Makefiles. Press 'q' to quit the ccmake interface. Now you are ready to build the program.

$ make

TODO

• OpenIGTLink Client
  • Most of devices (e.g. MR scanner, robot) are waiting for connection from navigation software
  • Slicer needs GUI interface to set up address/port for OpenIGTLink connection
• Data export through OpenIGTLink
  • Each module send out image/coordinate data through MRML node
    • OpenIGTLink module monitors MRML nodes
• Connection Management Interface on Slicer 3
• Connection to IGSTK
  • IGSTK only supports Tracker Daemon
• Integration with clinical modules
  • NeuroNav
  • ProstateNav

People

• Junichi Tokuda
• Haiying Liu