IGT:ToolKit/Navigation-with-Aurora

Back to IGT:ToolKit

Advanced Slicer3 Navigation Tutorial

Overview:

This tutorial uses an NDI Aurora tracking system to explain how navigation works in Slicer3. It also contains a more advanced description of the OpenIGTLink protocol.

The general IGT navigation system consists of the following components:

• Slicer3 - the base platform
• OpenIGTLink module - a loadable software module plugged into Slicer3
• IGSTK - an interfacing tool for common commercial tracking devices
• A tracking device - such as the NDI Aurora magnetic tracking system

Before you start the advanced tutorial, you should go through the Basic Navigation Tutorial.

Tutorial Materials

• Tutorial slides for the Advanced Navigation Tutorial
• Atlas: download the .zip file from either the SPL-PNL Brain Atlas or the SPL Abdominal Atlas

Required Hardware

• NDI Aurora tracking device with tracked tool
• If your computer does not have a serial port, you will need a Serial-to-USB converter

Software Installation Instructions

Step 1: Install Slicer3

Go to the Slicer3 Install site.

Step 2: Install the OpenIGTLink module and NeuroNav module

OpenIGTLink is a communication protocol used to interface Slicer3 with external devices, such as trackers, imaging devices and robots. OpenIGTLink is currently distributed as a loadable module for Slicer3. NeuroNav is a module for neuro navigation in Slicer3.

• Step 2a: You have the choice of either downloading a precompiled version (binary) OR building it yourself from the source code:
  • Precompiled OpenIGTLink module (for use with Slicer 3.2): Download and unzip.
    • For Windows (32-bit).
    • For Mac OS X (x86).
    • For Linux (x86, 32-bit).
    • For Linux (x86, 64-bit).
  • Building the OpenIGTLink module from source code: Find the instructions here
  • Building the NeuroNav module from source code: Find the instructions here
• Step 2b: Copy the binary into your-slicer3-build(install)-directory/lib/Slicer3/Modules. You should see the OpenIGTLink module and NeuroNav module in the Slicer3 module list once Slicer3 is started.

Step 3: Install IGSTK and IGSTKSandbox

IGSTK is used to acquire tracking data from the NDI Aurora tracking system.

• You have the choice of either downloading a precompiled version (binary) OR building it yourself from the source code:
  • Precompiled IGSTK: Download and unzip - you should find the directory IGSTKSandbox-build
    • For Windows (32-bit).
    • For Mac OS X (x86).
    • For Linux (x86, 32-bit).
    • For Linux (x86, 64-bit).
  • Building IGSTK and IGSTKSandbox from source code: Find the instructions here

People

• Junichi Tokuda
• Haiying Liu
• Nobuhiko Hata
• Danielle Pace