AHM2012-Slicer-Introduction

Capabilities

Slicer4 is now faster and better than Slicer3 in almost every way:

• Better volume rendering (GPU support on Mac)
• Faster slice rendering and better link behavior
• Better GUI toolkit
• All python (plus newer vtk python bindings and, soon, SimpleITK python)
• Improved diffusion capabilities
• DICOM Networking

But, not all modules have been ported, notably: IA_FEMesh, FetchMI, QueryAtlas, PET/CT Fusion, IGT Modules (OpenIGTLink, NeuroNav, ProstateNav, Collect Patient Fiducials, IGT Tool Selector), 4D Image, Surface Toolbox.

Also several extensions need to be ported: VMTK, ABC, ARTIC, EMFiberCluster, FuzzySegmentation, GAMBIT, GTRACT, HammerRegistration, LabelDiameterEstimation, LesionSegmentation, plastimatch, Spine Segmentation...

Release Schedule

• 3D Slicer version 4.0 was released for RSNA 2011 (late November).
• 3D Slicer version 4.0.1 was released for Winter Project Week (January 2012)

Upcoming release schedule to be finalized, but roughly:

• 3D Slicer version 4.2 before 2012 Summer Project Week
• 3D Slicer version 4.4 before 2013 Winter Project Week

Goals

Now that foundation is in place, several important next steps:

• Ruggedize core (Volume Rendering, DICOM, Annotations, Editor...)
• Make Extensions a way of life
  • Factor out big modules from Core
  • Simplify download and update of extensions
• Migrate more of the remaining slicer3 functionality to slicer4

Ongoing Slicer4 Projects and Collaborations

• NAC is a key supporting grant, and has been a vehicle for much ARRA supplement support
  • Qt Port
  • Annotations
  • Registration Use Case Library
  • EMSegmenter
  • Workflows
• NCIGT is a key developer of IGT functionality
• CTK is an international collaboration for DICOM, Qt expertise, and Application Hosting
• Collaboration Grants several successful applications have been funded and have contributed important code to slicer. Several more applications are being submitted for the February submission deadline.