IGT:ToolKit/Navigation-tutorial
Back to IGT:ToolKit
Contents
Overview:
This tutorial uses a tracking simulator to explain how navigation works in Slicer3.
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
The tracking simulator simulates the tracking device and the IGSTK interfacing software.
Those wishing to connect a real tracking system to Slicer3 should see the Advanced Navigation Tutorial.
Tutorial Materials
- Tutorial slides for the Basic Navigation Tutorial
- Atlas: download the .zip file from either the SPL-PNL Brain Atlas or the SPL Abdominal Atlas
- Tool model (right-click to download)
Software Installation Instructions
Step 1: Install Slicer3
Go to the Slicer3 Stable Release site, or download directly from the following links.
http://www.slicer.org/DownloadSlicer.php/Nightly
- and download Slicer3-3.2.2008-06-06-win32.exe For Windows (32-bit).
- Slicer3-3.2.2008-06-06-darwin-x86.tar.gz for Mac OS X (x86).
- Slicer3-3.2.2008-06-06-linux-x86.tar.gz for for Linux (x86, 32-bit).
- Slicer3-3.2.2008-06-06-linux-x86_64.tar.gz for Linux (x86, 64-bit).
Step 2: Install the OpenIGTLink 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.
- 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.
- Building the OpenIGTLink 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 in the Slicer3 module list once Slicer3 is started.
Step 3: Install the tracker simulator
The tracking simulator will be used to generate and send fake tracking data to Slicer3.
- You have the choice of either downloading a precompiled version (binary) OR building it yourself from the source code:
- Precompiled tracking simulator: Download and unzip.
- Building the tracker simulator from source code: Find the instructions here
