2016 Summer Project Week/Slicelet For Ultrasound Acquisition

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  Projects List

Key Investigators

• Sarah Frisken
• Prashin Unadkat
• Steve Pieper

Background

Brainlab’s surgical navigation system provides a research interface called "IGTLink" which allows 3D Slicer to acquire images and tracking data via the network. The steps required to do this are documented in http://wiki.slicer.org/slicerWiki/index.php/Documentation/4.3/Modules/OpenIGTLinkRemote/BrainlabTutorial. However, the steps are overly complex for non-programmers. Our goal is to define the functionality requirements, design an intuitive user interface, and prototype a Slicelet that simplifies the process, thereby enabling routine ultrasound data collection in the OR by a resident or medical intern without the need of dedicated technical support.

Project Description

Objective

• Prototype a Slicelet that simplifies and streamlines the steps required to acquire ultrasound data into 3D Slicer via BrainLab’s IGTLink

Approach, Plan

• Before Project Week:
  • Setup 3D Slicer development
  • Study existing Slicelets as examples (e.g., )
• During Project Week:
  • Define functionality requirements, discuss Module vs. Slicelet
  • Design user interface, discuss use of CLI (Python GUI?) vs. loadable (QT?)
  • Consider using an existing Slicelet as a framework or build from scratch
  • Prototype functionality and user interface into the framework

Progress

• Set up Slicer development -- many thanks to Adam Rankin!
• Defined functionality requirements
  • Set up US connection via OpenIGTLink
  • Calibrate ultrasound registration
  • Collect 2D ultrasound sequences
  • Reconstruct 3D ultrasound
  • Preview 3D ultrasound
  • Save 2D and 3D data
• Requirements for User Interface
  • Easy to use by non-technical user
  • Sequential instructions
  • Uncluttered UI
  • Single view for real-time and preview modes
  • Simple, complete instructions on failure (e.g., connection fails)
• Created a simple prototype
  • Used SlicerIGT Example Guidelet -- many thanks to Tamas Ungi!
  • Still much to do, but basic framework is in place