Save Time and Increase Productivity with Latest Simpleware Release N-2018.03

Posted on 12 March 2018 by Jessica James

We are pleased to announce the release of the latest version of Simpleware software which includes many exciting new features and performance improvements. For more information, please contact us at simpleware@synopsys.com 

Simpleware Latest Release

Version N-2018.03 significantly enhances Simpleware ease-of-use and reliability as a comprehensive solution for all your 3D image processing and analysis workflows. New features include:

Improvements to 3D Image Visualization, Processing and Segmentation

Registration of Multiple Image Datasets

Automatic import and alignment of datasets (e.g. co-registration of MRI and CT scans of the same patient anatomy, or of multiple MRI scans in different orientations). The tool can be used in multiple modes, with automatic greyscale based snapping to improve the registration.

Combining MRI and CT data

Key Features:

  • Combine multiple image modalities like CT and MRI into one project file to leverage both for segmentation
  • Easy-to-use landmark registration workflow with additional automatic greyscale based registration for increased accuracy
  • Quantified feedback on registration success through various 2D and 3D options

Benefits:

  • Facilitate the process of segmenting structures of interest, e.g. use MRI to segment soft tissue and CT data to identify hard tissue structures
  • Combine multiple scans acquired at different orientations to extract information that would otherwise be indecipherable from the data.

Image Reslicing Visualization

Reslice image data, and their segmented masks, to enable easier identification of particular regions of interest. This new tool allows exploring the data from a non-orthogonal orientation without having to resort to manual alignment. This tool can be used, for example, to explore the “fit” of off-axis parts with one another.

Reslicing MRI data to follow an artery path using a centerline

Key Features and Benefits:

  • Reslice your image volume to enable easier identification of anatomical regions of interest
  • Variety of reslicing methods available by specifying a line, spline, centerline or rotation axis
  • Link to 3D view and model clipping for enhanced visualization and inspection

3D Editing Improvements

New lasso and polygonal frustum creation options make selecting region of interests easier, and manual processing of data faster.

New Frustum ROI options (left) and using a single Lasso frustum ROI (right)

 

Key Features:

  • Extended lasso and polygonal frustum selection options
  • Option to select only the visible faces for more control over which regions are affected by local filtering

Benefits:

  • Improved flexibility and speed in editing 3D structures
  • Edit/Smooth thin objects more straightforwardly

Improvements to Data Analysis and Measurements

Wall Thickness Analysis

The new Wall thickness analysis tools analyzes the thickness of any segmented mask or surface object. The measured thicknesses are visualized in 3D with a customizable color map to identify and isolate critical regions of interest. Statistics for the distribution of thicknesses are generated, and the user can manually inspect areas of concern. This has a number of applications in industrial data, for example, analyzing the consistency of a 3D printing build process. There are a number of novel life science applications, measuring blood vessel walls, cartilage or cortical bone.

Thickness distribution of a cerebral cortex section

Features and Benefits:

  • Analyze the thickness of any segmented mask or surface object
  • Visualize results in 3D with a color map to identify critical regions
  • Option probe the 3D model to inspect local results in more detail
  • Statistics on the minimum, maximum and average thickness
  • Life science application: analyze blood vessel walls, cartilage, cortical bone and more …

Shape-based Measurements

A number of new tools for automatic and guided shape fitting to segmented masks and surface objects. Fit many shapes, including planes, spheres and cylinders to your entire segmentation, or to an isolated region of your segmentation using the improved region-of-interest selection tools, or the new 3D-paint-selection tool. The created shapes can be used to perform automatic measurements (e.g. the angle between two planes). These tools can be used to easily, and reproducibly quantify objects like screw holes in industrial data, or to quickly extract anatomical coordinates, like the center of a femoral head.

Fitting spheres to the femoral heads to allow for calculation of distance between centers

 

Features and Benefits:

  • New set of tools to allow for the creation and fitting of shapes
  • Fit planes, spheres, cylinders (and many more) to your segmentation
  • New surface painting selection tools to easily and quickly identify regions of interest for fitting
  • Obtain statistics and measurements on each shape or between shapes (e.g. angle between two planes)
  • Life science example application: Centre of a femoral head (by sphere measurement)
  • Other example application: Measuring diameters of holes in industrial data.

Snap Registration and Surface Deviation Analysis

The Snap tool offers an automatic alternative for registration of alike surfaces. The Surface deviation tool allows comparison of a test surface to a reference surface for deviation analysis. Alongside statistical values relating to the deviation, a color mapping is rendered in the 3D view to illustrate the distribution. This tool may typically be used in an industrial setting to compare the surface of a scanned manufactured part to its original CAD model, for example to evaluate manufacturing tolerances, but could equally be used in a medical setting to evaluate tumor growth over time.

 

Surface deviation analysis of a scanned cog against its original CAD model

 

Features and Benefits:

  • Automatic registration of alike surfaces (e.g. CAD and 3D image data)
  • Enables easy alignment of a scanned object with the intended design part from STL/CAD
  • Provides visual feedback to differences and export of many more statistics

New Import and Handling of Volume Meshes

Simpleware software now supports import of orphan volume mesh data from a range of common mesh formats. These volume meshes can originate from third-party meshing software or from Simpleware itself.

Import of existing FE mesh of a vertebrae for reassignment of greyscale-based material properties

 

Key Features and Benefits:

  • Import legacy/orphan meshes to extract surface models or to improve mesh quality
  • Re-integrate extant meshes with parent imaging data to assign greyscale-based material properties
  • Carry out geometric modification to existing meshes such as integrating implants

Additional Improvements

Interface Enhancements to Segmentation Tools

  • Improvement to user interface/user experience of existing segmentation tools
  • More interactive feedback making the segmentation process both simpler, and more enjoyable
  • Integrated calibration in the Threshold tool makes the segmentation process more interactive, and simpler
  • Store and add new CT presets to streamline repeatable workflows

Faster 3D Preview Generation

  • New algorithms for fast preview now allow speed ups in rendering time of between 5 and 20 times faster
  • Improvement becomes particularly perceptible when dealing with larger image data

3D PDF Export

  • Export currently rendered 3D objects from Simpleware ScanIP 3D view
  • Highly accessible format for sharing of model visualizations with non-Simpleware users

See Version N-2018.03 in Action

Join our New Release Webinars on March 21 and 22, 2018 to discover the new features and ask questions. Register to watch a recording at your convenience.

If you would like to try Simpleware N-2018.03 first-hand, download a fully functional trial version, attend one of our introductory workshops or full day training courses.

Any Questions?

Do you have any questions about Simpleware software or need additional information?