title: OpenIGTLink: an open network protocol for image-guided therapy environment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With increasing research on system integration for image-guided therapy (IGT), there has been a strong demand for standardized communication among devices and software to share data such as target positions, images and device status.
  
  
  METHODS
  We propose a new, open, simple and extensible network communication protocol for IGT, named OpenIGTLink, to transfer transform, image and status messages. We conducted performance tests and use-case evaluations in five clinical and engineering scenarios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The protocol was able to transfer position data with submillisecond latency up to 1024 fps and images with latency of <10 ms at 32 fps. The use-case tests demonstrated that the protocol is feasible for integrating devices and software.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The protocol proved capable of handling data required in the IGT setting with sufficient time resolution and latency. The protocol not only improves the interoperability of devices and software but also promotes transitions of research prototypes to clinical applications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. tokuda@bwh.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tokuda
authors.forename: Gregory S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Xenophon
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Papademetris
authors.forename: Ziv
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yaniv
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ibanez
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Haiying
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blevins
authors.forename: Jumpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arata
authors.forename: Alexandra J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Golby
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kapur
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pieper
authors.forename: Everette C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Burdette
authors.forename: Gabor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fichtinger
authors.forename: Clare M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Tempany
authors.forename: Nobuhiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hata
mesh_terms: D003195:Computer Communication Networks / Q000592:standards*; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D012371:Robotics / Q000592:standards*; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States