I use Slicer Heart to simulate transcatheter cardiac device implants. The custom device feature is great but limited. Is it possible to import a new mesh into Slicer Heart to be used as a new device? The deform feature and displacement mapping would work?
Thanks!
You can add any device and deformation and displacement mapping works on your custom devices, too. In fact, we have created models for many other devices that will be publicly released when corresponding studies get published.
Thanks for you fast response! Does slicer have an extension for importing meshes? Tried to import an stl file which worked ok, but I do not know how to create the handles and transforms for it and neither move them into Device Simulator… If advanced skills are necessary I might just have to wait for the new models…
Thanks again!
Complexity depends on the device and the kind of modeling you want to do.
What kind of devices are you interested in?
I am trying to simulate left atrial appendage closure with different devices (Amulet, Watchman, Watchman flex and LAmbre). Attempted to simulate the Amulet using two custom devices at the same time (image) but deforming didn’t work for both…
There are already a couple of devices that are similar to these devices, for example:
Amulet:
Duct occluder device in SlicerHeart’s Cardiac Device Simulator module is quite similar shape, and you can adjust dimensions using the sliders.
If you want to adjust the range of the sliders or modify the shape of the device then you just need to change a few lines in AsdVsdDevices/devices.py file and restart Slicer.
You can find the location of this file in the Module finder (hit Ctrl+F or click the search icon on the toobar), type ASD, and you’ll see location at the bottom of the right panel.
That was exactly what I was doing for the Amulet but with the custom device. A lot easier now with the increased thresholds for the PDA. Thanks!
The shape generator file is also accessible? I was considering tweaking some device to get a more conical shape…
Actually, I managed to simulate all devices using the Harmony TCPV without dimension constraints (Watchman attempt - image). If I could set each as new presets would be great for future use. Can it be done by editing some of the files?
Thank you again for all the help!
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Yes, all presets are stored as csv files in the module’s directory. Shapes are generated using Python script, so you can define arbitrary shapes with minimal effort.
HI, how can I import my own model to Slicer Heart ? I Hawe STL file in data but i cant import to devices panel.
The Devices panel in SlicerHeart does not pull from your scene models directly. It reads from its internal device registry, so an STL loaded normally will not appear there automatically.
What you need to do is either:
- Load your STL normally via File > Add Data, then in the Valve Model module manually assign your loaded model to the valve/device slot instead of picking from the device dropdown
- Or register your STL as a custom device by creating a simple Python descriptor class pointing to your file, which SlicerHeart then recognizes as a device
Which approach works depends on exactly what you are trying to do with it inside SlicerHeart. The workflow is a bit different if you are doing annulus analysis vs just visualization.
Feel free to DM me, I can take a look at your specific use case and tell you the exact steps. Quicker than going back and forth here.