CREATIS RMN
MRS and MRSI data processing software
The project was carried out with a dual objective: to develop a rich graphical interface to visualize MR (MagneticResonance) data and results from various quantization algorithms, and to integrate analysis algorithms developed in C and Fortran into the graphical interface.
Total project duration: 48 months
The total cost of the project amounted to more than 1000 man-days.
Project Details :
Problematic
The interest of the project is to be able to provide a medical/non-university population with algorithms for the analysis of in-vivo MR data in the time domain. Strong constraints of simplicity, user-friendliness, but also of performance and relevance of the results led the realization of this project.
Mission statement
Develop a rich and user-friendly graphical interface for in-vivo MR data analysis.
Organization
For the realization of the project, 3 persons have been allocated :
- 1 project manager, technical and functional manager
- 2 development engineers
This contract was executed entirely with Tana Corp resources dedicated to the project.
Main characteristics of the client
The Creatis-NMRL laboratory is a medical imaging research unit whose international influence and areas of excellence are linked to the intersection of two major axes which are
- The identification of major health issues that can be addressed by imaging.
- The identification of the major health issues that can be addressed by imaging. The identification of theoretical barriers in signal and image processing, modeling and digital simulation dedicated to imaging of living organisms.
Conduct of the project
Advice and support role provided throughout the project
- A real force of accompaniment: The organization of the project gives a primordial importance to the quality of the accompaniment, to make the customer benefit from the expertise and the know-how capitalized by Tana Corp on its projects of the same type.
- Consulting strength : Our solid experience on management applications in the field of distribution and fixed-price projects has enabled us to provide the customer with the best market practices in this field. Moreover, Tana Corp is a force of proposal in the highlighting of functional options likely to bring a strong functional added value.
Methodology proposed to validate the stages of the project from a customer’s point of view
Proposed project reporting
Monthly working meetings enabled us to manage this long-term project in close collaboration with the client.
Tools chosen for the project management
Incident follow-up : BugX (based on Mantis) http://www.mantisbt.org/)
Version and configuration tracking: SubVersion (http://subversion.tigris.org/)
Solution features
Business processes covered by the solution
- MR data visualization
- Complex visualization of 1D series and 2D surfaces
- Cutting 3D DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) signals
- Development of basic filters
- Development and interfacing of complex analysis algorithms
What were the most difficult features to implement ?
Managing very heavy data and moving from large data structures to Fortran algorithms. High memory consumption.
Solution: Splitting data before quantization and calling JNI (Java Native Interface).
Technical platform elements
Software package, software or development languages used
Graphical interface and basic filters in Java/SWING. Complex algorithms in C/Fortran.
Reasons for the choice
- Java/SWING : Powerful, object-oriented programming language, allowing the creation of user-friendly graphical interfaces. Multi-platform software. Good development productivity in association with the powerful free Eclipse IDE.
- C/Fortran : Computation performances superior to Java. Powerful mathematical libraries (LAPACK)..
Share of pre-existing developments used on which the Supplier has capitalized to complete the project.
- Graphics visualization library developed upstream of the project,
- Log4J Application Logging Tool.
Challenges and key success factors
- Ergonomics : application by a population sensitive to the ease of use and reactivity of the product,
- Complexity : very complex business algorithm
- Performance : very large business data to process. Continuous development with memory optimization in mind.
Business result
Today the application has been taken over within the framework of the European research project network eMrui. It is directly maintained and improved by a consortium of 16 partners and used by more than 1400 research organisations in 53 countries.
