Sim4Life.web combines the power of the desktop application with the advantages of a modern cloud-based platform. Moreover, it shares its foundational infrastructure with Sim4Life desktop, ensuring 100% mutual compatibility of the CAD modeling engine, physics solvers, and post-processing pipelines. However, unlike the desktop version, Sim4Life.web is split into a browser-centric frontend and a high-performance backend, enabling users to set up and inspect computation-heavy models directly in the browser without the need for dedicated HPC hardware. As such, Sim4Life.web offers a truly cloud-native platform, rather than merely virtualizing the desktop experience.
Innovative Technology
webRTC technology combined with server-based, hardware-accelerated video encoding of 3D scenes enables smooth, low-latency interactions with complex CAD models and post-processing viewers
State-of-the-art container and orchestration technology drives a sophisticated, microservice-based platform architecture
Cutting-edge cloud services are leveraged to flexibly scale compute clusters, store simulation results, and handle inter-service communications
Scalable, on-demand compute resources – get your high-performance infrastructure when you need it
Implementation
Cloud-native solution – heavy computations are carried out server side
3D interactions and rendering are performed server side using hardware acceleration (i.e., no need to transfer large CAD files)
Automated deployment of simulations to appropriate hardware via AWS cloud infrastructure (i.e., active resource setup/management not required)
Pipelining engine for the creation of complex workflows and interconnection of applications
Modularized service catalog for ongoing integration of new tools (forthcoming)
Modern service orchestrator technology ensuring that resources are readily available as needed
Easy sharing of projects with coworkers/institutions
Interactive Jupyter notebooks for deep exploration of simulation data
Comprehensive API to access the computational backend via scripting
Advanced Modeling Tool Set
Sim4Life provides a powerful parametrized 3D modeling environment based on the ACIS toolkit for interactively generating advanced CAD models and extracting high-quality surface models from segmented image data. The optimized rendering engine allows allows for the interactive visualization of large and complex volumetric datasets and CAD models. Specialized tools are continually added to handle specific tasks, such as vasculature modeling and processing.
Modeling
3D modeling environment (based on the ACIS toolkit)
OGL- and VTK-based renderer (easily handles >>10'000 parts)
Topological morphing for conformal 3D modeling of arbitrary surfaces
Interactive CAD modeling (no preprocessor or live-link needed)
User-guided and/or CAD import-based modeling
Drag-and-drop for convenient manipulation of groups and objects
Dedicated tool for extracting CAD model outer surfaces as simplified triangular meshes
Object translation, rotation, scaling, mirroring, sweeping, extruding, skinning etc.
Mouse, snapping and key-based input, vertices for facilitated modeling
Predefined 2D and 3D objects (incl. helices, cones, etc.) & library of specialized model templates (birdcage coils, ultrasound transducers, antenna arrays, etc.)
Annotation tool to define tissue labels for image segmentation (label field) entities
Python scripter for generation of arbitrary objects (analytical, etc.)
Capable of converting triangular surface meshes into parameterized CAD models (e.g., NURBS-based)
Functionality for extracting, smoothing, and simplify tissue/organ surfaces from segmented medical image data
Spline creation on triangular mesh surfaces
Improved image importer supporting additional formats for multi-component (tensor) images
Registration based surface morphing
Supported File Formats
Import/export of SAT and SAB files
Import/export of IGES files
Import/export of STEP files
Import/export of 3DS files
Import/export of CATIA V4 files and import of CATIA V5 files
Import of Pro/E files (asm, prt)
Import of STL files
Import of I-DEAS files
Import of Gerber files
Import of DXF files
Import of Valor ODB++ files (editable)
Export of DASY-compatible DUT Model (*.z43_hw_sw)
Import of MRI/CT based/segmented files (slices, triangles)
3D voxel based data importer
VTI, VTP, VTU
Image segmentation project import from iSEG (CT, MRI, etc.)
Image import (DICOM, NIFTI, DTI…)
Poser
The Poser tool allows users to manipulate the posture of the Virtual Population models (ViP, IT’IS Foundation, Switzerland; version 3.0 or higher) to simulate specific use cases using physics-based solvers. Posing is realized by rotating the rigid skeleton at its joints, which triggers passive deformation of soft tissues. Optimized computational techniques allow deformations to be smoothly visualized in real time. Moreover, users can switch between previously saved, user-defined postures.
Based on biomechanical FEM simulation
Easy articulation of joints within their physiological ranges
Realistic deformation of soft tissues without loss of connectivity or changes in tissue volume
Predefined postures for standing, sitting and lying persons
Gridding and (Volumetric / Surface) Meshing Tools
Sim4Life provides a diverse set of discretization tools, ranging from the interactive generation of geometrically adaptive rectilinear grids with ray tracing and intersection testing, to Delauney, advancing front, and octree-based methods for unstructured mesh generation in FEM-based solvers. Both irregular anatomical structures and CAD-based models – as well as combinations thereof – can be handled robustly and flexibly while preserving features.
Rectilinear Mesh
User-friendly, intuitive engine, combining intelligent automation with a high degree of user control
Adaptive, non-uniform meshing (graded)
Fastest grid generator, object-analysis-intelligence (considers geometry and properties)
Local remeshing tool to adapt surface or volume meshes to improve mesh quality
Boolean operations: merge, imprint
Mesh refinement tool to refine the overall mesh or a sub-volume
Mesh extrusion tool to extrude 2D meshes along a trajectory into prismatic/hexahedral-based elongated structures
Thin layer insertion tool to insert thin layers at interfaces between meshed regions
Mesh viewer, incl. element quality inspection
Mesh quality inspector (wide range of metrics and rapid visualization of low-quality element locations requiring further processing)
Surface Mesh
Triangle surface mesher to create surface meshes of complex structures
Tools for editing and preprocessing surface meshes
Robust conversion of small and medium-sized surface meshes to NURBS models
CAD Projection Tool
The CAD Projection Tool enables the projection of multiple solid regions (e.g., electrodes or device parts) onto a target surface. Among other applications, this tool is very useful for placing devices on the skin or organ/tissue surface in anatomical models (e.g., skull plate, orthopedic implant, cuff electrode). It has been thoroughly tested on the IT’IS ViP models. The user interface generates an instantaneous preview of part placement and deformation, and provides an interactive widget for altering the orientation.
Automatic Head Model Segmentation
Automated and robust Head Model Segmentation utilizes a blend of artificial intelligence (AI) and traditional computer vision techniques to generate intricate, personalized head segmentations from MR images. Within minutes, the tool can segment 30 distinct tissues, encompassing brain structures, eyes, mucosa, internal air, and various layers of the skull and scalp. It has been extensively validated on ground truth data. A high-quality surface-based model can be generated from the label-field using surface extraction.
Specialized Routing Tools for Implant Lead Trajectories
Dedicated routing tools, accessible through both the GUI and Python API, are available to aid in creating implant lead trajectories or working with wires (e.g., nerve trajectories). These include a tool to smoothly join splines, a UI tool to create spline loops with a given radius and orientation at a user-defined location, and vessel center-line extraction. This toolkit empowers MRIxViP users to generate implant routings for MRI safety evaluations. In addition, it is in active use at IT’IS for creating and editing neuro-functionalized nerve trajectories.
3D Arbitrary Object Array Generation Tool
The 3D Arbitrary Object Array Generation Tool simplifies the creation of CAD models of complex phased arrays with just a few mouse clicks. Thanks to its innovative background logic, setting up FDTD simulations of phased arrays is now as simple as a drag-and-drop operation. Users can apply predefined phase/amplitude excitation patterns (e.g., Chebycheff weights), making it easy to simulate a phased array operating under various conditions.
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