We are introducing a new slice prescription interface in the Corsmed MRI simulator.
This new slice interface will come into effect for all Corsmed users on 17 December, 2024. However, you can already start using the new interface now by manually activating it on your profile page. (More details on this below).
We understand that changes to familiar tools can be challenging, so we'd like to explain:
What was wrong with the old interface,
How the new interface fixes these issues,
How you can activate and try the new interface, and
How the new interface will affect your workflow.
What Was Wrong with the Old Interface?
Slices Only Grew in One Direction: When adding slices, they always started from one side and extended in one direction. For example, if your first slice aligned with the midline of the brain, the additional slices would "push" away from it. This forced you to re-align the entire set to stay centered on key anatomy.
Hard to See Underlying Anatomy: To understand how slices intersected with important structures (like a tumor or the ventricles), you had to toggle blue dashed lines manually. These lines often overlapped or were unclear, making it hard to precisely plan sequences.
Adjusting Slices Was Frustrating with Large Images: When working with a large field of view (FOV), tools to rotate or move slices often disappeared off-screen. This made it difficult to adjust slices for angled planes or anatomical landmarks.
How the New Interface Fixes These Issues
Slices Now Grow in Both Directions: You can now add slices symmetrically from the center point. For example, if you start with the mid-sagittal slice of the brain, slices expand outward evenly to cover the whole anatomy without losing alignment. This keeps your plan accurate and reduces extra adjustments.
Clear Slice Visualisation with a Box View: The new "box view" highlights each slice's thickness and position within the anatomy. You can see how slices overlap with structures at a glance, without toggling or guessing. For example, when positioning slices over the brain's ventricles, you can instantly confirm coverage without additional steps.
All Tools Stay on Screen: No more lost handles! Rotation and positioning tools remain visible within the FOV, even for large or angled views. This makes fine adjustments straightforward, whether you're planning a large abdominal scan or aligning to complex brain landmarks.
How to Try the New Slice Interface
On 17 December, the new slice interface will be automatically enabled for everyone. If you want to try it earlier, it needs to be manually activated.
Follow these steps to activate the new interface:
Go to your Profile page. Click on your profile bubble in the top-right corner, and the click on “View Profile”.
Click on the "New Slice Interface" option to toggle it on.
Restart your course or sequence to start using the updated tools.
Video Tutorial: How to Use the New Interface
To help you get started with the new interface, we have created this step-by-step video tutorial.
How Will the New Interface Affect Your Workflow?
The new interface aims to make slice planning much more intuitive, precise, and eliminate the need for manual adjustment.
We understand that it can take some time to adjust to the new interface. Any change feels slightly awkward at first.
But once you're accustomed to the new interface, it will greatly simplify and speed up your slice planning workflow.
We’re Here to Help
We understand that this is a significant change, and we're here to support you!
Feel free to reach out at support@corsmed.com, or chat with us on the Corsmed website, if you:
Need support with this update,
Want a personal walkthrough over Zoom, or
Have any feedback, either on issues or suggestions for further improvements.
Thank you for your patience as we work to make the Corsmed MRI simulator more user-friendly and effective for your needs!