What Is the Virtual C-arm?
The Virtual C-arm generates a simulated X-ray projection of the loaded volume, similar to the fluoroscopy images produced by a real C-arm device in the operating room. This gives you a familiar radiographic perspective alongside the standard 3D view.
Opening the C-arm View
Click the C-arm button in the toolbar to open the C-arm panel. The simulated projection renders automatically based on the current volume.
Zoom and Pan
| Action | Control |
|---|
| Zoom in / out | Scroll wheel |
| Pan the view | Click and drag |
| Reset view | Double-click the C-arm panel |
Pointer and Arrow Overlay
Pointers and arrows placed in the main 3D view are overlaid on the C-arm projection in their correct anatomical positions. This allows you to see how placed markers relate to the projected anatomy — the same way hardware appears on real fluoroscopy.
- Pointers appear as their chosen icon at the projected location.
- Arrows appear as projected lines with direction indicators.
Toggling visibility in the right panel affects both the 3D view and the C-arm overlay simultaneously.
Adjusting the Projection Angle
Use the angle controls in the C-arm panel to rotate the projection:
| Control | Effect |
|---|
| AP (Anteroposterior) slider | Tilt the projection front-to-back |
| Lateral slider | Rotate the projection left-to-right |
| Reset button | Return to default AP view |
The Virtual C-arm works with both MRI and CT volumes. CT volumes typically produce sharper bone detail in the projection due to their higher inherent bone contrast.
The Virtual C-arm is a simulated projection for reference purposes only. It is not equivalent to intraoperative fluoroscopy and should not be used as a substitute for real imaging equipment.
