A simulation environment for RSA devices

Background: RSA is a technique that requires continuous test to assess the reliability of the algorithms. The computer simulation of RSA devises has the opportunity to plan experimental setup and test the algorithms. It is possible to explore situations that are difficult to realize in real experiments and stress the algorithms to evaluate improvements, debugging and performances. Purpose/Aim of Study: We present a simulation environment, written in MATLAB, that is able to reproduce any RSA setup. Then, we present some test we performed to debug and to evaluate the accuracy of our software. Materials and Methods: The simulation software was composed by an x‐ray source, an x‐ray detector, objects in space, and the x‐ray beam tracer. The object can be a set of markers, or a bone model, or a prosthesis model. The software creates a virtual scene of the RSA device and the beam tracer returns the images as if they come from a real device. The simulator was used to debug our software, and evaluate its theoretical accuracy in dynamic RSA. Findings/Results: The simulations found a bug in the marker detection algorithm with particular image noises. The accuracy was (0.092±0.14) mm for tube position and (0.38±0.31) mm/(2.09±1.39) deg for detectors in the direction other than the source‐detector direction. In that case the accuracy was of the order of (2.68±3.08) mm for the tube position and (0.16±0.27) mm/(0.75±1.16) deg for detectors. This fact is widely discussed in the literature. The model accuracy was (0.22±0.46) mm/(0.26±0.22) deg. The accuracy remains the same independently from the noise of the images. Conclusions: This simulation system was able to analyze hidden bugs and help to correct them. This simulator was a first version. Further improvements will be developed to have more and more realistic simulations and explore setups that are closer to reality.