Out of touch – A plugin for controlling OsiriX with gestures using the leap controller

Abstract Objectives In recent years, different systems for gesture control of medical devices have been presented. Today, low-cost gesture control systems are commercially available. In this article, we present a plugin for the OsiriX medical image viewer, which operates the viewer using finger gestures. Materials and methods We use a device called the Leap controller for gesture control input. The device has a low cost, and it uses structured light to create a depth image of the screen. The drivers provided by the manufacturer allow for easy integration into existing software projects. The presented plugin features gestures for panning, zooming, windowing and browsing of medical image datasets. Conclusion Gesture control technology is becoming increasingly robust and available. We therefore expect that gesture control solutions will be increasingly implemented in medical environments. For broad acceptance of such technologies, standard gestures for certain actions should be standardized in the future.