Robust Automated Fiber Tracking: A Hybrid Software Architecture for Processing and Visualizing Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Data

Robust Automated Fiber Tracking (RAFT) is a configurable software pipeline that automates extraction of fiber bundles from diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging (dMRI) data. RAFT uses a hybrid software architecture design and is developed keeping the SOLID (Scalable, Operationally agile, Lean, IT focused and Delivers results) principles of software development in mind. This design is based on (i) the pipeline pattern: a software design pattern that provides the ability to execute a sequence of operations, (ii) while taking elements from a microservices architecture: a method to build server applications using a set of small self-contained services. Thanks to this hybrid architecture design, RAFT is a modular and open system allowing for easy modifications and future extensions. The resulting prototype fully automates the extraction process with many configuration options, while keeping the installation simple and usage of the system intuitive.