Jumpstarting AI with a COVID-19 CT Inference Pipeline and the NVIDIA Clara Deploy QuickStart Virtual

Getting AI up and running in hospitals has never been more important. Until recently, connecting an inference pipeline to perform analysis has had its…

Brad Genereaux
10 min readadvanced
--
View Original

Overview

This article discusses the deployment of an AI inference pipeline for COVID-19 using the NVIDIA Clara Deploy QuickStart Virtual Machine (VM). It outlines the steps required to set up the VM, integrate with healthcare systems, and visualize results, emphasizing the importance of streamlining AI deployment in healthcare environments.

What You'll Learn

1

How to deploy the NVIDIA Clara Deploy QuickStart VM for AI inference

2

How to configure Ansible for installing NVIDIA drivers and Clara Platform

3

How to visualize COVID-19 CT study results using Orthanc and OHIF

Prerequisites & Requirements

  • Basic understanding of AI inference pipelines and DICOM standards
  • Access to a NVIDIA GPU (T4, V100, or A100)
  • Familiarity with Linux and Ansible(optional)

Key Questions Answered

What are the steps to deploy the NVIDIA Clara Deploy QuickStart VM?
The deployment involves three main steps: first, deploy a clean Ubuntu Linux 18.04 VM; second, run the installation scripts using Ansible to configure the Clara Deploy platform; and third, trigger the inference pipeline to visualize results using the embedded web client.
How does Clara Deploy integrate with healthcare information systems?
Clara Deploy supports industry standards such as DICOM for ingesting input data and publishing inference results, allowing seamless integration with external PACS systems for efficient data handling and processing.
What hardware requirements are needed for deploying Clara VM?
The recommended hardware includes a system with a passthrough NVIDIA GPU (T4, V100, or A100), 16 vCPUs, 32 GB RAM, and a 500-GB disk, ensuring adequate resources for running AI inference tasks.
What results can be visualized after running the COVID-19 segmentation pipeline?
After processing, the results include lung segmentation, lung lesion segmentation, and two DICOM reports that detail the findings from the COVID-19 CT study, which can be viewed in the Orthanc and OHIF interfaces.

Technologies & Tools

Some links below are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase.

Framework
Nvidia Clara Deploy
Used for running imaging inference pipelines at scale.
Automation Tool
Ansible
Used for configuring and automating the installation of the Clara Platform.
Pacs
Orthanc
Used for storing and visualizing DICOM images.
Web Viewer
Ohif
Used for visualizing results of the COVID-19 segmentation pipeline.

Key Actionable Insights

1
To streamline AI deployment in healthcare, leverage the NVIDIA Clara Deploy framework, which simplifies the setup and integration of inference pipelines.
This framework reduces the complexity associated with traditional AI deployment, making it easier for hospitals to implement AI solutions quickly and efficiently.
2
Utilize Ansible for automating the installation of the NVIDIA driver and Clara Platform, ensuring a consistent and repeatable deployment process.
Automation minimizes human error and speeds up the setup process, which is critical in fast-paced healthcare environments.
3
Integrate Clara Deploy with existing PACS systems to enhance data processing capabilities and improve workflow efficiency.
This integration allows for real-time analysis of imaging studies, enabling healthcare professionals to make informed decisions quickly.

Common Pitfalls

1
Failing to configure the Clara Deploy installation correctly can lead to issues with data ingestion and processing.
Ensure that all configuration files, especially the clara_hosts file, are set up correctly to avoid connectivity problems with external PACS systems.
2
Neglecting to secure the deployment environment can expose sensitive patient data.
Implementing appropriate security measures is crucial in healthcare settings to protect patient information from unauthorized access.

Related Concepts

AI Inference Pipelines
Dicom Standards
Healthcare Information Systems
Nvidia GPU Deployment