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Installation and first launch

Installation​

  1. Download the installer. [Installer download link coming soon — the public beta has closed and the v1.0 general release is not yet published. Existing license holders can download release artifacts from the VirtuCath Customer Portal once they are posted.]
  2. Run the installer (VirtuCath_Setup.exe) and follow the on-screen prompts. Administrator privileges may be required.
  3. Once installed, launch VirtuCath from the Start Menu or Desktop shortcut.

License Activation​

Every installation includes a 15-day free trial with full access to all features — no license key required to get started. The trial starts automatically the first time you launch VirtuCath, and the in-app status bar shows how many trial days remain. Starting the trial requires an internet connection on first launch only; once it's seeded, the trial runs offline for the rest of the 15-day window.

When you're ready to activate (during the trial or after it expires), open Help > Activate License, paste your License Key into the activation dialog, and click Activate. Your key is validated against the VirtuCath license server and your seat is locked to your hardware. See Licensing and activation for full details, including offline activation for air-gapped or firewalled workstations.

If the trial expires before a license is applied, VirtuCath drops into a restricted Unlicensed Mode where Build Model, Run Simulation, Save Config, exports, and analysis reports are disabled until a valid license key is entered. You can still open the interface and browse loaded designs.

Main Window Overview​

When VirtuCath opens, you will see three primary panels:

  • Left Panel (Tabs):
    • Catheter Setup Tab: Define the physical and mechanical properties of your catheter design.
    • Simulation Control Tab: Control the simulation and drive the virtual pullwires in real-time.
  • Center Panel (3D Viewer): Displays an interactive 3D rendering of the catheter physics simulation.
  • Right Panel (Data Readout):
    • Simulation Analysis Tab: Live runtime dashboard showing tip angles, pullwire forces, bend radius, ovalization, and per-section telemetry as you drive the simulation.
    • Catheter Analysis Tab: Static KPIs predicted from the built model — section stiffness (EI, GJ, EA), failure-mode metrics, and the per-section model-confidence indicator.
  • Menu Bar: Access file operations, reports, unit settings, tools, and help resources.

Your First Simulation​

The fastest way to get familiar with VirtuCath is to load the built-in default catheter and run a simulation:

  1. Load the default design: On launch, a simple single-section catheter is pre-loaded automatically. You can also go to File > Load Config and select any saved .json catheter file.
  2. Build the model: In the Catheter Setup Tab, click Build Model. The 3D viewer populates with the catheter geometry and the simulation begins running automatically.
  3. Deflect the catheter: Switch to the Simulation Control Tab and use the on-screen directional control pad to apply pullwire displacement, then observe the catheter curve in the 3D viewer.
  4. Review the data: Check the right panel for live tip angle, bend radius, and pullwire force readouts.

Saving and Loading Catheter Designs​

Your catheter configuration is stored as a .json file and can be saved and loaded at any time:

  • Save: File > Save Config... — saves all layer definitions, section geometry, materials, and pullwire settings.
  • Load: File > Load Config... — restores a previously saved design and automatically rebuilds the model.

The .json file captures the full catheter definition but does not save simulation run history or exported report data.