diff --git a/Modules/Python/Testing/mitkPythonWrappingTest.cpp b/Modules/Python/Testing/mitkPythonWrappingTest.cpp
index 5e71b2015e..5ca5df6192 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/Testing/mitkPythonWrappingTest.cpp
+++ b/Modules/Python/Testing/mitkPythonWrappingTest.cpp
@@ -1,380 +1,253 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 #include <mitkImage.h>
 #include <mitkSurface.h>
 #include <mitkIOUtil.h>
 #include <mitkTestingMacros.h>
 #include <mitkTestFixture.h>
 
 #include <usModuleContext.h>
 #include <usGetModuleContext.h>
 #include <usServiceReference.h>
 #include <usModuleRegistry.h>
 #include <usModule.h>
 #include <usServiceReference.h>
 #include <mitkPythonService.h>
 #include <mitkIPythonService.h>
 #include <vtkPolyData.h>
 #include <QmitkPythonSnippets.h>
-#include <QApplication>
 #include <mitkImageReadAccessor.h>
 #include <mitkImageWriteAccessor.h>
+#include <mitkSimpleItkImageImport.h>
 
 #include <vtkSmartPointer.h>
 // vtk cone sample snippet
 #include <vtkConeSource.h>
 // vtk decimate pro snippet
 #include <vtkDecimatePro.h>
 
-#include <SimpleITK.h>
 
 namespace sitk = itk::simple;
 
 namespace mitk {
   static bool Equal ( mitk::Image* img1, mitk::Image* img2 );
   static bool Equal ( mitk::Surface* s1, Surface *s2 );
-  static sitk::Image MitkToSimpleItkImage(mitk::Image* image);
-  static Image::Pointer SimpleItkToMitkImage(sitk::Image& sitkImage);
 }
 
 bool mitk::Equal ( mitk::Image* img1, mitk::Image* img2 )
 {
   mitk::ImageReadAccessor ra1(img1);
   mitk::ImageReadAccessor ra2(img2);
   const unsigned int* img1Dims = img1->GetDimensions();
 
   if ( img1->GetDimension() != img2->GetDimension() )
     return false;
 
   if( img1Dims[0] != img2->GetDimensions()[0] ||
       img1Dims[1] != img2->GetDimensions()[1] ||
       img1Dims[2] != img2->GetDimensions()[2] )
     return false;
 
   if ( img1->GetPixelType().GetPixelType() != img2->GetPixelType().GetPixelType())
     return false;
 
   if ( img1->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[0] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[0] ||
        img1->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[1] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[1] ||
        img1->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[2] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing()[2] )
     return false;
 
   if ( img1->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[0] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[0] ||
        img1->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[1] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[1] ||
        img1->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[2] != img2->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin()[2] )
     return false;
 
   size_t size = img1Dims[0] * img1Dims[1] * img1Dims[2] * img1->GetPixelType().GetSize();
 
   // bytewise compare the image
   for ( size_t i = 0; i < size; ++i )
   {
     if ( ((char*)ra1.GetData())[i] != ((char*)ra2.GetData())[i] )
         return false;
   }
 
   return true;
 }
 
 bool mitk::Equal( mitk::Surface* s1, mitk::Surface* s2 )
 {
   vtkPolyData* poly1 = s1->GetVtkPolyData();
   vtkPolyData* poly2 = s2->GetVtkPolyData();
   double p1[3] = { 0.0,0.0,0.0 };
   double p2[3] = { 0.0,0.0,0.0 };
 
   if ( poly1->GetNumberOfPoints() != poly2->GetNumberOfPoints() ) {
       MITK_WARN << "Size does not match : s1 = " << poly1->GetNumberOfPoints()
                 << ", s2 = " << poly2->GetNumberOfPoints();
       return false;
   }
 
   for ( vtkIdType i = 0; i < poly1->GetNumberOfPoints(); ++i )
   {
     poly1->GetPoint(i,p1);
     poly2->GetPoint(i,p2);
 
     if  ( !mitk::Equal(p1[0],p2[0]) ||
           !mitk::Equal(p1[1],p2[1]) ||
           !mitk::Equal(p1[2],p2[2]) )
     {
       MITK_WARN << "Points do not match: i: "<< i << "p1("
                 << p1[0] << "," << p1[1] << "," << p1[2] << "), p2("
                 << p2[0] << "," << p2[1] << "," << p2[2] << ")" ;
       return false;
     }
   }
 
   return true;
 }
 
-sitk::Image mitk::MitkToSimpleItkImage(mitk::Image* image)
-{
-  const mitk::Vector3D spacing = image->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing();
-  mitk::Point3D origin = image->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin();
-  mitk::PixelType pixelType = image->GetPixelType();
-  mitk::ImageReadAccessor ra(image);
-  void* buffer = (void*) ra.GetData();
-  sitk::ImportImageFilter importer;
-
-  std::vector<double> sitkSpacing;
-  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[0]);
-  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[1]);
-  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[2]);
-  std::vector<double> sitkOrigin;
-  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[0]);
-  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[1]);
-  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[2]);
-  std::vector<unsigned int> sitkSize;
-
-  for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < image->GetDimension(); ++i )
-    sitkSize.push_back(image->GetDimensions()[i]);
-
-  importer.SetSpacing(sitkSpacing);
-  importer.SetSize(sitkSize);
-  importer.SetOrigin(sitkOrigin);
-
-  if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::DOUBLE ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsDouble((double*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::FLOAT ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsFloat((float*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::SHORT) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsInt16((int16_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::CHAR ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsInt8((int8_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::INT ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsInt32((int32_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::LONG ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsInt64((int64_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UCHAR ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsUInt8((uint8_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UINT ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsUInt32((uint32_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::ULONG ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsUInt64((uint64_t*) buffer);
-  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::USHORT ) {
-    importer.SetBufferAsUInt16((uint16_t*) buffer);
-  }
-
-  return importer.Execute();
-}
-
-mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::SimpleItkToMitkImage(sitk::Image& sitkImage)
-{
-  mitk::Image::Pointer image = mitk::Image::New();
-  void* buffer = NULL;
-  mitk::PixelType pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
-  std::vector<double> sitkSpacing = sitkImage.GetSpacing();
-  double spacing[3] = { sitkSpacing[0], sitkSpacing[1], sitkSpacing[2] };
-  std::vector<double> sitkOrigin = sitkImage.GetOrigin();
-  double origin[3] = { sitkOrigin[0], sitkOrigin[1], sitkOrigin[2] };
-  std::vector<unsigned int> sitkSize = sitkImage.GetSize();
-  unsigned int dimensions[4] = { 1,1,1,1};
-
-  for ( size_t i = 0; i < sitkSize.size(); ++i )
-    dimensions[i] = sitkSize[i];
-
-  size_t size = 0;
-  if ( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt8 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<char>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt8();
-     size = sizeof(char);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt16 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt16();
-     size = sizeof(short);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt32 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<int>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt32();
-     size = sizeof(int);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt64 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<long>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt64();
-     size = sizeof(long);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt8 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned char>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt8();
-     size = sizeof(unsigned char);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt16 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned short>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt16();
-     size = sizeof(unsigned short);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt32 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned int>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt32();
-     size = sizeof(unsigned int);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt64 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned long>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt64();
-     size = sizeof(unsigned long);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkFloat32 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<float>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsFloat();
-     size = sizeof(float);
-  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkFloat64 ) {
-     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<float>();
-     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsDouble();
-     size = sizeof(double);
-  }
-
-  image->Initialize(pixelType,sitkImage.GetDimension(),dimensions);
-  image->SetSpacing(spacing);
-  image->SetOrigin(origin);
-
-  for(size_t i = 0; i < sitkSize.size(); ++i )
-    size *= sitkSize[i];
-
-  mitk::ImageWriteAccessor wa(image);
-
-  memcpy(wa.GetData(),buffer, size);
-
-  return image;
-}
-
 class mitkPythonWrappingTestSuite : public mitk::TestFixture
 {
   CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE(mitkPythonWrappingTestSuite);
   MITK_TEST(testImageTransfer);
   MITK_TEST(testSurfaceTransfer);
   MITK_TEST(testVtkCreateConePythonSnippet);
   MITK_TEST(testVtkDecimateProPythonSnippet);
   MITK_TEST(testSimpleITKMedianFilterSnippet);
   CPPUNIT_TEST_SUITE_END();
 
 private:
     mitk::PythonService* m_PythonService;
     mitk::Image::Pointer m_Image;
     mitk::Surface::Pointer m_Surface;
     QMap<QString, QString> m_Snippets;
 
 public:
 
   void setUp()
   {
     //get the context of the python module
     us::Module* module = us::ModuleRegistry::GetModule("MitkPython");
     us::ModuleContext* context = module->GetModuleContext();
     //get the service which is generated in the PythonModuleActivator
     us::ServiceReference<mitk::IPythonService> serviceRef = context->GetServiceReference<mitk::IPythonService>();
     m_PythonService = dynamic_cast<mitk::PythonService*>( context->GetService(serviceRef) );
 
     m_Image = mitk::IOUtil::LoadImage(GetTestDataFilePath("Pic3D.nrrd"));
     m_Surface = mitk::IOUtil::LoadSurface(GetTestDataFilePath("binary.stl"));
 
     QmitkPythonSnippets::LoadStringMap(QmitkPythonSnippets::DEFAULT_SNIPPET_FILE,m_Snippets);
   }
 
   void tearDown()
   {
     m_Image = NULL;
     m_Surface = NULL;
   }
 
   void testImageTransfer()
   {
     std::string varName("mitkImage");
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE ( "Is SimpleITK Python Wrapping available?",
           m_PythonService->IsSimpleItkPythonWrappingAvailable() == true );
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Valid image copied to python import should return true.",
           m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsSimpleItkImage( m_Image, varName) == true );
 
     mitk::Image::Pointer pythonImage = m_PythonService->CopySimpleItkImageFromPython(varName);
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if images are equal after transfer.",
                             mitk::Equal(pythonImage,m_Image) );
   }
 
   void testSurfaceTransfer()
   {
     std::string varName("mitkSurface");
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE ( "Is VTK Python Wrapping available?", m_PythonService->IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable() == true );
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Valid surface copied to python import should return true.",
           m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( m_Surface, varName) == true );
 
     mitk::Surface::Pointer pythonSurface = m_PythonService->CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython(varName);
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if surfaces are equal after transfer.", mitk::Equal(pythonSurface,m_Surface) );
   }
 
   void testVtkCreateConePythonSnippet()
   {
     // cone in cpp
     mitk::Surface::Pointer mitkSurface = mitk::Surface::New();
     vtkSmartPointer<vtkConeSource> coneSrc = vtkSmartPointer<vtkConeSource>::New();
     coneSrc->SetResolution(60);
     coneSrc->SetCenter(-2,0,0);
     coneSrc->Update();
     mitkSurface->SetVtkPolyData(coneSrc->GetOutput());
 
     // run python code
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE ( "Is VTK Python Wrapping available?", m_PythonService->IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable() == true );
 
     m_PythonService->Execute( m_Snippets["vtk: create cone"].toStdString(), mitk::IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
     mitk::Surface::Pointer pythonSurface = m_PythonService->CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython("cone");
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if cones are equal.", mitk::Equal(pythonSurface, mitkSurface) );
   }
 
   void testVtkDecimateProPythonSnippet()
   {
     // decimate pro in cpp
     mitk::Surface::Pointer mitkSurface = mitk::Surface::New();
     vtkSmartPointer<vtkDecimatePro> deci = vtkSmartPointer<vtkDecimatePro>::New();
     deci->SetInputData(m_Surface->GetVtkPolyData());
     deci->SetTargetReduction(0.9);
     deci->PreserveTopologyOn();
     deci->Update();
     mitkSurface->SetVtkPolyData(deci->GetOutput());
 
     // decimate pro in python
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE ( "Is VTK Python Wrapping available?", m_PythonService->IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable() == true );
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Valid surface copied to python import should return true.", m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( m_Surface, "mitkSurface") == true );
 
     m_PythonService->Execute( m_Snippets["vtk.vtkDecimatePro"].toStdString(), mitk::IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
     mitk::Surface::Pointer pythonSurface = m_PythonService->CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython("mitkSurface_new");
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if surfaces are equal.", mitk::Equal(pythonSurface, mitkSurface) );
   }
 
   void testSimpleITKMedianFilterSnippet()
   {
     // simple itk median filter in cpp
     sitk::MedianImageFilter medianFilter;
     medianFilter.SetRadius(1);
-    sitk::Image sitkImage = medianFilter.Execute(mitk::MitkToSimpleItkImage(m_Image));
-    mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage = mitk::SimpleItkToMitkImage(sitkImage);
+    sitk::Image sitkImage = medianFilter.Execute(mitk::SimpleItkImageImport::MitkToSimpleItkImage(m_Image));
+    mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage = mitk::SimpleItkImageImport::SimpleItkToMitkImage(sitkImage);
 
     // simple itk median filter in python
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE ( "Is SimpleItk Python Wrapping available?", m_PythonService->IsSimpleItkPythonWrappingAvailable() == true );
 
     CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Valid image copied to python import should return true.", m_PythonService->CopyToPythonAsSimpleItkImage(m_Image, "mitkImage") == true );
 
     m_PythonService->Execute( m_Snippets["medianfilter"].toStdString(), mitk::IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
     mitk::Image::Pointer pythonImage = m_PythonService->CopySimpleItkImageFromPython("mitkImage_new");
 
-    CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if surfaces are equal.", mitk::Equal(pythonImage, mitkImage) );
+    CPPUNIT_ASSERT_MESSAGE( "Compare if images are equal.", mitk::Equal(pythonImage, mitkImage) );
   }
-
   //TODO opencv median filter
 };
 
 MITK_TEST_SUITE_REGISTRATION(mitkPythonWrapping)
diff --git a/Modules/Python/files.cmake b/Modules/Python/files.cmake
index 66fb3a3ce7..2e49e2d5b5 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/files.cmake
+++ b/Modules/Python/files.cmake
@@ -1,28 +1,29 @@
 SET(CPP_FILES
   mitkIPythonService.cpp
   mitkPythonActivator.cpp
   mitkPythonService.cpp
+  mitkSimpleItkImageImport.cpp
   QmitkCtkPythonShell.cpp
   QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.cpp
   QmitkPythonVariableStackTableView.cpp
   QmitkPythonScriptEditorHighlighter.cpp
   QmitkPythonTextEditor.cpp
   QmitkPythonSnippets.cpp
 )
 
 #SET(UI_FILES
 #  QmitkPythonSnippets.ui
 #)
 
 SET(MOC_H_FILES
   QmitkCtkPythonShell.h
   QmitkPythonVariableStackTableModel.h
   QmitkPythonVariableStackTableView.h
   QmitkPythonScriptEditorHighlighter.h
   QmitkPythonTextEditor.h
   QmitkPythonSnippets.h
 )
 
 set(QRC_FILES
   resources/mitkPython.qrc
 )
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
index 60d9953bf0..c30afb389f 100644
--- a/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkPythonService.cpp
@@ -1,639 +1,639 @@
 /*===================================================================
 
 The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
 
 Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
 Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
 All rights reserved.
 
 This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
 even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
 A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
 
 See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
 
 ===================================================================*/
 
 #include "mitkPythonService.h"
 #include <Python.h>
 #include <mitkIOUtil.h>
 #include <QFile>
 #include <QDir>
 #include <PythonQt.h>
 #include "PythonPath.h"
 #include <vtkPolyData.h>
 #include <mitkRenderingManager.h>
 #include <mitkImageReadAccessor.h>
 #include <mitkImageWriteAccessor.h>
 #include <numpy/arrayobject.h>
 
 #ifndef WIN32
   #include <dlfcn.h>
 #endif
 
 const QString mitk::PythonService::m_TmpDataFileName("temp_mitk_data_file");
 #ifdef USE_MITK_BUILTIN_PYTHON
   static char* pHome = NULL;
 #endif
 
 mitk::PythonService::PythonService()
   : m_ItkWrappingAvailable( true ), m_OpenCVWrappingAvailable( true ), m_VtkWrappingAvailable( true ), m_ErrorOccured( false )
 {
   {
     MITK_DEBUG << "will init python if necessary";
   }
   bool pythonInitialized = static_cast<bool>( Py_IsInitialized() ); //m_PythonManager.isPythonInitialized() );
   {
     MITK_DEBUG << "pythonInitialized " << pythonInitialized;
     MITK_DEBUG << "m_PythonManager.isPythonInitialized() " << m_PythonManager.isPythonInitialized();
   }
 
   // due to strange static var behaviour on windows Py_IsInitialized() returns correct value while
   // m_PythonManager.isPythonInitialized() does not because it has been constructed and destructed again
   if( !m_PythonManager.isPythonInitialized() )
   {
     try
     {
 #ifndef WIN32
       dlopen(PYTHON_LIBRARY_NAME, RTLD_NOW | RTLD_NOLOAD | RTLD_GLOBAL);
 #endif
 
       std::string programPath = mitk::IOUtil::GetProgramPath();
       QDir programmDir( QString( programPath.c_str() ).append("/Python") );
       QString pythonCommand;
       // Set the pythonpath variable depending if
       // we have an installer or development environment
       if ( programmDir.exists() ) {
         // runtime directory used in installers
         pythonCommand.append( QString("import sys\n") );
         pythonCommand.append( QString("sys.path.append('')\n") );
         pythonCommand.append( QString("sys.path.append('%1')\n").arg(programPath.c_str()) );
         pythonCommand.append( QString("sys.path.append('%1/Python')\n").arg(programPath.c_str()) );
         pythonCommand.append( QString("sys.path.append('%1/Python/SimpleITK')").arg(programPath.c_str()) );
         // set python home if own runtime is deployed
       } else {
         pythonCommand.append(PYTHONPATH_COMMAND);
       }
 
       if( pythonInitialized )
         m_PythonManager.setInitializationFlags(PythonQt::RedirectStdOut|PythonQt::PythonAlreadyInitialized);
       else
         m_PythonManager.setInitializationFlags(PythonQt::RedirectStdOut);
 
 // set python home if own runtime is used
 #ifdef USE_MITK_BUILTIN_PYTHON
       QString pythonHome;
       if ( programmDir.exists() )
         pythonHome.append(QString("%1/Python").arg(programPath.c_str()));
       else
         pythonHome.append(PYTHONHOME);
 
       if(pHome) delete[] pHome;
 
       pHome = new char[pythonHome.toStdString().length() + 1];
 
       strcpy(pHome,pythonHome.toStdString().c_str());
       Py_SetPythonHome(pHome);
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "PythonHome: " << pHome;
 #endif
 
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "initalizing python";
       m_PythonManager.initialize();
 
 #ifdef USE_MITK_BUILTIN_PYTHON
       PyObject* dict = PyDict_New();
       // Import builtin modules
       if (PyDict_GetItemString(dict, "__builtins__") == NULL)
       {
          PyObject* builtinMod = PyImport_ImportModule("__builtin__");
          if (builtinMod == NULL ||
              PyDict_SetItemString(dict, "__builtins__", builtinMod) != 0)
          {
            Py_DECREF(dict);
            Py_XDECREF(dict);
            return;
          }
          Py_DECREF(builtinMod);
       }
 #endif
 
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService")<< "Python Search paths: " << Py_GetPath();
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "python initalized";
 
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "registering python paths" << PYTHONPATH_COMMAND;
       m_PythonManager.executeString( pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::FileInput );
     }
     catch (...)
     {
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "exception initalizing python";
     }
   }
 }
 
 mitk::PythonService::~PythonService()
 {
   MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "destructing PythonService";
 
 #ifdef USE_MITK_BUILTIN_PYTHON
   if(pHome)
     delete[] pHome;
 #endif
 }
 
 std::string mitk::PythonService::Execute(const std::string &stdpythonCommand, int commandType)
 {
   QString pythonCommand = QString::fromStdString(stdpythonCommand);
   {
       MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "pythonCommand = " << pythonCommand.toStdString();
       MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "commandType = " << commandType;
   }
 
   QVariant result;
   bool commandIssued = true;
 
   if(commandType == IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND )
       result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::SingleInput );
   else if(commandType == IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND )
       result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::FileInput );
   else if(commandType == IPythonService::EVAL_COMMAND )
       result = m_PythonManager.executeString(pythonCommand, ctkAbstractPythonManager::EvalInput );
   else
       commandIssued = false;
 
   if(commandIssued)
   {
     this->NotifyObserver(pythonCommand.toStdString());
     m_ErrorOccured = PythonQt::self()->hadError();
   }
 
   return result.toString().toStdString();
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::ExecuteScript( const std::string& pythonScript )
 {
   m_PythonManager.executeFile(QString::fromStdString(pythonScript));
 }
 
 std::vector<mitk::PythonVariable> mitk::PythonService::GetVariableStack() const
 {
   std::vector<mitk::PythonVariable> list;
 
   PyObject* dict = PyImport_GetModuleDict();
   PyObject* object = PyDict_GetItemString(dict, "__main__");
   PyObject* dirMain = PyObject_Dir(object);
   PyObject* tempObject = 0;
   PyObject* strTempObject = 0;
 
   if(dirMain)
   {
     std::string name, attrValue, attrType;
 
     for(int i = 0; i<PyList_Size(dirMain); i++)
     {
       tempObject = PyList_GetItem(dirMain, i);
       name = PyString_AsString(tempObject);
       tempObject = PyObject_GetAttrString( object, name.c_str() );
       attrType = tempObject->ob_type->tp_name;
 
       strTempObject = PyObject_Repr(tempObject);
       if(strTempObject && ( PyUnicode_Check(strTempObject) || PyString_Check(strTempObject) ) )
         attrValue = PyString_AsString(strTempObject);
       else
         attrValue = "";
 
       mitk::PythonVariable var;
       var.m_Name = name;
       var.m_Value = attrValue;
       var.m_Type = attrType;
       list.push_back(var);
     }
   }
 
   return list;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::DoesVariableExist(const std::string& name) const
 {
   bool varExists = false;
 
   std::vector<mitk::PythonVariable> allVars = this->GetVariableStack();
   for(unsigned int i = 0; i< allVars.size(); i++)
   {
     if( allVars.at(i).m_Name == name )
     {
       varExists = true;
       break;
     }
   }
 
   return varExists;
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::AddPythonCommandObserver(mitk::PythonCommandObserver *observer)
 {
     if(!m_Observer.contains(observer))
         m_Observer.append(observer);
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::RemovePythonCommandObserver(mitk::PythonCommandObserver *observer)
 {
     m_Observer.removeOne(observer);
 }
 
 void mitk::PythonService::NotifyObserver(const std::string &command)
 {
   MITK_DEBUG("mitk::PythonService") << "number of observer " << m_Observer.size();
     for( int i=0; i< m_Observer.size(); ++i )
     {
         m_Observer.at(i)->CommandExecuted(command);
     }
 }
 
 QString mitk::PythonService::GetTempDataFileName(const std::string& ext) const
 {
     QString tmpFolder = QDir::tempPath();
     QString fileName = tmpFolder + QDir::separator() + m_TmpDataFileName + QString::fromStdString(ext);
     return fileName;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsSimpleItkImage(mitk::Image *image, const std::string &stdvarName)
 {
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
   QString command;
   unsigned int* imgDim = image->GetDimensions();
   int npy_nd = 1;
   npy_intp* npy_dims = new npy_intp[1];
   npy_dims[0] = imgDim[0] * imgDim[1] * imgDim[2];
   // access python module
   PyObject *pyMod = PyImport_AddModule((char*)"__main__");
   // global dictionarry
   PyObject *pyDict = PyModule_GetDict(pyMod);
   const mitk::Vector3D spacing = image->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing();
   const mitk::Point3D origin = image->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin();
   mitk::PixelType pixelType = image->GetPixelType();
   itk::ImageIOBase::IOPixelType ioPixelType = image->GetPixelType().GetPixelType();
   PyObject* npyArray = NULL;
   mitk::ImageReadAccessor racc(image);
   void* array = (void*) racc.GetData();
 
   // default pixeltype: unsigned short
   NPY_TYPES npy_type  = NPY_USHORT;
   std::string sitk_type = "sitkUInt8";
   if( ioPixelType == itk::ImageIOBase::SCALAR )
   {
     if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::DOUBLE ) {
       npy_type = NPY_DOUBLE;
       sitk_type = "sitkFloat64";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::FLOAT ) {
       npy_type = NPY_FLOAT;
       sitk_type = "sitkFloat32";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::SHORT) {
       npy_type = NPY_SHORT;
       sitk_type = "sitkInt16";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::CHAR ) {
       npy_type = NPY_BYTE;
       sitk_type = "sitkInt8";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::INT ) {
       npy_type = NPY_INT;
       sitk_type = "sitkInt32";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::LONG ) {
       npy_type = NPY_LONG;
       sitk_type = "sitkInt64";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UCHAR ) {
       npy_type = NPY_UBYTE;
       sitk_type = "sitkUInt8";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UINT ) {
       npy_type = NPY_UINT;
       sitk_type = "sitkUInt32";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::ULONG ) {
       npy_type = NPY_LONG;
       sitk_type = "sitkUInt64";
     } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::USHORT ) {
       npy_type = NPY_USHORT;
       sitk_type = "sitkUInt16";
     }
   } else {
     MITK_WARN << "not a scalar pixeltype";
     return false;
   }
 
   // creating numpy array
   import_array1 (true);
   npyArray = PyArray_SimpleNewFromData(npy_nd,npy_dims,npy_type,array);
 
   // add temp array it to the python dictionary to access it in python code
   const int status = PyDict_SetItemString( pyDict,QString("%1_numpy_array")
                                            .arg(varName).toStdString().c_str(),
                                            npyArray );
 
   // sanity check
   if ( status != 0 )
     return false;
 
   command.append( QString("%1 = sitk.Image(%2,%3,%4,sitk.%5)\n").arg(varName)
                   .arg(QString::number(imgDim[0]))
                   .arg(QString::number(imgDim[1]))
                   .arg(QString::number(imgDim[2]))
                   .arg(QString(sitk_type.c_str())) );
   command.append( QString("%1.SetSpacing([%2,%3,%4])\n").arg(varName)
                   .arg(QString::number(spacing[0]))
                   .arg(QString::number(spacing[1]))
                   .arg(QString::number(spacing[2])) );
   command.append( QString("%1.SetOrigin([%2,%3,%4])\n").arg(varName)
                   .arg(QString::number(origin[0]))
                   .arg(QString::number(origin[1]))
                   .arg(QString::number(origin[2])) );
   command.append( QString("sitk._SetImageFromArray(%1_numpy_array,%1)\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("del %1_numpy_array").arg(varName) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute( command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   return true;
 }
 
 mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopySimpleItkImageFromPython(const std::string &stdvarName)
 {
   double*ds = NULL;
   // access python module
   PyObject *pyMod = PyImport_AddModule((char*)"__main__");
   // global dictionarry
   PyObject *pyDict = PyModule_GetDict(pyMod);
   mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage = mitk::Image::New();
   mitk::Vector3D spacing;
   mitk::Point3D origin;
   QString command;
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
 
   command.append( QString("%1_numpy_array = sitk.GetArrayFromImage(%1)\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("%1_spacing = numpy.asarray(%1.GetSpacing())\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("%1_origin = numpy.asarray(%1.GetOrigin())\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("%1_dtype = %1_numpy_array.dtype.name").arg(varName) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   PyObject* py_dtype = PyDict_GetItemString(pyDict,QString("%1_dtype").arg(varName).toStdString().c_str() );
   std::string dtype = PyString_AsString(py_dtype);
   PyArrayObject* py_data = (PyArrayObject*) PyDict_GetItemString(pyDict,QString("%1_numpy_array").arg(varName).toStdString().c_str() );
   PyArrayObject* py_spacing = (PyArrayObject*) PyDict_GetItemString(pyDict,QString("%1_spacing").arg(varName).toStdString().c_str() );
   PyArrayObject* py_origin = (PyArrayObject*) PyDict_GetItemString(pyDict,QString("%1_origin").arg(varName).toStdString().c_str() );
 
   size_t sz = sizeof(short);
   mitk::PixelType pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
   if( dtype.compare("float64") == 0   ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<double>();
     sz = sizeof(double);
   } else if( dtype.compare("float32") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<float>();
     sz = sizeof(float);
   } else if( dtype.compare("int16") == 0) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
     sz = sizeof(short);
   } else if( dtype.compare("int8") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<char>();
     sz = sizeof(char);
   } else if( dtype.compare("int32") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<int>();
     sz = sizeof(int);
   } else if( dtype.compare("int64") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<long>();
     sz = sizeof(long);
   } else if( dtype.compare("uint8") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned char>();
     sz = sizeof(unsigned char);
   } else if( dtype.compare("uint32") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned int>();
     sz = sizeof(unsigned int);
   } else if( dtype.compare("uint64") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned long>();
     sz = sizeof(unsigned long);
   } else if( dtype.compare("uint16") == 0 ) {
     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned short>();
     sz = sizeof(unsigned short);
   }
 
   unsigned int* dimensions = new unsigned int[py_data->nd];
   // fill backwards , nd data saves dimensions in opposite direction
   for( int i = 0; i < py_data->nd; ++i )
   {
     dimensions[i] = py_data->dimensions[py_data->nd - 1 - i];
     sz *= dimensions[i];
   }
 
   mitkImage->Initialize(pixelType, py_data->nd, dimensions);
 
   // copy data
   mitk::ImageWriteAccessor iwa(mitkImage);
   memcpy( iwa.GetData(), py_data->data, sz);
 
   ds = (double*)py_spacing->data;
   spacing[0] = ds[0];
   spacing[1] = ds[1];
   spacing[2] = ds[2];
   mitkImage->GetGeometry()->SetSpacing(spacing);
 
   ds = (double*)py_origin->data;
   origin[0] = ds[0];
-  origin[0] = ds[0];
-  origin[0] = ds[0];
+  origin[1] = ds[1];
+  origin[2] = ds[2];
   mitkImage->GetGeometry()->SetOrigin(origin);
 
   // cleanup
   command.clear();
   command.append( QString("del %1_numpy_array\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("del %1_dtype\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("del %1_spacing\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("del %1_origin").arg(varName) );
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   delete[] dimensions;
 
   return mitkImage;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsCvImage( mitk::Image* image, const std::string& stdvarName )
 {
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
 
   bool convert = false;
   if(image->GetDimension() != 2)
   {
     MITK_ERROR << "Only 2D images allowed for OpenCV images";
     return convert;
   }
 
   // try to save mitk image
   QString fileName = this->GetTempDataFileName( ".bmp" );
   fileName = QDir::fromNativeSeparators( fileName );
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Saving temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
   if( !mitk::IOUtil::SaveImage(image, fileName.toStdString()) )
   {
     MITK_ERROR << "Temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " could not be created.";
     return convert;
   }
 
   QString command;
 
   command.append( QString("%1 = cv2.imread(\"%2\")\n") .arg( varName ).arg( fileName ) );
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing file " << fileName.toStdString();
   QFile file(fileName);
   file.remove();
   convert = true;
   return convert;
 }
 
 mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopyCvImageFromPython( const std::string& stdvarName )
 {
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
 
   mitk::Image::Pointer mitkImage;
   QString command;
   QString fileName = GetTempDataFileName( ".bmp" );
   fileName = QDir::fromNativeSeparators( fileName );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "run python command to save image with opencv to " << fileName.toStdString();
 
   command.append( QString( "cv2.imwrite(\"%1\", %2)\n").arg( fileName ).arg( varName ) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   try
   {
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Loading temporary file " << fileName.toStdString() << " as MITK image";
       mitkImage = mitk::IOUtil::LoadImage( fileName.toStdString() );
   }
   catch(std::exception& e)
   {
     MITK_ERROR << e.what();
   }
 
   QFile file(fileName);
   if( file.exists() )
   {
       MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Removing temporary file " << fileName.toStdString();
       file.remove();
   }
 
   return mitkImage;
 }
 
 ctkAbstractPythonManager *mitk::PythonService::GetPythonManager()
 {
   return &m_PythonManager;
 }
 
 mitk::Surface::Pointer mitk::PythonService::CopyVtkPolyDataFromPython( const std::string& stdvarName )
 {
   // access python module
   PyObject *pyMod = PyImport_AddModule((char*)"__main__");
   // global dictionarry
   PyObject *pyDict = PyModule_GetDict(pyMod);
   // python memory address
   PyObject *pyAddr = NULL;
   // cpp address
   size_t addr = 0;
   mitk::Surface::Pointer surface = mitk::Surface::New();
   QString command;
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
 
   command.append( QString("%1_addr_str = %1.GetAddressAsString(\"vtkPolyData\")\n").arg(varName) );
   // remove 0x from the address
   command.append( QString("%1_addr = int(%1_addr_str[5:],16)").arg(varName) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   // get address of the object
   pyAddr = PyDict_GetItemString(pyDict,QString("%1_addr").arg(varName).toStdString().c_str());
 
   // convert to long
   addr = PyInt_AsLong(pyAddr);
 
   MITK_DEBUG << "Python object address: " << addr;
 
   // get the object
   vtkPolyData* poly = (vtkPolyData*)((void*)addr);
   surface->SetVtkPolyData(poly);
 
   // delete helper variables from python stack
   command = "";
   command.append( QString("del %1_addr_str\n").arg(varName) );
   command.append( QString("del %1_addr").arg(varName) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   return surface;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::CopyToPythonAsVtkPolyData( mitk::Surface* surface, const std::string& stdvarName )
 {
   QString varName = QString::fromStdString( stdvarName );
   std::ostringstream oss;
   std::string addr = "";
   QString command;
   QString address;
 
   oss << (void*) ( surface->GetVtkPolyData() );
 
   // get the address
   addr = oss.str();
 
   // remove "0x"
   address = QString::fromStdString(addr.substr(2));
 
   command.append( QString("%1 = vtk.vtkPolyData(\"%2\")\n").arg(varName).arg(address) );
 
   MITK_DEBUG("PythonService") << "Issuing python command " << command.toStdString();
   this->Execute(command.toStdString(), IPythonService::MULTI_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   return true;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::IsSimpleItkPythonWrappingAvailable()
 {
   this->Execute( "import SimpleITK as sitk\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
   //this->Execute( "import itk\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
   //this->Execute( "print \"Using ITK version \" + itk.Version.GetITKVersion()\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   m_ItkWrappingAvailable = !this->PythonErrorOccured();
 
   // check for numpy
   this->Execute( "import numpy\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
 
   if ( this->PythonErrorOccured() )
     MITK_ERROR << "Numpy not found.";
 
   m_ItkWrappingAvailable = !this->PythonErrorOccured();
 
   return m_ItkWrappingAvailable;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::IsOpenCvPythonWrappingAvailable()
 {
   this->Execute( "import cv2\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
   m_OpenCVWrappingAvailable = !this->PythonErrorOccured();
 
   return m_OpenCVWrappingAvailable;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::IsVtkPythonWrappingAvailable()
 {
   this->Execute( "import vtk", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
   //this->Execute( "print \"Using VTK version \" + vtk.vtkVersion.GetVTKVersion()\n", IPythonService::SINGLE_LINE_COMMAND );
   m_VtkWrappingAvailable = !this->PythonErrorOccured();
 
   return m_VtkWrappingAvailable;
 }
 
 bool mitk::PythonService::PythonErrorOccured() const
 {
   return m_ErrorOccured;
 }
 
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.cpp b/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..52e25fd20d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,147 @@
+/*===================================================================
+
+The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
+
+Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
+Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
+All rights reserved.
+
+This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
+even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
+A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
+
+===================================================================*/
+
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "mitkSimpleItkImageImport.h"
+#include <mitkImage.h>
+#include <mitkImageReadAccessor.h>
+#include <mitkImageWriteAccessor.h>
+
+namespace sitk = itk::simple;
+
+sitk::Image mitk::SimpleItkImageImport::MitkToSimpleItkImage( mitk::Image* image )
+{
+  const mitk::Vector3D spacing = image->GetGeometry()->GetSpacing();
+  mitk::Point3D origin = image->GetGeometry()->GetOrigin();
+  mitk::PixelType pixelType = image->GetPixelType();
+  mitk::ImageReadAccessor ra(image);
+  void* buffer = (void*) ra.GetData();
+  sitk::ImportImageFilter importer;
+
+  std::vector<double> sitkSpacing;
+  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[0]);
+  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[1]);
+  sitkSpacing.push_back(spacing[2]);
+  std::vector<double> sitkOrigin;
+  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[0]);
+  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[1]);
+  sitkOrigin.push_back(origin[2]);
+  std::vector<unsigned int> sitkSize;
+
+  for ( unsigned int i = 0; i < image->GetDimension(); ++i )
+    sitkSize.push_back(image->GetDimensions()[i]);
+
+  importer.SetSpacing(sitkSpacing);
+  importer.SetSize(sitkSize);
+  importer.SetOrigin(sitkOrigin);
+
+  if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::DOUBLE ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsDouble((double*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::FLOAT ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsFloat((float*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::SHORT) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsInt16((int16_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::CHAR ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsInt8((int8_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::INT ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsInt32((int32_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::LONG ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsInt64((int64_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UCHAR ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsUInt8((uint8_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::UINT ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsUInt32((uint32_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::ULONG ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsUInt64((uint64_t*) buffer);
+  } else if( pixelType.GetComponentType() == itk::ImageIOBase::USHORT ) {
+    importer.SetBufferAsUInt16((uint16_t*) buffer);
+  }
+
+  return importer.Execute();
+}
+
+mitk::Image::Pointer mitk::SimpleItkImageImport::SimpleItkToMitkImage( sitk::Image& sitkImage )
+{
+  mitk::Image::Pointer image = mitk::Image::New();
+  void* buffer = NULL;
+  mitk::PixelType pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
+  std::vector<double> sitkSpacing = sitkImage.GetSpacing();
+  double spacing[3] = { sitkSpacing[0], sitkSpacing[1], sitkSpacing[2] };
+  std::vector<double> sitkOrigin = sitkImage.GetOrigin();
+  double origin[3] = { sitkOrigin[0], sitkOrigin[1], sitkOrigin[2] };
+  std::vector<unsigned int> sitkSize = sitkImage.GetSize();
+  unsigned int dimensions[4] = { 1,1,1,1};
+
+  for ( size_t i = 0; i < sitkSize.size(); ++i )
+    dimensions[i] = sitkSize[i];
+
+  size_t size = 0;
+  if ( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt8 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<char>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt8();
+     size = sizeof(char);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt16 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<short>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt16();
+     size = sizeof(short);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt32 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<int>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt32();
+     size = sizeof(int);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkInt64 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<long>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsInt64();
+     size = sizeof(long);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt8 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned char>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt8();
+     size = sizeof(unsigned char);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt16 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned short>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt16();
+     size = sizeof(unsigned short);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt32 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned int>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt32();
+     size = sizeof(unsigned int);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkUInt64 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<unsigned long>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsUInt64();
+     size = sizeof(unsigned long);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkFloat32 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<float>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsFloat();
+     size = sizeof(float);
+  } else if( sitkImage.GetPixelIDValue() == sitk::sitkFloat64 ) {
+     pixelType = MakeScalarPixelType<float>();
+     buffer = (void*) sitkImage.GetBufferAsDouble();
+     size = sizeof(double);
+  }
+
+  image->Initialize(pixelType,sitkImage.GetDimension(),dimensions);
+  image->SetSpacing(spacing);
+  image->SetOrigin(origin);
+
+  for(size_t i = 0; i < sitkSize.size(); ++i )
+    size *= sitkSize[i];
+
+  mitk::ImageWriteAccessor wa(image);
+
+  memcpy(wa.GetData(),buffer, size);
+
+  return image;
+}
diff --git a/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.h b/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1c01f743f8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Modules/Python/mitkSimpleItkImageImport.h
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+/*===================================================================
+
+The Medical Imaging Interaction Toolkit (MITK)
+
+Copyright (c) German Cancer Research Center,
+Division of Medical and Biological Informatics.
+All rights reserved.
+
+This software is distributed WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without
+even the implied warranty of MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR
+A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.
+
+See LICENSE.txt or http://www.mitk.org for details.
+
+===================================================================*/
+
+#ifndef __MITKSIMPLEITKIMAGEIMPORT_H
+#define __MITKSIMPLEITKIMAGEIMPORT_H
+
+#include <itkSmartPointer.h>
+#include <SimpleITK.h>
+
+// Export macro
+#include <MitkPythonExports.h>
+
+namespace mitk
+{
+
+class Image;
+
+/** @brief Class that provides methods to copy a SimpleITK image to an MITK image
+  * and vice versa.
+  */
+class MITK_PYTHON_EXPORT SimpleItkImageImport
+{
+
+public:
+
+  /**
+    * Copy the content of a MITK image into an SimpleITK image.
+    * @param The source MITK image.
+    * @returns A copy of the MITK image as SimpleITK image.
+    */
+  static itk::simple::Image MitkToSimpleItkImage(mitk::Image* image);
+
+  /**
+    * This method deep copies an SimpleITK image into a MITK image and return it.
+    * @param The source image
+    * @returns A copy as MITK image.
+    */
+  static itk::SmartPointer<mitk::Image> SimpleItkToMitkImage(itk::simple::Image& sitkImage);
+};
+
+}
+
+#endif