V.J. Raso

A support vector machines classifier to assess the severity of idiopathic scoliosis from surface topography

A support vector machines (SVM) classifier was used to assess the severity of idiopathic scoliosis (IS) based on surface topographic images of human backs. Scoliosis is a condition that involves abnormal lateral curvature and rotation of the spine that usually causes noticeable trunk deformities. Based on the hypothesis that combining surface topography and clinical data using a SVM would produce better assessment results, we conducted a study using a dataset of 111 IS patients. Twelve surface and clinical indicators were obtained for each patient. The result of testing on the dataset showed that the system achieved 69-85% accuracy in testing. It outperformed a linear discriminant function classifier and a decision tree classifier on the dataset

The effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields on chondrocyte morphology

Osteoarthritis is a debilitating joint disease where the articular cartilage surface degrades and is unable to repair itself through natural processes. Chondrocytes reside within the cartilage matrix and maintain its structure. We conducted in vitro experiments to investigate the morphological response of cultured human chondrocytes under different pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) conditions. In the control experiments, cultured chondrocytes attached to the bottom of a culture dish typically displayed either a stellate or spindle morphology with extended processes. Experimental chondrocyte cultures were placed in a Helmholtz coil to which a ramp waveform was applied. Exposure to PEMFs caused the chondrocytes to retract their processes, becoming spherical in shape. This change in morphology followed a progression from stellate to spindle to spherical. These morphological changes were reflected in an average reduction of 30% in the surface contact area of the chondrocytes to the culture dish. Understanding the mechanisms by which PEMFs affect the morphology of chondrocytes will help lead to new treatments for osteoarthritis.

A wearable computer for physiotherapeutic scoliosis treatment

A posture monitoring system for the treatment of idiopathic scoliosis using electromagnetic and accelerometer technology is discussed. Distributed processors are used to allow parallel execution of data collection. The system is carried by the patient and provides feedback to allow correction of posture during daily activities.

Medical image registration in computational intelligence framework: a review

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of computational intelligence techniques and their application to medical image registration. Each computational intelligence technique is summarised and its utility to medical image registration is analysed. Genetic computation provides an efficient search methodology. Neural networks can learn complex nonlinear input-output relationships. Fuzzy sets use symbols to summarise the domain knowledge allowing them to handle inconsistent or noisy data and to produce understandable results. Rough sets offer tools to handle different types of uncertainty in data. Some challenges to medical image registration and the application of computational intelligence technologies are indicated.

A low-power posture measurement system for the treatment of scoliosis

A battery-powered electromagnetic (EM) system has been developed to measure topographical features of the trunks of patients with scoliosis. The system includes an EM measurement system and a data acquisition system. The system resolution and accuracy are 0.25 cm in the range of 15-30 cm. The entire system can be carried by scoliotic patients during daily activities. The dimensions of the system are 10 cm/spl times/14 cm/spl times/4 cm and its weight is 100 g. A patients posture can be evaluated in real time so that appropriate feedback can be provided to correct his/her posture.

Smart Garment to Help Children Improve Posture

Many of the aches and pains of adults are the result not of injuries, but of the long-term effects of distortions in posture or alignment. Postural kyphosis in adolescence may be one of the effects of poor standing and sitting habits. Kyphosis is an excessive rounding of the upper spine. A smart garment that can monitor and provide vibration feedback to children has been developed to investigate an alternative treatment possibility. Laboratory tests verified that the accuracy of the system was plusmn2deg within the full 180deg range. A clinical trial has been conducted and it showed that the system can aid subjects to improve by 20% the proportion of time in a more balanced posture. The long term effect is still under investigation

A Torso Imaging System for Quantifying the Deformity Associated with Scoliosis

This paper describes a low-cost torso imaging system for quantifying the deformity associated with scoliosis. The system consists of image-capture and image-analysis components. The image capture component obtains full-torso scans using a rotating positioning platform and one or two surface digitizers. The image-analysis component monitors changes in torso shape. Results of system calibration and error analysis (accuracy of reproduction based on tests on inanimate objects and human subjects) show that the system can be used to track changes caused by the deformity associated with scoliosis

A Parameters Selection Scheme for Medical Image Registration

This paper presents a novel approach for automating the process of medical image registration. Considering rigid image registration, we propose a methodology in which the image registration process is divided in two phases. Phase 1 is used to obtain an accurate estimate of the rotations and a rough estimate of the translations. Phase 2 is used to finetune the translation estimates. In each phase, a fuzzy logic controller is used to adjust the registration parameters to obtain accurate transformation estimates. The proposed methodology produces highly accurate medical image registrations while reducing the required user interaction and maintaining excellent computational efficiency

An electronically integrated load cell [for monitoring pressures of orthotic braces]

An electronically integrated strain-gauge load cell has been developed for monitoring pressures between orthotic braces and the human body for adolescents who have spinal deformities. This load cell has a built in amplifier and low-pass filter. High signal-to-noise ratio, temperature compensation, low power consumption and cost effectiveness are the major advantages of this design. The maximum load for this cell is 110 cm of water (approximately 20 N). Laboratory tests have established that the nonlinearity and hysteresis are less than /spl plusmn/2.5%, and the signal to noise ratio is greater than 70 dB. This paper describes both the structure and the operational principles of the load cell, and presents the calibration results.

A system for measuring pressures exerted by braces in the treatment of scoliosis

A battery-powered microcomputer system has been developed to continuously monitor pressures exerted by braces used to treat children with spinal deformities. Data are collected using an analog system with 16 transducers to measure either brace pressures or strap forces. Data acquisition is controlled by an MC68HC11 microcontroller. CMOS circuits are used to minimize power consumption, and the microcomputer and analog circuitry are kept in a low-power operating mode, except at the specific times when the measurements are taken. A programmable real-time clock controls the sample time and interval, and provides an interrupt to awaken the microcomputer from its low-power sleep mode. Data can be sampled with intervals ranging from 1 s to 1 day with the duration from 2.5 h to 2 weeks. At the end of each study, the data are transmitted to a host computer for analysis. Optimal use of all the features of the MC68HC11 enabled a system to be made which is small, lightweight, robust, and can be mounted on a brace worn by a child. Initial clinical studies suggest that mean brace pressures vary from 67 to 139 mmHg in the frontal plane and from 17 to 66 mmHg in the sagittal plane, and mean strap forces vary from 45 to 90 N. >