Intelligent Systems for Medicine Lab.
Improving clinical outcomes through technology
Page under construction
Biomechanics for
computer-integrated surgery:
Real Time Computer Simulation of Human Soft Organ Deformation for Computer Assisted Surgery (with Dr Ron Kikinis and Dr Simon Warfield )
The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow calculation of soft organ (brain, liver, kidney, prostate, etc.) deformation during surgical operations in real time. Fully non-linear material models and geometrically nonlinear finite element formulation will be used. The fundamental technology developed within this project: physically (or mechanically) realistic modelling and real time computer simulation of soft organ deformation, will have applications in many areas of computer assisted surgery, such as intra-operative, real time non-rigid registration and virtual reality surgeon training and operation planning systems with force and tactile feedback.
Biomechanics without mechanics: calculating soft tissue deformation without differential equations of equilibrium
The main problem in performing reliable surgery on soft organs is Registration. Registration of soft tissues is difficult because it requires knowledge about local deformations. It is widely believed that accurate registration can be achieved by calculating tissue deformation using solid-mechanical methods: differential equations of motion together with accurate models of tissue mechanical properties (constitutive models) and appropriate boundary conditions. I propose completely different approach to the problem: application of purely geometric methods, which exploit tissue incompressibility and isotropy and do not use differential equations of equilibrium or make any references to mechanical properties of the material.
Biomechanics of Needle Insertion (with Dr Kiyoyuki Chinzei )
Needle insertion is one of the most common neurosurgical procedures. However, the biomechanics of this process is poorly understood. The unknown factors include brain tissue deformation under load imposed by the needle and needle deflection when penetrating brain tissue. We will develop computational models of needle insertion. They will include nonlinear material properties of the brain tissue, large deformations, and needle-tissue contact model including friction. The Japanese group will develop testing methods to validate mathematical models. Experimental set-up includes bi-axial x-ray to measure deformation within the tissue and needle deflection, and a sensor measuring reaction force on needle tip and friction force on needle sides.
Modelling of biomechanical properties of cartilage based on 3D confocal arthroscope images
This research aims at predicting macroscopic (bulk) mechanical properties of cartilage tissue based on microstructural information delivered by "optical biopsy" - in-vivo 3D confocal arthroscope images.
Medical robotics:
Design, construction and testing of magnetic resonance compatible surgical robot (Josh Petitt)
The robot is required to operate
in a magnetic resonance imaging environment, therefore a unique set of
constraints
are placed on the design. The main focus is the development of a mathematical
framework and a set of software tools to aid in the kinematic design of
the mechanism. The magnetic resonance compatibility study will be conducted
in collaboration with AIST,
Tsukuba, Japan, Dr Kiyoyuki
Chinzei
Sports biomechanics:
Work on baseball biomechanics, conducted by Rochelle Nicholls, has had world-wide impact and was covered by New Scientist in August 2003
We are most happy to run student-designed projects.