MENTORS

Prof. Gabor Fichtinger (gabor@cs.queensu.ca)

Andras Lasso (lasso@cs.queensu.ca)

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE 

High-accuracy optical and electromagnetic trackers are commonly used for image-guided interventions for tracking the position and orientation (pose) of tools and target objets. In certain applications these tracking devices could be replaced by small, low-cost inertial measurement units (IMU), which contains integrated accelerometer-magnetometer-gyroscope sensors. Typical size of the sensor is a few centimeters by a few centimeters and it costs about $150. This allows new applications that have not be possible to implement with optical or electromagnetic sensors.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Review of previous applications of IMUs for image-guided interventions
• Review of methods for IMU sensor fusion
• Implement a chosen algorithm in C++, integrate it into the Plus open-source software platform
• Test and optimize the algorithm
• Evaluate the applicability of the algorithm on an image-guided intervention application (e.g., visualization of relevant part of the patient's CT/MRI/US image while inserting a needle)

• Analysis, manipulation, and visualization of geometric objects in C++, using open-source toolkits
• Collaboration with a multidisciplinary group of medical imaging algorithm researchers, software developers, and clinicians
• Using professional tools and methodologies for algorithm research and software development

BACKGROUND REQUIRED

• A curious mind and always-ready-to-try-new-things attitude
• C++ programming experience
• Interest in signal processing