MENTORS

Prof. Gabor Fichtinger, Andras Lasso

info: www.cs.queensu.ca/~gabor, email: gabor@cs.queensu.ca

BACKGROUND AND SIGNIFICANCE

Acquisition of three-dimensional (3D) ultrasound images is an essential technique for various image-guided interventional procedures. The 3D volumes are constructed from a set of image slices acquired by an ultrasound transducer equipped with a position tracking device.

The ultrasound images and positions are acquired using two different hardware devices and processed independently. Therefore, the data recording component gets the image and position information with different time delays, which leads to inaccuracies in the 3D ultrasound image reconstruction.

The goal of the project is to develop an easy-to-use, automatic temporal calibration method, which can measure and compensate the time delay difference of position and image data.

PROJECT OBJECTIVES

• Review proposed temporal calibration methods
• Implement, test, and improve/optimize one or a few promising temporal calibration methods
• Integrate the developed new method into the Plus ultrasound acquisition software library (implemented in C++), which is used by research groups at multiple universities

SKILLS DEVELOPED

Context: Learn basic contexts of ultrasound imaging, position tracking devices, 3D image processing, and image-guided surgery.

Analytical: Image registration, processing, numerical methods (optimization).

Experimental: Ultrasound image acquisition, using optical and electromagnetic position tracking devices.

BACKGROUND REQUIRED

Practical aptitude and mindset, linear algebra, numerical methods, programming in C++.

Preferred prerequisites: Any combination of Computer Integrated Surgery, Computer Graphics, Medical Informatics or Medical Imaging, Math/Linear algebra.