Biomechanical model-based algorithms for computational radiology of the brain. The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual re ....Biomechanical model-based algorithms for computational radiology of the brain. The proposed research will develop computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual reality operation planning systems with realistic force and tactile feedback, control systems of neurosurgical robots with tissue deformation prediction module, etc.Read moreRead less
Towards Consistent Meshless Computational Framework for Soft Tissue Damage Modelling for Traumatic Injury Prevention and Surgery Simulation. Deaths and injuries due to car crashes cost our society $18 billion per annum. This project will provide enabling computer simulation technology for reducing this cost by improving car crash safety through more accurate evaluation of injury risk as well as by reducing the risk of adverse effects in surgical procedures through better surgical training and su ....Towards Consistent Meshless Computational Framework for Soft Tissue Damage Modelling for Traumatic Injury Prevention and Surgery Simulation. Deaths and injuries due to car crashes cost our society $18 billion per annum. This project will provide enabling computer simulation technology for reducing this cost by improving car crash safety through more accurate evaluation of injury risk as well as by reducing the risk of adverse effects in surgical procedures through better surgical training and surgery planning. We will deliver this technology by creating a computational framework for modelling of soft tissue damage due to traumatic rupture and surgical dissection. This framework will enable building accurate computer models of the human body injury responses for safe car design as well as models for assisting surgeons by predicting forces and deformations in tissue dissection.Read moreRead less
Biomechanics of Needle Insertion. 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 non-linear material properties of the brain tissue, large deformations, and needle-tissue contact model including fric ....Biomechanics of Needle Insertion. 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 non-linear 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.Read moreRead less
Real Time Computer Simulation of Human Soft Organ Deformation for Computer Assisted Surgery. 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 non-linear finite element formulation will be used. The fundamental technology developed within this project: physically (or mechanically) realistic modelling an ....Real Time Computer Simulation of Human Soft Organ Deformation for Computer Assisted Surgery. 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 non-linear 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.Read moreRead less
Neuroimage Registration Using a Graphical Processing Unit. The proposed research will develop a computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The key idea to be pursued is conducting computations on a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling ....Neuroimage Registration Using a Graphical Processing Unit. The proposed research will develop a computational framework, which will allow matching high quality pre-operative brain images with lower resolution images taken during neurosurgery. The key idea to be pursued is conducting computations on a Graphical Processing Unit (GPU). The success of this work will greatly improve effectiveness of brain tumour removal, and therefore improve clinical outcomes. The proposed work will provide enabling technology for other areas of computer aided medicine, such as virtual reality operation planning systems with realistic force and tactile feedback, control systems of neurosurgical robots with tissue deformation prediction module, etc.Read moreRead less
Computational biomechanics for image-guided neurosurgery. Our results will lead to significant improvements to the efficacy and efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours. Visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain, obtained by sparse intra-operative MRI, merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data will become possible. In current practice, the neurosurgeon must mentally fuse the information from pre-operative fMRI and DTI by projecting it ....Computational biomechanics for image-guided neurosurgery. Our results will lead to significant improvements to the efficacy and efficiency of image-guided neurosurgery for brain tumours. Visualisation of the intra-operative configuration of the patient's brain, obtained by sparse intra-operative MRI, merged with high resolution pre-operative imaging data will become possible. In current practice, the neurosurgeon must mentally fuse the information from pre-operative fMRI and DTI by projecting it through the 3D spatial and temporal changes the patient's brain has undergone. We propose to replace this mental fusion with computations based on the biomechanical model that will allow visualisation of the transformed pre-operative data matched to the current shape of the patient's brain.Read moreRead less
Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge re ....Techniques for probing biological media with holographic angular scattering spectroscopy. Huge effort in the biological and medical sciences is spent in using simple software to laboriously mark, count and measure cells and structures in microscope images of samples. We could replace this incredibly inefficient process in many instances with single-shot size-map images of unstained samples. If depth selectivity can be added, we could perform non-invasive measurements on animals, making a huge reduction in their usage. We could assess thick tissues enabling early noninvasive diagnosis of malignancy in tumours in situ or muscle characterization for meat quality or muscular dystrophy. These benefits impact on research, animal ethics, and on health, and have commercial potential in life and medical sciences, and the meat industry.Read moreRead less
Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and ....Coherent optical tissue biopsy and analysis targeting muscle pathology. This international, interdisciplinary collaborative research should change the way structures in tissues are characterised with broad impact on health, biotechnology, and the meat industry. Specific benefits include: a large reduction in the time/effort required for the ubiquitous process of histology of muscle and other tissue sections and samples; a large reduction in the number of animals required in experimentation and the possibility of time sequential studies of the same animal; and in muscular dystrophy in humans, a new capability in the direct assessment of muscle tissue and the disease treatment and progression. This suite of advances should generate intellectual property of major commercial importance.Read moreRead less
Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify can ....Optical coherence elastography - High-resolution medical imaging of tissue mechanical properties. This project brings together an international, multi-disciplinary team to develop innovative, high-resolution techniques to identify diseased tissue. Success will result in a new medical imaging technique allowing clinicians to quantify the mechanical properties of tissue, effectively creating a high-resolution image of what the tissue 'feels' like. This may help them to more accurately identify cancerous tissue during surgery and reduce rates of recurrence. It could aid in tissue engineering and regeneration and will provide a new database of tissue mechanical properties. The project will position Australia as a leader in this newly developing medical imaging technology, with significant potential for commercialisation.Read moreRead less
Terahertz and optical coherence tomography for improved cancer imaging. This project aims to improve cancer imaging by combining two complimentary, novel techniques. Its success will create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge research in optical and terahertz biomedical imaging. This innovative, fundamental research will expand Australia's research capacity in imaging sciences. The nation will benefit from new medical diagnostic techniques that will improve the dete ....Terahertz and optical coherence tomography for improved cancer imaging. This project aims to improve cancer imaging by combining two complimentary, novel techniques. Its success will create an internationally leading position for Australia in cutting-edge research in optical and terahertz biomedical imaging. This innovative, fundamental research will expand Australia's research capacity in imaging sciences. The nation will benefit from new medical diagnostic techniques that will improve the detection and treatment of cancer; as well as aid the clinical assessment of burns. This multidisciplinary, internationally collaborative research has additional wide ranging benefits in biology, medicine, pharmaceutical science and national security.Read moreRead less