1999 BCSF Recipient Using Robots To Detect Arteriosclerosys

Marie-Ange Janvier, 1999 BCSF Bursary Recipient, Using Robots To Detect Arteriosclerosys

New technologies of health: biorobotic and mechanic systems

The cardiovascular diseases, such as the arteriosclerosis, are responsible for over one third of the deaths in Canada. The sténose degree (contracting) is a 2D measurement of this disease. However, the planning of an surgical operation requires a geometrical representation in 3D of the affected artery.

Echography 3D is the most promising avenue in imagery to detect the sténoses, because it offers advantages such as the convenience, relatively low costs and a variety of choice of noninvasive and nonionizing analyses.
However, current technologies in freehand mode are not adapted for the sweeping of the long vessels of the bottom of the abdomen and the legs (lower extremities).

Given the high rate success of the medical robots in surgery and orthopedy, the research team conceived a 3D robotized system of echography to detect and quantify the sténoses lower extremities.

Thanks to this new technology, a robot makes the manual training of an echographic sweeping carried out by a radiologist and repeats it with a very high degree of accuracy, while carrying out a frame grabbing to a step of constant sampling. By having recourse to this robot, Marie-Ange JANVIER will develop methods of calibration and rebuilding 3D in order to reproduce a cartography of the arterial tree of the lower extremities to help to establish a diagnosis and to plan therapies.

Marie-Ange JANVIER is completing a doctorate in biomedical engineering at the University of Montreal. She works under the supervision of Dr. Guy Cloutier, director of the Laboratory of biorheology and medical ultrasonography (LBUM) at the Research centre of the CHUM. Dr. Cloutier is also professor at the Department of radiology, radio-oncology and nuclear medicine at the University of Montreal. Dr. Gilles Soulez, radiologist with the CHUM, also collaborate in this project.

Source: page 6 of Nos chercheurs bâtissent un avenir durable 2007-2008

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