Nonlinear Shape Statistics for Analysis of Musculoskeletal Structures and Anomalies

This internship will undertake an investigation of novel 3D shape descriptors relevant to three musculoskeletal disorders. The first is an investigation of the relationship between the shape of the bicipital groove of the proximal humerus (a groove in the head of the upper arm bone) and the incidence of injury to the long biceps tendon which is retained in the bicipital groove. The second is to characterize the shape of the spinal canal with the objective of correlating this characterization to a clinically-established measurement for spinal stenosis, or a narrowing of the spinal canal. The third is to perform shape analysis of the rotator cuff (a shoulder muscle) in order to aid in the assessment of the cuff to differentiate between retraction and atrophy. The intern will validate the results of the studies against clinically-established measurements and diagnoses of the disorders.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Ghassan Hamarneh

Student:

Aaron Ward

Partner:

Hospital for Joint Diseases New York University Medical Center

Discipline:

Computer science

Sector:

Life sciences

University:

Simon Fraser University