UWE Bristol Engineering showcase 2015

Benjamin Williams
MEng Mechanical Engineering
Project Supervisor
Melvyn Smith
Computer Vision For Scoliosis Diagnosis
The Condion
Scoliosis is the curvature of the spine. The condion
comes in different forms. Angle, posion of curve, and
rotaon can also be present.
The diagnosis begins with an observaonal analysis where
the contours of the persons back are idenfied for abnormalies.
Abnormalies that suggest the presence of scoliosis
would be as shown boom right.
The severity may be judged by the Cobb method of measuring
the angle of the curve. This is conducted by the
measurement of an x-ray.
The key requirements in the diagnosis of the condion
are a means to understand the chances of development
of the condion as well as classifying the condion at its
current state.
Children are most likely to have a progression of the condion
as it oen progresses more so during growth. The
use of the Risser sign is a good indicaon of the skeletal
maturity and as it esmates growth rate.
Summary of Current Situaon
Variety of condion and mulple methods of diagnosis
leads to complexity in decisions for forward
movement with regards to its treatment
Likelihood of over-referrals to specialists.
Time taken up not just by over referral but by con-
nuous check ups
Too many people who have the condion and it
goes undetected
Constant checkups especially for children
Restricon in diagnoses
Requirements
Capable of performing mulple diagnosis methods
on a paent at one me including severity and likelihood
of developing
Be quick to diagnose, efficient and cheap.
Require no training
Increase awareness, especially to children
Means of transferring it to be used at home
Summary of Findings
Method Advantages Disadvantages
Kinect Easy computaon as greyscale
Proof of use of human
tracking
Unaffected by light
Effecve depth measure
and at appropriate distance
Stereo
Vision
Use of certain algorithms
can lower computaon
Able to use matlab to produce
algorithms which is
simple to learn and use
Some stereo cameras capable
of creang image
Camera Cheap
Camera easy to use
Available soware
Good calibraon of images
Further scope
Using this at home to measure the progression of a pa-
ents spine possibly through use of a game for use with
the Kinect.
The Kinects great tracking power could also be used in
order to produce a means of physiotherapy to help with
related back pain.
This could be used not just for scoliosis but with the consideraon
of any physiotherapy exercise a person could
be tested by such a game or device which will help them
perform them most efficiently.
Soware relies upon computer
operang system
Difficulty in geng correct
soware
Wire when used
Difficulty dealing with occlusions
Unable to use if with sunlight
or shadow
More room for error with
back being of consistent
colour and not much varia-
on of geometry
Difficult to take photographs
from same distance
away
Many images need to be
taken
Time to complete procedure
long
Project Summary
The study explores the jusficaons for implemenng
a means of scoliosis for the development
and improved diagnosis of scoliosis.
The invesgaon compares the types of
computer vision which could be used based
on the requirements and feasibility of each
one.
Project Objecves
The objecve of this study is to idenfy the
best imaging system as an early stage of
screening for such condions as scoliosis.
Areas of invesgaon have been, looking
into the condion, understanding what it is
and how current methods of its diagnosis
can be developed. This provides grounds to
base the rest of the study on which is looking
into three possibilies of computer vision
techniques; The Kinect, Stereo Vision
and Soware aided photography.
Project Conclusions
Each method has their advantages and disadvantages
if applied to screening scoliosis.
There is feasibility in the use of computer
vision as a way of screening although there
would be no suggeson that it would completely
replace radiographs.
There appears to be feasibility in the classificaon
and therefore diagnoses of all methods.
There is a wide scope for further development
of computer vision, mainly Kinect it
would appear for physical exercise tracking
and self monitoring.