Calendar of Events

Seminar

The IEEE EMBS Chapter of the NCS presents the following seminar.


Seminar Title: 	Computer-Aided Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: Towards the Detection 
                of Early and Subtle Signs
Speaker: 	Prof. Rangaraj M. Rangayyan, University of Calgary
Date & Time:	11 am, Oct 10, 2008 (Friday)
Location:	Room E6-060, Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex (ETLC),
		University of Alberta


The seminar will have a duration of about 90 minutes (11 am-12.30 pm), and 
will be followed by pizza & pops.


Abstract: 

Mammograms are difficult images to interpret, especially in the 
screening context. Objective methods for the analysis of mammographic 
features are needed for the development of computer-aided methods to 
assist radiologists in the evaluation of ambiguous features. This 
seminar will present an overview of several image processing techniques 
that we have developed over the past 20 years for medical image analysis. 
The seminar will then present several features of mammograms such as 
Calcifications, Masses, Bilateral asymmetry, and Architectural distortion 
that can be used to detect cancer. Our latest work on the application of 
Gabor filters, phase portraits, and oriented texture analysis for the 
detection of architectural distortion will then be described in detail.

Speaker Biography
Dr. Rangayyan is a Professor in the Department of Electrical and 
Computer Engineering, and an Adjunct Professor of Surgery and 
Radiology at the University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 
His research interests are in the areas of digital signal and image 
processing, biomedical signal analysis, medical imaging and image 
analysis, and computer vision. His current research projects are 
on mammographic image enhancement and analysis for computer-aided 
diagnosis of breast cancer; region-based image processing; knee 
joint sound signal analysis for noninvasive diagnosis of articular 
cartilage pathology; and analysis of textured images by cepstral 
filtering and sonification. He is the author of the book Biomedical 
Image Analysis by CRC Press. He has organized many conferences in 
bio-medical area. He has lectured extensively in more than 20 
countries, and is a Distinguished Lecturer of the IEEE EMBS Society. 
He has received numerous awards for his contribution in medical 
image analysis. He is a Fellow of the IEEE, SPIE, American Institute 
for Medical and Biological Engineering, Engineering Institute of 
Canada, Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine, and Canadian 
Medical and Biological Engineering Society. More details about his 
work can be found at http://enel.ucalgary.ca/People/Ranga/.

If you require more information about the Seminar, please contact the 
EMBS Chapter Chair Prof. Mrinal Mandal (mandal@ece.ualberta.ca)

Seminar Talk by Prof. Rangayyan 

Past Events:

Seminar

Title: 		Technology for Visual Prostheses Applications
Speaker: 	Prof. Philip Troyk, Illinois Institute of Technology
Date & Time:	4-5 pm, Sept 15, 2008 (Monday)
Location:	Room E1-017, Engineering Teaching and Learning Complex (ETLC),
		University of Alberta

Abstract:

As the desire for more sophisticated neural prostheses increases, technology 
is being challenged to meets those needs.  In particular, central nervous 
system prostheses such as those being proposed for the substitution of vision 
are expected to utilize hundreds of channels of artificial neural connections 
to the brain.  Current technology for electrodes, transcutaneously powered 
implants, and neural coding strategies does not begin to fulfill the anticipated 
needs.  Our research has broadly tackled the multi-disciplinary problems of 
researching and developing stable electrode interfaces, designing custom 
integrated circuit chips, developing novel methods of subminiature packaging, 
performing key animal experiments, and evolving a multi-modal assessment process, 
in preparation for the implantation of an intracortical visual prosthesis.  
However, the same technology is applicable towards several neural prosthesis 
devices that are presently being planned for human testing including: retinal 
prostheses, optic nerve prostheses, FES systems, and controllers for prosthetic 
limbs.  This seminar will discuss the range of research that is taking place 
within the Laboratory of Neural Prosthetic Research, at the Illinois Institute 
of Technology, combined with the commercial developments in prosthetic technology 
emerging from Sigenics, Inc.

Speaker Biography:
Philip Troyk received the B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University 
of Illinois at Urbana.  The M.S. and Ph.D. in Bioengineering were received 
from the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is currently on the faculty of 
the Illinois Institute of Technology within the Department of Biomedical 
Engineering and in the Pritzker Institute of Medical Engineering and Science.  
At IIT he is Director of the IIT Laboratory of Neuroprosthetic Research.  He 
is founder and president of Sigenics, Inc, a company, housed within the 
University Technology Park, which specializes in custom integrated circuit 
design.
His background includes a broad range of engineering and technical experiences.  
These include design of airborne power systems for military aircraft when he 
worked for Northrop/Grumman, design of electronic packaging for military and 
medical implantable electronic circuitry, as well as design of remote telemetry 
systems for Radio-Frequency Identification Devices.  His primary research work 
is in the field of neural prostheses, specifically visual prostheses, functional 
electrical stimulation, and wireless implantable sensors for prosthetic control.
He has made contributions to the field of implantable neural prosthesis by the 
design of custom integrated circuits for stimulation and recording, and through 
research on novel methods of packaging implantable electronic devices. He has 
been and is a member of a diverse group of professional societies including the 
IEEE, American Chemical Society, Association for Research in Vision and 
Ophthalmology, International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society, and 
the Materials Research Society.

This seminar is co-sponsored by the Engineering in Medicine and Biology (EMBS) 
Chapter of the IEEE Northern Canada Section, AHFMR and Department of Cell 
Biology at the University of Alberta If you require more information 
about the Seminar, please contact the EMBS Chapter Chair Prof. Mrinal Mandal 
(mandal@ece.ualberta.ca)

Seminar Talk by Prof. Philip Troyk 

Seminar

The IEEE EMBS Chapter of the NCS presents the following seminar.

Title: 		Star Trek Tricorders: Microfabrication and Microelectronics Meet Nanobiotechnology
Speaker: 	Prof. Chris Backhouse, University of Alberta
Date & Time:	5-6 pm, March 27, 2008
Location:	Room NRE 1-003, Natural Resources Engineering Facility,
		University of Alberta

Abstract:

The focus of much of the research in the Backhouse lab is upon the development 
of “Tricorders”, portable systems that are capable of performing complete 
diagnostics within minutes. With the ongoing development of micro and 
nanotechnologies we are now seeing the confluence of microelectronics, 
microphotonics and nanobiotechnologies. The resulting systems enable 
cost-effective medical diagnostics while allowing us to probe biological 
systems at the nanoscale. This work has the potential to completely change 
the way that our health care is delivered, while linking Canadian research 
with healthcare providers on the one hand, and with leading high technology 
companies on the other.

Speaker Biography:
Dr. Backhouse is a Professor and Director of Engineering Physics program in 
the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of 
Alberta. His research interest includes life sciences, space, RF MEMs and 
miniaturised instrumentation. These interests involve the application of 
micro and nanotechnologies for usage ranging from nanobiotechnology for 
medical diagnostics to microfabricated devices for use in space. His past 
industrial experience has been in the application of quantum devices to 
medical imaging and of microfabricated devices to the life sciences. His 
present research spans microfabricated devices and systems, RF systems, 
radio astronomy and ion thrusters. A dominant theme in this research is 
that often humanity has the technologies to solve a given problem but 
cannot afford to apply them. Much of the research in my lab, the Applied 
Miniaturisation Laboratory (AML), is directed to making important technologies 
more accessible through miniaturisation and integration. More details about 
his work can be found at http://www.ece.ualberta.ca/~chrisb/.

If you require more information about the Seminar, please contact the EMBS
Chapter Chair Prof. Mrinal Mandal (mandal@ece.ualberta.ca)

Seminar Talk by Chris Backhouse 

AGM and Seminar

The Annual General Meeting of the IEEE NCS EMBS chapter will be held
as follows:

Wednesday, Feb 13, 2008 5:00 PM
Room: ETL E2-002, University Of Alberta,Edmonton, Alberta

(Room ETL E2-002 is in the second floor of the "Engineering Teaching 
and Learning Centre" of the University of Alberta. The ETLC is adjacent
to the four engineering departments (Electrical, Civil, Mechanical
and Chemical).

Pizza and pops will be provided free of charge. Please RSVP by 10:00 AM
February 12, 2008 to Chapter Secretary Shylah Deland shylah_deland@yahoo.ca.

Member feedback on Chapter activities will be solicited during the 
meeting, so bring your comments and questions.

If you are interested in serving on the EMBS Committee, please send your
nominations to Shylah Deland shylah_deland@yahoo.ca.

The agenda/schedule of the Meeting is as follows:

5.00-5.15: The Annual General Body Meeting starts with a review of recent
           Chapter Activities
5.15-6.00: Invited Talk by Prof Ferguson-Pell 
6.00–6:10: Member Feedback
6.10-6.20: Officers Election
6.20-7.00: Pizza + Pops, and Social


If you require more information about the AGM, please contact the EMBS
Chapter Chair Prof. Mrinal Mandal (mandal@ece.ualberta.ca)

AGM Seminar Talk by Prof Ferguson-Pell 

Seminar

Speaker: Dr. Richard Thompson, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alberta

Title: Imaging Diastolic Function with Magnetic Resonance Imaging and ultrasound - how does the heart relax: An Engineer’s Perspective

Time: 5 pm, December 11, 2007

Location: ETL E2-002 (Engineering Teaching and Learning Centre), University of Alberta

Seminar Notice (in pdf)

Abstract: Traditionally, a healthy heart is synonymous with good systolic 
function, which is the ability of the heart to contract and pump blood to 
the organs and tissues throughout the body. Quantification of systolic 
function is straightforward using standard non-invasive imaging techniques, 
typically echocardiographic (ultrasound) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 
approaches. Although, it is increasingly recognized that the ability of the 
heart to relax and fill with blood, known as diastolic function, is equally 
important in determining heart health, unlike systolic function, quantification 
of diastolic function is notoriously difficult. The current standard MRI and 
Ultrasound diastolic imaging approaches will be introduced and new cutting 
edge approaches will be described, with an emphasis on imaging physics, 
signal processing and the underlying physical properties of the heart that 
determines diastolic function.

Pizza & Pops will be served after the presentation

Seminar

Speaker: Prof. Claudio T. Silva, University of Utah

Title: "Scalable Techniques for Scientific Visualization"

Time: 12 noon, August 1, 2007.

Location: Computing Science Centre (CSC), Room 3-33, University of Alberta

Seminar Abstract