Automating Scoliosis Analysis By Amar Sahai Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology

Purpose Scoliosis = curvature of the spine Current analyses are either expensive or manual and time-consuming Try to automate this Saves time, effort and money

Scope of Study Automating scoliosis detection and angle of curvature Help pinpoint places on spine to apply pressure to most effectively deal with curve Simpler and cheaper than other solutions

Similar Studies Detection and Measurement of Hilar Region in Chest Radiograph – Australia, 2003 Automatic Computer Recognition and Analysis of Dental X-ray Film – New York, 1970

Procedures and Methodology – Phase 1 Coded in Java and C Requires x-ray images as input Converts inputted images to.pgm image format Uses edge detection to get a clean outline of the spine Darkens image to reduce noise

Procedures and Methodology – Phase 2 Convert.pgm file output from Phase 1 to a.gif Input.gif into new Java program that allows user input Program displays.gif as background Program accepts mouse as input device Left click draws point at clicked location Program draws a line between every other point and calculates the acute angle from the vertical

Procedures and Methodology – Phase 2 (cont.) Right-click toggles auto-detect mode Left click in this mode draws a point at the “edgiest” spot within a 10 pixel radius Program draws a line between every other point and calculates the acute angle from the vertical Points and lines are color coded  Points: red in normal, green in auto-detect  Lines: blue in normal, green in auto-detect

Edge Detection Previous algorithm was fairly primitive Checked for brightest point Current new method – Sobel Calculates horizontal & vertical gradients

Edge Detection (cont.) Gradients are determined by “masks”  Horizontal  Vertical Each set of pixels is multiplied by each mask Any pixel with a high enough G value is recorded as an edge

Roadblocks File conversion must be done in another program Must erase ribcage in order to detect points to apply pressure Need to add buttons to add more features without making

Current Results My edge detection quality is improving but still needs work for actual use Must eradicate extraneous parts of image (ribcage, pelvis)‏ User interface phase works in manual and semi-automatic modes

Screenshots

Screenshots (cont.)