Since Summer 07
GPA: 3.6

Fall 04 - Spring 07
GPA: 3.6

With the exception of skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis among women worldwide. Post-mastectomy breast reconstruction is the third most frequently performed reconstructive procedures. The continuous creation and adoption of new surgical techniques and devices have made it possible for the surgeons to reconstruct the breast in many different ways, thus making the decision-making job of the surgeon much more difficult. Current trial and error methods may lead to an unsatisfactory surgical outcome. Hence, there is an urgent need for a system that can pre-operatively simulate the surgical options, visualize potential outcomes of the surgery, and, consequently, help the surgeon and the patient in the process of surgical planning and decision making.

In this thesis, we present a set of computational tools for breast segmentation and breast shape modeling. More specifically: 1) we propose a new algorithm for automatic segmentation of the 3D data of a breast from a 3D scan of the patient's torso; and 2) we present a second generation deformable model for compact representation of the breast shape as estimated from 3D triangular mesh data of the patient's breast. These techniques can serve as the foundation of a number of applications in pre-operative planning for breast reconstruction and for breast plastic surgery in general.

• Developed a graph-based method for automatic delineation of the inner thoracic region in non-contrast CT data.
• Developed Fuzzy Cuts - A knowledge-driven graph based method for medical image segmentation
• Co-developed a learning-based method for the estimaton of of coronary artery zones in non-contrast CT data.
• Co-developed a supervised hierarchical classification scheme for the detection of coronary calcifications in non-contrast CT data.

• Developed the UH-CARES software for computer-aided breast reconstructive surgery that includes three modules, namely -
• Automatic Non-Invasive Breast Volume Estimation
• Graphical environment that allows the surgeon to interactively create a female breast model using a novel physics based deformable female breast model
• Patient database maangement.
• Conducted Simulation studies for post-mastectomy breast reconstructive surgery using ABAQUS.
• Developed algorithms for automatic extraction of breast volume from 3D scan data of the female breast.

• PROJECT: Commercial Security System
  
  An autonomous security system that continuously monitors the activity captured by various surveillance cameras and reports concerned personnel of any suspicious activity.
  
  My Role: Motion detection and activity perception, video capture and playback
  
  
• PROJECT: Guided Object Tracking in Airborne Video
  
  Involved the automatic tracking of an object in the airborne video once the object is pointed out by the operating personnel.
  
  My Role: Guided Object tracking using a new statistical Image Processing approach, AVI file manipulation and playback
  
  
• PROJECT: Target recognition
  
  Involved automatic classification of all objects in an image captured by the camera.
  
  My Role: Motion detection, Video capture and playback