Department of Computer Science
In partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree
Nanfei Sun
will defend his Ph.D. proposal
Bioheat Modeling of Peripheral Vascular Function & Applications
Abstract
The human body thermoregulation is directly affected by the peripheral vascular function. Several important physiological variables can be computed through careful analysis of dynamic thermal imagery of the skin. In this proposal we outline our methodology for computing physiological variables in a contact free, passive, and sustainable manner. First, we introduce a novel method to recover the cardiovascular pulse rate. Second, we embed the pulse rate computation in a more general bioheat modeling method to recover the full pulse waveform. Third, we describe a method to capture irregular blood perfusion patterns associated with cluster migraines. Our work opens the way for many unique applications in the medical field. We are expecting that the passive, contact-free, and sustainable monitoring of physiology will have strong impact on polygraph testing, sleep studies, sports training, and chronic disease diagnosis.
Date: Friday, May 6, 2005
Time: 1:00 PM
Place: 218-PGH
Faculty, students, and the general public are invited.
Thesis Advisor: Prof. Ioannis Pavlidis