18 months Post-Doctoral Position - Markerless Bone Tracking

Location: LaTIM, INSERM UMR 1101, Brest, France
Co-supervision: Valérie BURDIN & Guillaume DARDENNE, LaTIM, Brest
Jocelyne TROCCAZ, TIMC-IMAG, Grenoble
Grant: LABEX CAMI, http://cami-labex.fr
Starting date: 2018 for 18 months
Reference: PostDocMBT

Context and Objectives

Musculoskeletal pathologies have multiple causes (trauma, neuromuscular, and degenerative). It impacts the patient’s daily life by limiting the movement of their locomotor system and severe pain is often coupled with. In this framework, the motion analysis is of great interest for several applications: in functional rehabilitation to detect any impairment and understand it, in orthopedic surgery to diagnose a pathology or to acquire essential data during an assisted surgical procedure. In these cases, optical markers are often used and placed either on the skin to avoid any incision or directly on the bone structures during surgery. An optical camera system is then used to locate these markers and thus determine the position of bone structures during a motion.

These solutions involve very sophisticated systems (as VICON) but they remain expensive, not versatile, and the accuracy at the joint level is not sufficient due to soft tissues artefact.

Methodology

In order to tackle the problem, the project’s objective will be to design and implement an innovative and portable solution, based on the markerless methods of the literature. The main joint concerned will be the knee. Two main technical issues to be solved:

1. Determination of a joint congruence constraint model for the knee
2. Real-time markerless tracking of the joint inferring the external locations of the limb to internal joints via the model.

Deliverables

Three outputs are expected for the project:

• Internal/external statistical model development
• Non-invasive tracking algorithm implementation
• Validation of the model thanks to cadaveric studies.

Candidate profile

• PhD in computer vision or medical imaging
• Solid knowledge in image processing and/or applied mathematics
• Biomechanics or robotics knowledge is an advantage
• Strong background in object-oriented programming language (C++, Java), python
• Knowledge of VTK, ITK and Scalismo libraries is an advantage
• English speaking, reading and writing is mandatory - French speaking is an advantage
• Good communication skills and ability to work in a team.

Interested candidates (Please use subject line PostDocMBT in your message)
Send before 15 January 2018 to both valerie.burdin@imt-atlantique.fr and guillaume.dardenne@chu-brest.fr

• Detailled CV
• Motivation letter (one page maximum)
• Reviewers’ report of your PhD Thesis
• Main diplomas
• All transcripts of the 2 years MSc or DNM, or Engineer’s School.
• Two recommendation letters.