Nigel began his presentation by saying that he hoped to explain what
Biomedical Engineering (BME) encompassed since it was a very broad field.
He would also attempt to give an outline of what was going on in the province,
together with a few examples.
Research and Development in BME has been classified into six areas:
Clinical Engineering
Rehabilitation Engineering
Biomedical Imaging and Instrumentation
Biomaterials
Biomechanics
Systems Physiology
As the subjects covered by each of these areas were described, it became
clear that there was considerable complementarity between work at the University
of Alberta and the Capital Health Authority compared with work at the University
of Calgary and the Calgary Regional Health Authority. It was not therefore
surprising that the two groups had combined to offer a more comprehensive
educational programme than either could alone. Courses were offered at the
graduate level with three each year emanating from each end of the high
speed video link between Calgary and Edmonton.
While facilities and some projects in Edmonton were outlined, more detailed
descriptions of four projects in Calgary were provided.
The first was the Scoliosis project at the Southern Alberta Children's Hospital
where techniques are being developed to assess spinal curvature from 3-D
laser digitizing, rather than X-ray images. This is a collaborative project
with a group at the Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal.
The second dealt with mammogram image enhancement and analysis to try to
help diagnose malignant breast tumours sooner and more accurately.
The restoration of joint and tissue function after ligament transplantation
was the third topic.
The final example brought in the system's physiology associated with work
of that nature.
Here the audience was asked to follow a little molecular biochemistry in
order to see how the processes in cells could be affected to change the
chemicals they produced. Changing the output from the body's tissue factories
(the cells) could alter the way tissues form and thus their mechanical behaviour.
There had been some positive initial results from this gene therapy approach
to a widespread orthopædic problem.
Nigel closed by answering questions.
Bob Frost offered a vote of thanks for an interesting, humorous and, occasionally,
technically challenging presentation.
(Vice Chairman)