Objective
Biomedical modelling and simulation is a significant area in biomedical engineering used to advance the quantitative understanding of biological functions and to improve medical science and practice by utilising the acquired quantitative knowledge. It aims at analysing and explaining complex properties and functions of biomedical systems. The resulting mathematical models, specified using differential equations, ought to emulate the observed functional behaviour of the system under experimental conditions. Surgeons, for example, have to make their choice during operation among different implants and they need a complete and reliable environment in which can perform simulation of the realistic conditions in almost real-time.
Objectives:
The major objective of the PLACEBO project is to develop an advanced high performance computational environment for solving ordinary or partial differential equations using techniques based on neural network models. It will constitute a computational framework that will assist both doctors and bioengineers into experimentally studying and analysing complex biomedical models in an easy-to-use and efficient way. In addition, the proposed project aims towards improving the performance of existing embedded systems, which are based on advanced biomedical signal processing applications and at the same time stimulating support for related software and hardware technologies.
Work description:
The work in this project is divided into four phases. The first phase is related to horizontal co-ordination and project management. It covers the general management tasks, the official contact with the European Commission, including the preparation of reports. It also covers the technical and quality assurance co-ordination to ensure the necessary interaction among different partners working on different modules of the PLACEBO project. The second phase includes detailed analysis of the user requirements, identifying the target user groups and their particular biomedical modelling problems, which will have to be addressed by the PLACEBO computational framework. It also covers the examination of all the technological parts of the proposed platform that will determine the functional specifications and define a reference architecture model providing detailed guidelines of the platform design. The third phase covers the development of all the different modules that integrate the PLACEBO platform. Many experiments will be provided upon the DSP selected board in order to identify appropriate learning algorithms for training neural networks and also exploit with the neural networks capabilities for solving differential equations. Moreover, the graphical user interface that includes several functionalities and customised properties will be implemented. The computational framework will be extensively tested both from the technical point of view as well as from the user point of view and the final system will be produced. Finally, the last phase deals with the dissemination and planning for commercial exploitation of the Project results will take place. Planning will start early to ensure the best results. A business and exploitation plan will be produced.
Milestones:
The proposed project's milestones include: The Agreement contracted wlth the European Commission. The identification of the user needs and the establishment of the detailed platform architecture. The final PLACEBO computational framework tested in real-life practice accompanied with the PLACEBO user's manual. Finally, a major milestone of the proposed project is the business and exploitation plan of the final product.
Funding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
56021 Cascina
Italy
Participants (8)
117 42 Athina
71110 Iraklio, Crete
DE1 2FZ Derby
1066 Nicosia
2795-116 Linda-a-velha, Oeiras
1000 Bruxelles
17343 Ag. Dimitrios - Athens
73765 Neuhausen
