Corey Zheng
BME PhD Proposal Presentation
Date: 2025-05-27
Time: 9:00AM - 10:30AM
Location / Meeting Link: IBB 1128/https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_MDIyNDQ4MTgtNzdhMi00MzU2LWJjNzQtMDhiYzVkMDBkMmFj%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22482198bb-ae7b-4b25-8b7a-6d7f32faa083%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22c992ec57-1f64-4f02-b446-516136ed45b3%22%7d
Committee Members:
Shu Jia, PhD (advisor) Francisco E. Robles, PhD Shuichi Takayama, PhD David Myers, PhD Hang Lu, PhD
Title: Towards intelligent bio-inspired and clinically-inspired imaging systems
Abstract:
Vision represents an incredibly powerful sense which enables biological organisms to capture, recognize, and navigate their spatial surroundings. Inspired by the extraordinary capabilities of biological vision, tools interfacing with human vision that tap into our natural capabilities have been developed, while imaging systems have also become ubiquitous in engineered systems, including robots, consumer devices, and biomedical systems. However, critical challenges remain in replicating and augmenting the sensory capabilities of biological organisms and engineered systems. In particular, many human-operated clinical surgical processes such as minimally invasive surgery, lead to the loss of natural perceptions including depth and tactile senses. This may complicate procedures or necessitate invasive or complex auxiliary technologies to restore this gap. Additionally, further augmentation of the senses can improve patient outcomes and accelerate decision-making. On the other hand, many bio-inspired engineered systems still lack sensory complexity, particularly all-soft systems, which face unique challenges including compactness, flexibility, and decreased reliance on conventional electronics. Thus, the aim of my research is to develop and leverage biologically informed designs to improve soft engineered systems, and conversely use engineered systems to inform biological vision for enhanced clinical imaging. This will be achieved through multidisciplinary approaches combining state-of-the-art materials, algorithms, or engineering design. Towards this goal, I propose two systems: A bio-inspired soft-robotic vision system (Aim 1), and a multi-modal endoscope system capable of 3D imaging and blood flow visualization (Aim 2).
