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University of Kent researchers pioneer the assessment of neurological conditions using computer analysis

October 21, 2003

Pioneering work to help stroke patients and children with dyspraxia is to be taken to the next stage thanks to an EU grant. Dr Richard Guest and Professor Mike Fairhurst from the University of Kent's Electronics Department are working with researchers at the University of Rouen to develop the use of computer analysis to assess the outcome of writing and drawing exercises employed to gauge the nature and severity of medical conditions affecting neurological functioning.

The Image Processing and Vision Group at Kent have led the way in developing computer-based analysis of such exercises and have been involved in collaborative projects with local clinicians for many years. The exercises require patients to copy geometric figures or complete other simple drawing or observational tasks. According to Professor Fairhurst, 'Computer-based assessment of the tests not only improves the efficiency of testing, but also helps to extract information which is simply not available with conventional testing. This is because the computer can analyse not only the final drawn image, but can also monitor exactly how the drawing was executed, making available information about sequences of actions, timings and the dynamics of the drawing process'.

Dr. Guest explained   'Many different 'features' can be extracted from the drawings, and collectively the feature measurements can help to assess, for example, the nature and severity of a stroke in an elderly patient, or to understand the possible underlying causes of coordination problems in young children. Similarly, such objective measurements can be very useful in monitoring the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes'.

The EU-funded project will allow the research team to further develop this work. Their aim is to analyse the effectiveness of the basic feature extraction techniques and identify more clearly which of those are useful across a wide range of clinical conditions and which are condition-specific. The project team, which also includes Dr Eleni Kaplani and Nick Mavity, will engineer and evaluate a convenient computer-based 'tool' which can be used by doctors in clinical assessments and which can be optimally configured for any given patient group. The complementary skills of the UK and French partners in this area of research will underpin the collaboration, which will also benefit from the close involvement of clinical staff in both countries. In the UK, the project team are working with Dr Jonathan Potter, Consultant in Geriatric Medicine at the Kent & Canterbury Hospital.

The project is funded under the EU INTERREG programme for an initial period of two years, although it is expected that this will extend to a third year to allow for extensive clinical testing. The total award is for £287,407 over the three-year period.

Kent, University of