Title: A cellular automaton-based passive-acoustic technique for topological characterisation of objects in fluid with potential application to carotid artery plaques

Authors: Matthew Allan Burley Delaney; Gillian Pearce

Addresses: Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology, University of Northampton, Waterside Campus, University Drive, Northampton, NN1 5PH, UK ' School of Mechanical Engineering, Birmingham University, B15 2TT, UK

Abstract: We present a system for the detection and characterisation of objects located in tubes of flowing fluid. Our system makes use of semiotic analysis of a driven Greenberg-Hastings cellular automaton. Our results indicate that this system is highly effective in both detecting and distinguishing topological features of different objects. We conclude that we have created a potentially effective and relatively low cost system with strong potential for the detection and initial analysis of plaques causing occlusions in the carotid artery. We further conclude that the resulting system could potentially be used as a front-line screening method in medical settings such as GP surgeries and clinics.

Keywords: carotid; artery; fluid-dynamics; cellular-automata; semiotics; medical-imaging.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCMH.2019.104343

International Journal of Computational Medicine and Healthcare, 2019 Vol.1 No.1, pp.5 - 15

Accepted: 30 Nov 2018
Published online: 06 Jan 2020 *