RESEARCH & METHODOLOGY
THE SCIENCE BEHIND
This section explores the research that make BackSCNR a trusted leader in scoliosis evaluation.
BackSCNR a trusted leader in scoliosis evaluation.
BACKSCNR PLATFORM
HOW OUR TECHNOLOGY WORKS
SURFACE SCANNING
BackSCNR uses 3D scanning via iPad/iPhone to capture spinal contours. These models are mirrored and aligned to produce a deviation map, visually highlighting asymmetries for accurate, radiation-free scoliosis assessment.
AI MODELS
Our AI architecture processes topography data to detect patterns, classify severity, and track progression. This deep learning model enhances clinical precision and supports personalized treatment planning.
PROOF IT WORKS
Clinical trials and internal testing show strong alignment with X-ray results, with deviation maps accurate within 3 degrees. Graphs and comparative visuals build trust through clear, data-backed evidence..
Research Publications
JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS
Hassan M, Ruiz JMG, Mohamed N, Burke TN, Mei Q, Westover L. (2025).
Ensemble learning of deep CNN models and two stage level prediction of Cobb angle on surface topography in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis.
Medical Engineering and Physics, 140:104332.
Read publicationMohamed N, Ruiz JMG, Hassan M, Costa OA, Burke TN, Mei Q, Westover L. (2025).
Three-dimensional markerless surface topography approach with convolutional neural networks for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis screening.
Scientific Reports, 15(1):8728.
Read publicationRuiz JMG, Mohamed N, Hassan M, Fald K, de Los Ríos Ruiz E, Pérez Cabello P, Redondo ÁR, da Rosa B, Burke TN, Westover L. (2025).
Clinical and Topographic Screening for Scoliosis in Children Participating in Routine Sports: A Prevalence and Accuracy Study in a Spanish Population.
Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(1):273.
Read publicationMohamed N, Acharya V, Schreiber S, Parent EC, Westover L. (2024).
Effect of adding Schroth physiotherapeutic scoliosis specific exercises to standard care in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis on posture assessed using surface topography: A secondary analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT).
Public Library of Science (PLOS) ONE, 19(4):e0302577.
Read publicationGhaneei M, Ekyalimpa R, Westover L, Parent EC, Adeeb S. (2019).
Customized k-Nearest Neighbourhood Analysis in the Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using 3D Markerless Asymmetry Analysis.
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering.
Read publicationGhaneei M, Komeili A, Li Y, Parent EC, Adeeb S. (2018).
3D Markerless Asymmetry Analysis in the Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 19:385.
Read publicationHong A, Jaswal N, Westover L, Parent EC, Moreau M, Hedden D, Adeeb S. (2017).
Surface Topography Classification Trees for Assessing Severity and Monitoring Progression in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis (AIS).
Spine.
Read publicationHo C, Parent E, Watkins E, Moreau M, Hedden D, El-Rich M, Adeeb S. (2015).
Asymmetry Assessment Using Surface Topography in Healthy Adolescents.
Symmetry, 7, 1436-1454; doi:10.3390/sym7031436.
Read publicationKomeili A, Westover L, Parent EC, El-Rich M, Adeeb S. (2015).
Correlation between a Novel Surface Topography Asymmetry Analysis and Radiographic Data in Scoliosis.
Spine Deformity, 3(4):303-311.
Read publicationKomeili A, Westover L, Parent EC, El-Rich M, Adeeb S. (2015).
Monitoring for Idiopathic Scoliosis Curve Progression Using Surface Topography Asymmetry Analysis of the Torso in Adolescents.
The Spine Journal, 15(4):743-751.
Read publicationHill S, Franco-Sepulveda E, Komeili A, Trovato A, Parent EC, Hill D, Lou E, Adeeb S. (2014).
Assessing Asymmetry Using Reflection and Rotoinversion in Biomedical Engineering Applications.
Journal of Engineering in Medicine, 228(5):523-529.
Read publicationTrovato A, Komeili A, Westover L, Parent EC, Moreau M, Adeeb S. (2014).
Examination of the Breast Asymmetry Associated with Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Surface Topography Methods.
Journal of Medical and Biological Engineering, 34(6):612-617.
Read publicationKomeili A, Westover L, Parent EC, Moreau M, El-Rich M, Adeeb S. (2014).
Surface Topography Asymmetry Maps Categorizing External Deformity in Scoliosis.
The Spine Journal, 14(6): 973-983.
Read publicationSELECTED RECENT (45 TOTAL)
CONFERENCE MATERIALS
Westover L*, Hassan M, Mohamed N, Gonzalez Ruiz JM, da Rosa B, Estaji Z, Qiu W, Onchuru D, Mei Q, Adeeb S. (2025).
Surface topography asymmetry analysis in screening and monitoring adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.
30th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), Zurich, Switzerland, July 6 – 9, 2025 (Podium).
Westover L*. (2025).
BackSCNR: Assessment and screening of scoliosis using surface topography asymmetry analysis.
5th Brazilian Congress on Scoliosis, Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 6-9, 2025 (Invited Speaker).
da Rosa B*, Westover L*. (2025).
BackSCNR Platform: Safe, accurate & non-invasive scoliosis assessment.
5th Brazilian Congress on Scoliosis, Sao Paulo, Brazil, June 6-9, 2025 (Invited Workshop).
Ruiz JMG*, Sanchez-Raya J, Salat-Batlle J, Masnou J, Bago J, Rodas Rivas MA, Espinoza Poblete PA, Morillo Armendariz M, da Rosa BN, Estaji Z, Nogueira Burke T, Hassan M, Mohamed N, Rothstock S, Westover L. (2025).
Exploring predictive models of Cobb angle in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis (AIS), A cross-sectional study based on surface topography (ST) and clinical parameters.
SOSORT 2025 International Congress, Dubrovnik, Croatia, April 23 – 26, 2025 (Poster).
Hassan M*, da Rosa BN, Ruiz JMG, Mei Q, Westover L. (2025).
A transfer learning approach for identifying Cobb angle changes in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis monitoring using surface topography.
SOSORT 2025 International Congress, Dubrovnik, Croatia, April 23 – 26, 2025 (Poster).
Hassan M*, Mohamed N, Mei Q, Westover L. (2024).
Transfer learning with deep convolutional network for the identification of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis maximum Cobb angle using 3D torso surface topography.
25th Annual Alberta Biomedical Engineering (BME) Conference, Banff, AB, October 25-27, 2024 (Podium).
Mohamed N*, Chen W, Lou E, Mei Q, Westover L. (2024).
Evaluating the association of surface topography technique with 3D vertebral position.
25th Annual Alberta Biomedical Engineering (BME) Conference, Banff, AB, October 25-27, 2024 (Poster).
Mohamed N*, Ruiz JMG, Hassan M, Schreiber S, Parent E, Mei Q, Westover L. (2024).
Minimally important changes in surface topography posture measures in adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis to assess the effect of Schroth exercises.
Canadian Society for Biomechanics (CSB) Biennial Conference, Edmonton, AB, August 19 – 22, 2024 (Podium).
Ruiz JMG, Mohamed N*, de los Rios Ruiz E, Hassan M, da Rosa BN, Nogueira Burke T, Westover L. (2024).
Clinical validation of a CNN approach based on surface topography for idiopathic scoliosis screening.
Canadian Society for Biomechanics (CSB) Biennial Conference, Edmonton, AB, August 19 – 22, 2024 (Podium).
Hassan M, Ruiz JMG, Mohamed N, Mei Q, Westover L. (2024).
Machine learning algorithm identifies Cobb angle of adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis using surface topography.
59th Annual Meeting of the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS), Barcelona, Spain, September 10 – 14, 2024 (Podium; Student Award Nominee).
Hassan M, Ruiz JMG, Mohamed N, Mei Q, Westover L*. (2024).
Advanced 3D torso scan analysis for Cobb angle prediction in AIS: Regression-focused CNN with repeated stratified cross-validation.
SOSORT 2024 World Congress, Boston, MA, USA, May 1 – 4, 2024 (Podium).
Hassan M*, Mohamed N, Mei Q, Westover L. (2023).
CNN architectures for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) severity classification based on 3D torso surface topography.
24th Annual Alberta Biomedical Engineering Conference, Banff, AB, October 27 – 28, 2023 (Podium).
Mohamed N*, Hassan M, Ruiz JMG, Mei Q, Westover L. (2023).
Surface Topography as a Non-Invasive Clinical Screening Tool for Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Research Day, October 18, 2023 (Podium).
Hassan M, Mohamed N, Lou E*, Mei Q, Westover L. (2023).
Using convolution neural network with Huber loss output regression layer to predict the maximum cobb angle of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis from surface topography scans.
SOSORT 2023, Melbourne, Australia, May 1 – 5, 2023 (Podium).
Mohamed N, Schreiber S, Parent EC*, Mei Q, Westover L. (2023).
Adolescents with idiopathic scoliosis perception on back condition and its relation to surface topography outcome parameters: A randomized controlled trial.
SOSORT 2023, Melbourne, Australia, May 1 – 5, 2023 (Podium).
Mohamed N*, Hassan M, Mei Q, Parent EC, Westover L. (2023).
Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis Detection Using Surface Topography and Convolutional Neural Networks.
Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (CMBBE) 2023 Symposium, Paris, France, May 3 – 5, 2023 (Podium).
Mohamed N*, Hassan M, Mei Q, Westover L. (2022).
Using Convolutional Neural Networks and Surface Topography for Detection of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
Women and Children’s Health Research Institute (WCHRI) Research Day, November 2, 2022 (Virtual).
Hassan M*, Mohamed N, Mei Q, Westover L. (2022).
Evaluating CNN with a cross-validation approach to classify adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) severity.
23rd Annual Alberta Biomedical Engineering Conference, Banff, AB, October 21 – 22, 2022 (Poster).
