A discrete dynamic contour model

Journal Article · Wed Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1995 · IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/42.370398· OSTI ID:37331

Lobregt, S ^[1]; Viergever, M A ^[2]

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1. Philips Medical Systems, Best (Netherlands)
2. Utrecht Univ. (Netherlands)

A discrete dynamic model for defining contours in 2-D images is developed. The structure of this model is a set of connected vertices. With a minimum of interaction, an initial contour model can be defined, which is then automatically modified by an energy minimizing process. The internal energy of the model depends on local contour curvature, while the external energy is derived from image features. Solutions are presented to avoid undesirable deformation effects, like shrinking and vertex clustering, which are common in existing active contour models. The deformation process stops when a local minimum of the energy function is reached. The final shape of the model is a reproducible approximation of the desired contour. Results of applying the method to computer-generated images, as well as clinical images, are presented. The goal at which this work is aimed is to develop a tool to assist the operator with the definition of contours in medical images. Such a tool should reduce the required user interaction significantly, thereby saving a lot of time, and provide reproducible results. The method to be developed can be applied to any pixel- or voxel-type description of some object space. This type of data is routinely generated nowadays by various data acquisition modalities in the clinical environment like CT, MRI, SPECT, PET, and US.

• OSTI ID: 37331
• Journal Information: IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging, Journal Name: IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 14; ISSN 0278-0062; ISSN ITMID4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

55 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
BASIC STUDIES
DIAGNOSTIC TECHNIQUES
IMAGE PROCESSING
IMAGES
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS