Segmentation of magnetic resonance imaging data
First Claim
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1. A computer-implemented method for segmenting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, the method executed by a processor, the method comprising:
- detecting one or more edges in an image for a given bone structure;
determining an initial position on the image;
converting the initial position into an initial contour within the given bone structure;
iteratively deforming the initial contour to expand into a shape matching the given bone structure by dynamically applying a set of constraints locally to each point along the initial contour for causing each point to evolve towards at least a selected one of the one or more edges, and updating the set of constraints after one or more iterations for each point of the contour, independently from constraints of neighboring points, wherein the set of constraints includes deformation constraints, viscosity constraints and form constraints; and
outputting the segmentation data delineating the bone structure.
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Abstract
There is described herein an image segmentation technique using an iterative process. A contour, which begins with a single point that expands into a hollow shape, is iteratively deformed into a defined structure. As the contour is deformed, various constraints are applied to points along the contour to dictate its rate of change and direction of change are modified dynamically. The constraints may be modified after one or more iterations, at each point along the contour, in accordance with newly measured or determined data.
42 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for segmenting magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, the method executed by a processor, the method comprising:
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detecting one or more edges in an image for a given bone structure; determining an initial position on the image; converting the initial position into an initial contour within the given bone structure; iteratively deforming the initial contour to expand into a shape matching the given bone structure by dynamically applying a set of constraints locally to each point along the initial contour for causing each point to evolve towards at least a selected one of the one or more edges, and updating the set of constraints after one or more iterations for each point of the contour, independently from constraints of neighboring points, wherein the set of constraints includes deformation constraints, viscosity constraints and form constraints; and outputting the segmentation data delineating the bone structure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for generating segmented data from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, the system comprising:
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at least one computer server communicable with at least one computing device over a network, the at least one computer server having a processor and a memory; an initial position module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the initial position module having program code that when executed, determines an initial position on an image for a given bone structure and converting the initial position into an initial contour; and a contour definition module stored on the memory and executable by the processor, the contour definition module having program code that when executed, iteratively deforms the initial contour to expand into a shape matching the given bone structure by dynamically applying a set of constraints locally to each point along the initial contour for causing each point to evolve towards at least a selected one of one or more edges present in the image, and updating the set of constraints after one or more iterations for each point of the contour, independently from constraints of neighboring points, the contour definition model outputting segmentation data delineating the bone structure, wherein the set of constraints includes deformation constraints, viscosity constraints and form constraints. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification