Automatic seeding points selection for DTI fiber tracking

1. A method of processing a digital image having an object and a selected pixel from the digital image, comprising: using a processor to perform the steps of:

selecting a second pixel in the digital image;

determining whether an Fractional Anisotropy (FA) value associated with the second pixel is greater than or equal to a first threshold;

determining whether a difference between a Dominant Eigen Vector (DEV) value associated with the second pixel and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to a second threshold; and

if the FA value associated with the second pixel is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the difference between the DEV values is less than or equal to the second threshold, then establish a set having the second pixel and the selected pixel as elements selecting a plurality of pixels in the digital image; for one of the plurality of pixels, determining whether an FA value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels is greater than or equal to the first threshold, determining whether a difference between a DEV value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to a second threshold, and if the FA value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the diffrence between a DEV value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to the second threshold, then include the one of the plurality of pixels in the set; and, repeating the previous step for each of the plurality of pixels.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the selected pixel has an FA value greater than or equal to the first threshold.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising selecting the pixels in the set as the object.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising selecting the plurality of pixels by a neighboring pixel selection process.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , comprising selecting the plurality of pixels by a neighboring pixel selection process wherein processing in a direction in the digital image stops when not a single pixel of the plurality of pixels satisfies: FA value associated with the pixel is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the difference between the DEV value associated with the pixel and the DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to the second threshold.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second threshold is user selected.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first threshold is user selected.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are preset in a software application.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the first threshold is 0.2.

10. A system for processing a digital image having an object and a selected pixel from the digital image, comprising:

means for selecting a second pixel in the digital image;

means for determining whether an Fractional Anisotropy (FA) value associated with the second pixel is greater than or equal to a first threshold;

means for determining whether a difference between a Dominant Eigen Vector(DEV) value associated with the second pixel and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to a second threshold; and

means for establishing a set having the second pixel and the selected pixel as elements if the FA value associated with the second pixel is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the difference between the DEV values is less than or equal to the second threshold means for selecting a plurality of pixels in the digital image; means for each one of the plurality of pixels, determining whether an FA value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels is greater than or equal to the first threshold, for determining whether a difference between a DEV value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to a second threshold, and if the FA value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the difference between a DEV value associated with the one of the plurality of pixels and a DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to the second threshold, for including the one of the plurality of pixels in the set; and, repeating the previous step for each of the plurality of pixels.

11. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the selected pixel has an FA value greater than or equal to the first threshold.

12. The system as claimed in claim 10 , comprising means for selecting the pixels in the set as the object.

13. The system as claimed in claim 10 , comprising means for selecting the plurality of pixels by a neighboring pixel selection process.

14. The system as claimed in claim 10 , comprising means for selecting the plurality of pixels by a neighboring pixel selection process wherein processing in a direction in the digital image stops when not a single pixel of the plurality of pixels satisfies: FA value associated with the pixel is greater than or equal to the first threshold and the difference between the DEV value associated with the pixel and the DEV value associated with the selected pixel is less than or equal to the second threshold.

15. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the second threshold is user selected.

16. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first threshold is user selected.

17. The system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the first threshold and the second threshold are preset in a software application.

18. The system as claimed in claim 17 , wherein the first threshold is 0.2.