Segmenting occluded anatomical structures in medical images
A method for segmenting an anatomical structure having portions occluded in a digital image wherein the digital image is produced by a projection-based medical imaging modality. The method includes the steps of: outlining an unoccluded portion of the anatomical structure in a training image; augmenting the occluded portion of the anatomical structure according to a pre-determined atlas of the anatomical structure; generating an augmented training example using the outlined and augmented portions; repeating the steps of outlining, augmenting, and generating for a plurality of training images to train a statistical model of the structure; accessing the digital image; and segmenting the anatomical structure in the accessed digital image according to the statistical model.
1. A method for segmenting an anatomical structure having portions occluded in a digital image, the digital image being produced by a projection-based medical imaging modality, the method comprising the steps of:
outlining an unoccluded portion of the anatomical structure in a training image;
augmenting the occluded portion of the anatomical structure according to a pre-determined atlas of the anatomical structure;
generating an augmented training example using the outlined and augmented portions;
repeating the steps of outlining, augmenting, and generating for a plurality of training images to train a statistical model of the structure;
accessing the digital image; and
segmenting the anatomical structure in the accessed digital image according to the trained statistical model.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical model is comprised of a shape model and an appearance model.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical model is an active shape model.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the statistical model is a shape regularized active contour model.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining a size of the anatomical structure according to an area within the segmented anatomical structure.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of displaying, printing, or transmitting the segmented anatomical structure.
7. A computer product embodied in a computer readable medium for performing the steps of claim 1 .
8. A system for segmenting an anatomical structure having portions occluded in a digital image, the digital image being produced by a projection-based medical imaging modality, the system comprising:
means for accessing the digital image produced by the projection-based medical imaging modality; and
a programmable computer having a microprocessor, computer memory, and a computer program stored in the computer memory for performing the steps of:
outlining an unoccluded portion of the anatomical structure in a training image;
augmenting the occluded portion of the anatomical structure according to a pre-determined atlas of the anatomical structure;
generating an augmented training example using the outlined and augmented portions;
repeating the steps of outlining, augmenting, and generating for a plurality of training images to train a statistical model of the structure;
accessing the digital image; and
segmenting the anatomical structure in the accessed digital image according to the statistical model.