Registration assisted image smoothing and segmentation

Abstract

Image segmentation is a fundamental problem in Image Processing, Computer Vision and Medical Imaging with numerous applications. In this paper, we address the atlas-based image segmentation problem which involves registration of the atlas to the subject or target image in order to achieve the segmentation of the target image. Thus, the target image is segmented with the assistance of a registration process. We present a novel variational formulation of this registration assisted image segmentation problem which leads to solving a coupled set of nonlinear PDEs that are solved using efficient numerical schemes. Our work is a departure from earlier methods in that we have a unified variational principle wherein registration and segmentation are simultaneously achieved. We present several 2D examples on syntheticand real data sets along with quantitative accuracy estimates of the registration.