Dynamic active contour model for size independent blood vessel lumen segmentation and quantification in high-resolution magnetic resonance images

Abstract

We are presenting a software tool developed for the purpose of atherosclerotic plaque study in high resolution Magnetic Resonance Images. A new implementation of balloon-type active contour model used for segmentation and quantification of blood vessel lumen is described. Its originality resides in a dynamic scaling process which makes the influence of the balloon force independent of the current size of the contour. The contour can therefore be initialized by single point. Moreover, system matrix inversion is performed only once. Hence computational cost is strongly reduced. This model was validated in ex vivo vascular images from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic rabbits. Automatic quantification results were compared to measurements performed by experts. Mean quantification error was smaller than average intra-observer variability.