Best-fit segmentation created using flood-based iterative thinning

Abstract

Classical methods of segmentation that use binarization in the preprocessing stage often do not provide the precise delineation of the range of objects. For example, this might be useful for images of the corneal endothelium obtained with specular or confocal microscopy. This article presents a solution that makes it possible to adjust the course of the segmentation in the valleys between cells. The algorithm is a combination of iterative thinning and a watershed algorithm that works by the gradual removal of points with increasingly lower brightness levels. The article also contains examples of output images and quality tests.