A new Graph-Based method for automatic segmentation

Abstract

In this paper, a new graph-based segmentation method is proposed. Various Regions of Interest (ROIs) can be extracted from digital images/volumes without requiring any processing parameters. Only one point belonging to the region of interest must be given. The method, starting from a single source element, proceeds with a specific propagation mechanism based on the graph theory, to find a Minimum Path Spanning Tree (MPST). As compared with other existing segmentation methods, a new cost function is here proposed. It allows the process to be adaptive to both a local and global context, to be optimal and independent from the order of analysis, requiring a single iteration step. The final decision step is based on a threshold value that is automatically selected. Performance evaluation is presented by applying the method in the biomedical field, considering the extraction of wrist bones from real Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) volumes.