Marching optimal-parameter ridges: An algorithm to extract shape loci in 3D images

Abstract

This paper presents a method for identifying image loci that can be used as a basis for object segmentation and image registration. The focus is on ID and 2D shape loci in 3D images. This method, called marching ridges, uses generalized height ridges, oriented medialness measures and a marching cubes like algorithm to extract optimal scale-orientation cores. This algorithm can can also be used for other image processing tasks such as finding intensity skeletons of objects and identifying object boundaries.