title: Automated bone contour detection in ultrasound B-mode images for minimally invasive registration in computer-assisted surgery-an in vitro evaluation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Minimally invasive surgical interventions performed using computer-assisted surgery (CAS) systems require reliable registration methods for pre-operatively acquired patient anatomy representations that are compatible with the minimally invasive paradigm. The use of brightness-mode ultrasound seems to be promising, if associated devices work in a computationally efficient and fully automatic manner.
  
  
  METHODS
  This paper presents a rapid and fully automatic segmentation approach for ultrasound B-mode images capable of detecting echoes from bony structures. The algorithm focuses on the precise and rapid detection of bone contours usable for minimally invasive registration. The article introduces the image-processing scheme and a set-up enabling a direct comparison between manually digitized reference points and the segmented bone contours. The segmentation accuracy was assessed using cadaveric material.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The experimental evaluation revealed results in the same order of magnitude as a pointer-based surface digitization procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The suggested segmentation approach provides a reliable means of detecting bony surface patches in ultrasound images.
authors.affiliation: MEM Research Centre for Orthopaedic Surgery, at the University of Bern, Stauffacherstrasse 78, CH-3014 Bern, Switzerland. jk@memcentre.unibe.ch
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowal
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Amstutz
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Langlotz
authors.forename: Haydar
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Talib
authors.forename: Miguel Gonzalez
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ballester
mesh_terms: D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D010027:Osteotomy / Q000379:methods*; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D010384:Pelvic Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D014463:Ultrasonography