title: Real-time 3D interactive segmentation of echocardiographic data through user-based deformation of B-spline explicit active surfaces.
abstract: Image segmentation is an ubiquitous task in medical image analysis, which is required to estimate morphological or functional properties of given anatomical targets. While automatic processing is highly desirable, image segmentation remains to date a supervised process in daily clinical practice. Indeed, challenging data often requires user interaction to capture the required level of anatomical detail. To optimize the analysis of 3D images, the user should be able to efficiently interact with the result of any segmentation algorithm to correct any possible disagreement. Building on a previously developed real-time 3D segmentation algorithm, we propose in the present work an extension towards an interactive application where user information can be used online to steer the segmentation result. This enables a synergistic collaboration between the operator and the underlying segmentation algorithm, thus contributing to higher segmentation accuracy, while keeping total analysis time competitive. To this end, we formalize the user interaction paradigm using a geometrical approach, where the user input is mapped to a non-cartesian space while this information is used to drive the boundary towards the position provided by the user. Additionally, we propose a shape regularization term which improves the interaction with the segmented surface, thereby making the interactive segmentation process less cumbersome. The resulting algorithm offers competitive performance both in terms of segmentation accuracy, as well as in terms of total analysis time. This contributes to a more efficient use of the existing segmentation tools in daily clinical practice. Furthermore, it compares favorably to state-of-the-art interactive segmentation software based on a 3D livewire-based algorithm.
authors: Laboratory on Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium; Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, France; DIGARC, Polytechnic Institute of Cávado and Ave, Barcelos, Portugal. Electronic address: daniel.barbosa@uzleuven.be.
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Barbosa
authors: Laboratory on Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Brecht
authors: B
authors: Heyde
authors: Laboratory on Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Maja
authors: M
authors: Cikes
authors: Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, France.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Dietenbeck
authors: Laboratory on Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Piet
authors: P
authors: Claus
authors: Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, France.
authors: Denis
authors: D
authors: Friboulet
authors: Université de Lyon, CREATIS, CNRS UMR5220, Inserm U1044, INSA-Lyon, Université Lyon 1, France.
authors: Olivier
authors: O
authors: Bernard
authors: Laboratory on Cardiovascular Imaging and Dynamics, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Belgium.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: D'hooge
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003199:Computer Systems; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
keywords: Active contours; B-spline explicit active surfaces; Interactive segmentation; User interaction