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Segmentation of Heart Image Sequences Based
on Human Way of Recognition
Arkadiusz Tomczyk and Piotr S. Szczepaniak
Institute of Computer Science, Technical University of Lodz,
Wolczanska 215, 90-924 Lodz, Poland
tomczyk@ics.p.lodz.pl
Abstract.
The paper presents a method of heart ventricle segmenta-
tion. The proposed approach tries to imitate a human process of top-
down localisation of proper contour by subsequent detection of a whole
heart, interventricular septum and, finally, left and right ventricle. As
a tool of cotour detection adaptive potential active contours (APAC)
are used. They allow both to describe smooth, medical shapes and, like
the other active contour techniques, make it possible to use any expert
knowledge in energy function. Finally, the paper discusses the obtained
results.
1
Introduction
Image segmentation is a crucial element of every system where imitation of hu-
man image recognition process is necessary. There exist numerous methods of
low-level segmentation such as thresholding, edge-based methods, region-based
methods, etc ([1,2,3]). Most of them, however, possess limitations when more
complicated images (e.g. medical images) are considered. Those limitations are
a result of fact that proper segmentation in such cases is possible only if addi-
tional, high-level expert knowledge is considered. In this paper this knowledge
is used in three-phase top-down process of left and righ heart ventricle segmen-
tation. As a tool, which does not possess limitations mentioned above, adaptive
potential active contours ([4,5]) are used. They, simirarly to other active con-
tour techniques ([6,7,8]), allow to incoporate any expert knowledge in the energy
function.
The paper is organized as follows: in section 2 the considered problem is
presented, section 3 describes proposed three-phase approach to heart ventricle
segmentation, section 4 is devoted to discussion and presentation of obtained
results, whereas the last section focuses on the summary of the proposed ap-
proach.
2Prob em
Obstruction of pulmonary arteries by the emboli is one of the most frequent
cause of death among the population in the most developed societies. In recent
