Interactive real-time segmentation of the spine (Interactive Square-Cut) in 2014

Interactive real-time feedback segmentation of the spine. For more Information, please see:

Jan Egger, Tobias Lueddemann, Robert Schwarzenberg, Bernd Freisleben, Christopher Nimsky. "Interactive-cut: Real-time feedback segmentation for translational research". Computerized Medical Imaging and Graphics, Volume 38, Issue 4, Pages 285–295, June 2014.

Abstract:
In this contribution, a scale-invariant image segmentation algorithm is introduced that “wraps” the algorithm's parameters for the user by its interactive behavior, avoiding the definition of “arbitrary” numbers that the user cannot really understand. Therefore, we designed a specific graph-based segmentation method that only requires a single seed-point inside the target-structure from the user and is thus particularly suitable for immediate processing and interactive, real-time adjustments by the user. In addition, color or gray value information that is needed for the approach can be automatically extracted around the user-defined seed point. Furthermore, the graph is constructed in such a way, so that a polynomial-time mincut computation can provide the segmentation result within a second on an up-to-date computer. The algorithm presented here has been evaluated with fixed seed points on 2D and 3D medical image data, such as brain tumors, cerebral aneurysms and vertebral bodies. Direct comparison of the obtained automatic segmentation results with costlier, manual slice-by-slice segmentations performed by trained physicians, suggest a strong medical relevance of this interactive approach.

For the non-interactive 2D Version please see:
Jan Egger, Tina Kapur, Thomas Dukatz, Malgorzata Kolodziej, Dženan Zukić, Bernd Freisleben, Christopher Nimsky
Square-Cut: A Segmentation Algorithm on the Basis of a Rectangle Shape

For a 3D Version please see:
Cube-Cut: Vertebral Body Segmentation in MRI-Data through Cubic-Shaped Divergences