Patent ID: 8577104
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: G06K,G06T

Abstract:
1. A method for segmenting a first object from a bounding object within a digital image, comprising identifying, from within the digital image, a plurality of pixels between at least a first endpoint pixel and a second endpoint pixel, wherein the first and second endpoint pixels are identified by a user using a display; defining a volume of interest spanning at least a portion of the object according to the identified plurality of pixels; partitioning pixels within the volume of interest into a first subset of pixels that are neither the first object nor bounding object pixels and second subset of pixels that are not contained in the first subset; executing, by a computer processor, a spatially varying two-phase segmentation process that segments the first object from the bounding object within the second subset of pixels according to the location of each subject pixel within the second subset relative to pixels in the first subset of pixels; refining the first object segmentation according to the location of the subject pixel relative to the segmented bounding object and to the first subset of pixels; forming a segmented image according to the refined first object segmentation; and displaying, storing, or transmitting the segmented image.