Patent ID: 7006677
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G06K,G06T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for segmenting three-dimensional (3D) medical images containing a region of interest, the method comprising the steps of: identifying a first set of seed points within the region of interest; identifying a second set of seed points outside the region of interest; constructing a first sphere within the region of interest centered around the first set of seed points; classifying voxels contained within 3D medical images using a spatial constrained fuzzy clustering algorithm whereby transforming the voxels contained within the 3D medical image into a fuzzy partition domain based on a homogeneity function; successively generating a plurality of second spheres about said first sphere; accepting ones of the plurality of second spheres that satisfy the homogeneity function threshold as defined by the spatial constricted fuzzy clustering algorithm; adaptively growing a three-dimensional area defining the region of interest based on the step of accepting; and displaying the region of interest defined by the step of adaptively growing.