Patent ID: 7907768

Claim:
An image processing method of using an image processing unit to generate a probabilistic atlas, said method comprising: accessing digital image data representing a plurality of objects with a plurality of features; generating a shape model using a shape model unit for shapes of said plurality of objects, said step of generating a shape model including generating a baseline object using a baseline shape unit by aligning said plurality of objects, and determining deformation modes using a deformation analysis unit to describe shape deformations between shapes of said plurality of objects and said baseline object; performing shape registration using a shape registration unit for said plurality of objects by fitting shapes of said plurality of objects using combinations of said deformation modes, to obtain registered shapes; generating a probabilistic atlas of a map of probabilities of features on a mean shape using a probabilistic atlas generation unit by mapping said plurality of features from said plurality of objects to said baseline object, using said registered shapes for said plurality of objects and outputting the probabilistic atlas to an output unit to obtain probabilities; and wherein said sub-step of generating the baseline object generates said baseline object as a mean object shape by aligning centers of mass of shapes of said plurality of objects to obtain a map of pixel frequencies in said shapes of said plurality of objects, and thresholding said map of pixel frequencies at a predetermined frequency to obtain the mean object shape.