Semi-Automatic Topology Independent Contour-Based 2 1/2 D Segmentation Using Live-Wire

In general three-dimensional segmentation algorithms assume objects to have connected homogeneous regions. However in some cases objects are defined by a fuzzy boundary surface and consist of an inhomogeneous internal structure. In the following a new three-dimensional segmentation technique exploiting the contour detection capabilities of live-wire is proposed. The algorithm consists of two basic steps. First contours are outlined by the user on a small number of planar cross-sections through the object using live-wire. Second the traced contours are used for reconstructing the object surface automatically in each slice using live-wire again. This user-friendly segmentation algorithm is independent from object topology as the topology is implicitly defined during the reconstruction process.