Automated approach for the segmentation of the incus and malleus middle ear bones in 3D CT images

Introduction The human auditory system includes the hearing and balance organs, and can be divided into three main elements: outer ear, middle ear and inner ear. The auditory ossicles are three very small bones: the malleus, incus and stapes, confined in the middle ear and coupled in chain. Their main function is to transmit sound energy from the tympanic membrane to the fluid-filled cochlea. As such, they are fundamental for hearing capabilities. Accurate geometrical realistic models automatically build from common ear images is of huge demand for supporting 3D visualization and radiological diagnosis, for instance. Image segmentation, i.e. the partition of an original image in coherent structures, is a precondition of efficient and truthful analysis of the ear from images. For example, the suitable segmentation of the ear structures in each image slice of a 3D medical exam is critical for effective biomechanical simulation, surgical planning, and surgical implantology [1-2]. The purpose of the current paper is to present a fully automated computational solution to segment the incus and malleus ossicles in conventional 3D X-ray computed tomography (CT) images.