Discrete light sheet microscopic segmentation of left ventricle using morphological tuning and active contours.

Left ventricular segmentation using cardiovascular MR scan is required for the diagnosis and further cure of cardiac diseases. Automatic systems for left ventricle segmentation are being studied for attaining more accurate results in a shorter period of time. A novel algorithm introducing discrete segmentation of left ventricle achieves an independent processing of images swiftly. The workflow consists of four segments; first, automated localization is performed on the MR image. Second, performing preprocessing intimately improves and enhances the quality of image using mean contrast adjustment. Central segmentation of endocardium and epicardium layers includes novel MTAC (Morphological tuning using active contours) segmentation algorithm that provides a perfect combination of active contours and morphological tuning to bring an adequate and desirable segmentation. The prospective snake model is a restrained progression, which takes iterations for an impulse throughout the left ventricle contours. At the end, contrast based refining overcomes minor edge problems for both outer and inner boundaries. Proposed algorithm is evaluated via Sunnybrook cardiac MR images by producing an overall average perpendicular distance 2.45 mm, an average dice matrix (endo: 91.3%; epi: 92.16%) and 91.7% dice matrix of overall endocardium and epicardium contours from ground truth contours.
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