Incorporating complex statistical information in active contour-based image segmentation

We propose an information-theoretic method for multi-phase image segmentation, in an active contour-based framework. Our approach is based on nonparametric density estimates, and is able to solve problems involving arbitrary probability densities for the region intensities. This is achieved by maximizing the mutual information between the region labels and the image pixel intensities, in order to segment up to ?? regions using ? curves. The method does not require any prior training regarding the regions of interest, but rather learns the probability densities during the evolution process. We present some illustrative experimental results, demonstrating the power of the proposed segmentation approach.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: ICIP
• Authors: Alan S. Willsky, Anthony J. Yezzi, John W. Fisher III, Junmo Kim, Müjdat Çetin
• Keywords: Arbitrary Probability Densities, ICIP 2003, Image Pixel Intensities, Image Processing, Multi-phase Image Segmentation, Nonparametric Density Estimates, Region Intensities