Aorta segmentation using the watershed algorithm for an augmented reality system in laparoscopic surgery

Fernando López-Mir (1) , Valery Naranjo (1) , Jesus Angulo (2) , Eliseo Villanueva (1) , Mariano Alcañiz (1) , Susana López Celada (3)

1 Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigacion en Bioingenieria Y Tecnologia Orientada Al Ser Humano
2 CMM - Centre de Morphologie Mathématique
3 Unidad de Resonancia Magnética INSCANNER

This paper presents an algorithm for a 3D segmentation of the aorta artery in magnetic resonance images (MRI). The purpose is to project the 3D segmented aorta in the patient's abdomen with an augmented reality (AR) system to help the surgeon in laparoscopic interventions. In order to obtain accurate results in the segmentation process a marker-controlled watershed algorithm is used. Since this method requires a robust gradient image and two marker sets, a preprocessing step is carried out in each image. The algorithm is automatic and the results are promising with a Jaccard coefficient (JC) of 0.8107 ± 0.0228.

Mots clés: 3D segmentation; Augmented reality systems; Gradient images; Jaccard coefficients; Laparoscopic surgery; Magnetic resonance images; Medical Image Processing; Pre-processing step; Segmentation process; watershed algorithm; Algorithms; Blood vessels; Landforms; Magnetic resonance; Magnetic resonance imaging; Mathematical morphology; Medical imaging; Patient treatment; Three dimensional; Watersheds; Image segmentation

Domaines: Informatique [cs]; Traitement des images [eess.IV]; Mathématiques [math]; Traitement d'image; Informatique [cs]; Imagerie médicale

Fernando López-Mir, Valery Naranjo, Jesus Angulo, Eliseo Villanueva, Mariano Alcañiz, et al.. Aorta segmentation using the watershed algorithm for an augmented reality system in laparoscopic surgery. 18th IEEE International Conference on Image Processing (ICIP), Sep 2011, Bruxelles, Belgium. pp.2649-2652, ⟨10.1109/ICIP.2011.6116211⟩. ⟨hal-00834437⟩