Method and apparatus for segmenting biological cells in a picture

US8582861B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V. · DE

Inventors

• Erik Hasslmeyer · Nuremberg, DE
• Matthias Elter · Erlangen, DE
• Thorsten Zerfass · Nuremberg, DE
• Timo Schlarb · Bad Sobernheim, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 23, 2011
• Grant date: Nov 12, 2013
• Expiry date: Jan 5, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06T2207/30024
• WIPO field: Computer technology
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A method of segmenting biological cells in a picture so that the biological cells represent a foreground of the picture includes a step of applying a first fast marching algorithm to the picture or to a pre-processed version of same in order to obtain a first fast marching image. In addition, the method includes a step of segmenting the first fast marching image or a further-processed version of same into a plurality of homogeneous regions. Furthermore, the method includes a step of mapping each of the homogeneous regions to one node of a graph, respectively. In addition, the method includes a step of classifying each homogeneous region either as background or foreground on the basis of the graph. Moreover, the method includes a step of applying a second fast marching algorithm within the homogeneous regions classified as foreground so as to segment the foreground into individual biological cells.