Medical Image Segmentation

该奖项支持数学科学(IGMS)计划中的跨学科资助计划下的研究活动。这位首席研究员是西弗吉尼亚大学的数学教授，他将在医学图像处理小组(MIPG)工作一年，这是宾夕法尼亚大学医学中心放射科的一个部门。PI在MIPG中花费的时间将让他完全沉浸在医学图像处理研究中。该项目的主要研究目标是开发数学方法，以优化用于医学图像处理的算法。PI将专注于与图像分割相关的算法。特别是，他将专注于：(1)改进拓扑激励算法(即所谓的模糊连通性，FC算法，基于路径强度的概念)；(2)将FC算法与基于分析和/或微分方程思想的算法(如曲线传播算法，实现为快速行进方法的水平集方法)进行比较，强调两种方法的异同，并结合它们的优点创建新的算法。更广泛地说，PI计划比较目前所有现有的分割算法，将它们表达在一个共同的理论框架中，并融合不同方法的想法以创建新一代更好的算法。还计划实际实施新方法，其中MIPG工作人员的专业知识至关重要。PI将开发一套技能，使他能够继续他的医学驱动的成像研究，并将他的专业知识传授给新一代学生。该IGMS项目由重大计划多学科活动办公室(OMA)和数学科学处(DMS)共同支持。

This award supports research activities under the Interdisciplinary Grants in the Mathematical Sciences (IGMS) program. The Principal Investigator, a professor of Mathematics at West Virginia University, will spend a year working in the Medical Image Processing Group (MIPG), a section within the Department of Radiology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center. The time spent by the PI in MIPG will allow him to fully submerge in the medical image processing research. The main research goal of the project is to develop mathematical methods that will optimize algorithms used in medical image processing. The PI will focus on the algorithms concerning segmentation of the images. In particular, he will concentrate on: (1) improving the topologically motivated algorithms (i.e., so called fuzzy connectedness, FC, algorithms, based on the notion of path strength); (2) comparing FC algorithms with the algorithms based on the analysis and/or differential equations ideas (like curve propagation algorithms, implemented as level set methods of fast marching methods), underpinning the similarities and differences between both approaches, and creating new algorithms combining their strengths. More generally, the PI plans to compare all currently existing segmentation algorithms, express them in a common theoretical framework, and fuse the ideas from different approaches to create new generation and better algorithms. Practical implementation of the new methods is also planned in which the expertise of MIPG staff will be crucial. The PI will develop a set of skills that would allow him to continue his medically driven imaging research and to pass his expertise to a new generation of students. This IGMS project is jointly supported by the MPS Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) and the Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS).