An unsupervised image segmentation algorithm for coronary angiography.

Abstract

Computer visual systems can rapidly obtain a large amount of data and automatically process them with ease. These characteristics constitute advantages for the application of such systems in the automatic analysis of medical images, as well as in processing technology. The precision of image segmentation, which plays a critical role in computer visual systems, directly affects the quality of processing results. Coronary angiographs feature various background colors, complex patterns, and blurry edges. The image areas containing blood vessels cannot be precisely segmented through regular methods. Therefore, this study proposed an unsupervised learning algorithm that uses regional parameter expansion (RPE). This method was derived from the flood fill algorithm, which can effectively segment image areas containing blood vessels despite a complex background or uneven light and shadow. An optimal cover tree (OCT) algorithm was proposed for the establishment of coronary arteries and the estimation of vessel diameter. Through the region growing method, spanning trees were used to record the cover length of adjacent connections, thereby establishing vessel paths, and the length can be used to track changes in vessel diameter.