UI-Net: Interactive Artificial Neural Networks for Iterative Image Segmentation Based on a User Model

Abstract
For complex segmentation tasks, fully automatic systems are inherently limited in their achievable accuracy for extracting relevant objects. Especially in cases where only few data sets need to be processed for a highly accurate result, semi-automatic segmentation techniques exhibit a clear benefit for the user. One area of application is medical image processing during an intervention for a single patient.We propose a learning-based cooperative segmentation approach which includes the computing entity as well as the user into the task. Our system builds upon a state-of-the-art fully convolutional artificial neural network (FCN) as well as an active user model for training. During the segmentation process, a user of the trained system can iteratively add additional hints in form of pictorial scribbles as seed points into the FCN system to achieve an interactive and precise segmentation result. The segmentation quality of interactive FCNs is evaluated. Iterative FCN approaches can yield superior results compared to networks without the user input channel component, due to a consistent improvement in segmentation quality after each interaction.
Description

CCS Concepts

        
@inproceedings{
10.2312:vcbm.20171248
, booktitle = {
Eurographics Workshop on Visual Computing for Biology and Medicine
}, editor = {
Stefan Bruckner and Anja Hennemuth and Bernhard Kainz and Ingrid Hotz and Dorit Merhof and Christian Rieder
}, title = {{
UI-Net: Interactive Artificial Neural Networks for Iterative Image Segmentation Based on a User Model
}}, author = {
Amrehn, Mario
and
Gaube, Sven
and
Unberath, Mathias
and
Schebesch, Frank
and
Horz, Tim
and
Strumia, Maddalena
and
Steidl, Stefan
and
Kowarschik, Markus
and
Maier, Andreas
}, year = {
2017
}, publisher = {
The Eurographics Association
}, ISSN = {
2070-5786
}, ISBN = {
978-3-03868-036-9
}, DOI = {
10.2312/vcbm.20171248
} }
Citation