Image segmentation and object detection using fully convolutional neural network

Abstract

This disclosure relates to digital image segmentation, region of interest identification, and object recognition. This disclosure describes a method, a system, for image segmentation based on fully convolutional neural network including an expansion neural network and contraction neural network. The various convolutional and deconvolution layers of the neural networks are architected to include a coarse-to-fine residual learning module and learning paths, as well as a dense convolution module to extract auto context features and to facilitate fast, efficient, and accurate training of the neural networks capable of producing prediction masks of regions of interest. While the disclosed method and system are applicable for general image segmentation and object detection/identification, they are particularly suitable for organ, tissue, and lesion segmentation and detection in medical images.