Image processing method including steps for the segmentation of a multidimensional image, and medical imaging apparatus utilizing this method

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the processing of a multidimensional image which is formed by points representing objects of different intensity and are delimited from a background by way of their edges; this method includes steps for the segmentation (,) of the image into cells belonging to the background and cells belonging to the objects, for the application of criteria which impose that said cells (C,) have substantially uniform intensities, that the cells neither intersect nor enclose any object edge, and that the object edges coincide with cells edges; this method includes a step for the presegmentation (,) of the image into a first number of cells while performing a classification of the image points in the various cells as a function of intensity gradients of these points, and an actual segmentation step (,) for reducing the first number of cells by classifying the cells in the form of pairs of adjoining cells (C,, C,), by evaluating a merger threshold (&lgr;,(j,k)) for the cells of the pairs as a function of their intensity variance (&sgr;,) and of their intensity gradients (∥G∥), by evaluating a specific merger threshold (l,) below which a predetermined number (H,) of adjoining cells of pairs is merged, and by performing the concomitant merger of adjoining cells of pairs whose merger threshold is below said specific threshold.