Medical Image Segmentation using the HSI color space and Fuzzy Mathematical Morphology

JUAN PABLO GASPARRI; AGUSTINA BOUCHET; GUILLERMO ABRAS; VIRGINIA BALLARIN; JUAN IGNACIO PASTORE

Mar del Plata

Congreso; XVIII Congreso Argentino de Bioingeniería SABI 2011 - VII Jornadas de Ingeniería Clínica; 2011

Sociedad Argentina de Bioingeniería y la Facultad de Ingeniería de la Universidad de Mar del Plata

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of blindness among the active population in developed countries. An early ophthalmologic examination followed by proper treatment can prevent blindness. The purpose of this work is develop an automated method for segmentation the vasculature in retinal images in order to assist the expert in the evolution of a specific treatment or in the diagnosis of a potential pathology. Since the HSI space has the ability to separate the intensity of the intrinsic color information, its use is recommended for the digital processing images when they are affected by lighting changes, characteristic of the images under study. By the application of color filters, is achieved artificially change the tone of blood vessels, to better distinguish them from the bottom. This technique, combined with the application of fuzzy mathematical morphology tools as the Top-Hat transformation, creates images of the retina, where vascular branches are markedly enhanced over the original. These images provide the visualization of blood vessels by the specialist.