Topologically adaptable snakes

The paper presents a typologically adaptable snakes model for image segmentation and object representation. The model is embedded in the framework of domain subdivision using simplicial decomposition. This framework extends the geometric and topological adaptability of snakes while retaining all of the features of traditional snakes, such as user interaction, and overcoming many of the limitations of traditional snakes. By superposing a simplicial grid over the image domain and using this grid to iteratively reparameterize the deforming snakes model, the model is able to flow into complex shapes, even shapes with significant protrusions or branches, and to dynamically change topology as necessitated by the data. Snakes can be created and can split into multiple parts or seamlessly merge into other snakes. The model can also be easily converted to and from the traditional parametric snakes model representation. We apply a 2D model to various synthetic and real images in order to segment objects with complicated shapes and topologies.>