Gradient Flows and Geometric Active Contour Models

Satyanad Kichenassamy, Arun Kumar, Peter J. Olver, Allen R. Tannenbaum, Anthony J. Yezzi

Abstract: In this paper, we analyze the geometric active contour models discussed previously from a curve evolution point of view and propose some modifications based on gradient flows relative to certain new feature-based Riemannian metrics. This leads to a novel snake paradigm in which the feature of interest may be considered to lie at the bottom of a potential well. Thus the snake is attracted very naturally and efficiently to the desired feature. Moreover, we consider some 3-D active surface models based on these ideas.<