Enhancement filter

Retinal Vessel Extraction Using First -Order Derivative of Gaussian and Morphological
Processing

 The matched filtering methodology exploits the piecewise linear approximation and the
Gaussian-like intensity profile of retinal blood vessels and uses a kernel based on a Gaussian or
its derivatives to enhance the vessel features in the retinal image. The matched filter (MF) was
first proposed by Chaudhuri [7] and later adapted and extended by Hoover [8] and Jiang [9]. An
amplitude-modified second order Gaussian filter was proposed by Gang and Chutatape [10]
whereas Zhang et al. [11] proposed an extension and generalization of MF with a first-order
derivative of Gaussian. A hybrid model of the MF and ant colony algorithm for retinal vessel
segmentation was proposed by Cinsdikici et al. [12]

A New Supervised Method for Blood Vessel Segmentation in Retinal I mages by Using Gray -
Level and Moment Invariants -Based Features

 Matched filtering techniques [37]–[42] usually use a 2-D linear structural element with a
Gaussian cross-profile section, extruded or rotated into three dimensions for blood vessel cross-
profile identification (typically a Gaussian or Gaussian-derivative profile). The kernel is rotated
into many different orientations (usually 8 or 12) to fit into vessels of different configuration. The
image is then thresholded to extract the vessel silhouette from the background.

A Parallel Markov Cerebrovascular Segmentation Algorithm Based on Statistical Model

 However, the Hessian matrix needs multi-scale Gaussian convolution and the decomposition of
eigenvalues and eigenvectors, thereby memory and computing time requirements are exten-
sive. The Taylor expansion makes the Hessian matrix valid only when the gradient is close to 0.
When the two branches with different directions are fusing at bifurca- tion and joints points, it is
difficult for us to segment these points only with Hessian matrix. Accordingly, some problems
such as wrong segmentation, tracking and construction often appear. The matrix reflects the
local characteristics of blood vessels instead of the global information, and thus it is suitable for
vascular local decomposition but not suitable for mass cerebral data processing.

Delineation of blood vessels in pediatric retinal images using decision trees -based
ensemble classification

 The matched filtering methodology employs the piece-wise linear approximation, the decrease
in vessel diameter along vascular length and the Gaussian like intensity profile of retinal blood
vessels and uses a kernel based on a Gaussian or its derivatives to enhance the vessel features in
the retinal image.

Precise Segmentation of 3-D Magnetic Resonance Angiography

 Multiscale filtering enhances curvilinear structures in 3-D medical images by convolving an image
with Gaussian filters at multiple scales [1]–[4]. Eigenvalues of the Hessian at each voxel are
analyzed to determine the local shapes of 3-D struc- tures (by the eigenvalues, voxels from a
linear structure, like a blood vessel, differ from those for a planar structure, speckle noise, or
unstructured components). The multiscale filter output forms a new enhanced image such that
the curvilinear struc- tures become brighter whereas other components (e.g., speckle noise and
planar structures such as skin) become darker [1]. Such an image can be directly visualized,
thresholded, or seg- mented using a deformable model. Alternatively, the obtained eigenvalues
define a candidate set ofvoxels corresponding to the centerlines of the vessels [2].
Retinal image analysis aimed at extraction of vascular structure using linear discriminant
classifier

 The matched filtering methodology exploits the piecewise linear approximation, the decrease in
vessel diameter along vascular length and the Gaussian-like intensity profile of retinal blood
vessels and uses a kernel based on a Gaussian or its derivatives to enhance the vessel features in
the retinal image [5, 6].

A self-adaptive matched filter for retinal blood vessel detection

 It has been observed that the vesselness filter [7] yields high sensitivity and low specificity. In
contrast, the matched filter [8] provides high specificity and low sensitivity.

Automatic wavelet -based retinal blood vessels segmentation and vessel diameter
estimation

 In the matched filters a series of different Gaussian shaped filters like simple Gaussian model
[1,2,4], dual-Gaussian model [10] and derivative of Gaussian function [11] are used to detect
the blood vessels. However, the matched filters have strong responses not only to blood
vessels but also to non-vessel edges like bright blobs. They also, have to use several kernels to
detect vessels with different thicknesses at different orientations. The using of wavelet
transform is another way to enhance the blood vessels in the fundus images.

Improved multiscale matched filter for retina vessel segmentation using PSO algorithm

 Early methods of vessel segmentation were based on matched filtering [16]. It is based on the
assumption that intensity profile along a cross section of a vessel has the shape of Gaussian. A
set of 12 Gaussian shaped filters are used to match the vessels at different directions. For each
pixel, the maximum response is retained. The drawback is that its response is high for non-
vessels too, which results in increased false positives.

Morphological Multiscale Enhancement, Fuzzy Filter and Watershed for Vascular Tree
Extraction in Angiogram

 Matched filters have the ad- vantage of enhancement of small vessels. However, a main
problem with it is the flat background assump- tion. Different methods have been reported to
improve matched filter for existing simple assumptions in the original method [6][7]. Besides,
these methods re- quire special dealing with vessel bifurcation or crossing in the following
tracking process.

An approach to localize the retinal blood vessels using bit planes and centreline
detection

 Boa história de matched filters

An effective retinal blood vessel segmentation method using multi -scale line detection

 Match filter: A limitation of matched filter based methods is its naive assumption that the
cross-sectional intensity profile of a vessel follows the shape of a Gaussian, which is not always
the case (for example, in the presence of central reflex). Moreover, the assumptions that the
vessels are piece-wise linear and have constant width along a certain distance make it difficult
to adapt to the variations in vessel width and orientations.