A new 3D shape-dependant skeletonization method. Application to porous media

This communication presents a new method to compute a precise shape-dependant skeleton and its application to porous media. The local geometry of the object´s structure is taken into account in order to switch between curve and surface thinning criterions. The resulting skeleton combines 2D surfaces and 1D curves to represent respectively the plate-shaped and rod-shaped parts of the object. First, methods to compute the shape-dependant skeleton are described: rod and plate classification, surface and curve thinning. Then, applications of the technique are presented in the field of biomedical imaging (trabecular bone) and geology (sandstone). A clinical study is led on 2 sets of bone samples. It shows the ability of the skeleton to characterize the trabecular bone microarchitecture.