Integrated segmentation and motion analysis of cardiac MR images using a subject-specific dynamical model

In this paper we propose an integrated cardiac segmentation and motion tracking algorithm. First, we present a subject-specific dynamical model (SSDM) that simultaneously handles inter-subject variability and temporal dynamics (intra-subject variability), such that it can progressively identify the subject vector associated with a new cardiac sequence, and use this subject vector to predict the subject-specific segmentation of the future frames based on the shapes observed in earlier frames. Second, we use the segmentation as a guide in selecting feature points with significant shape characteristics, and invoke the generalized robust point matching (G-RPM) strategy with boundary element method (BEM)-based regularization model to estimate physically realistic displacement field in a computationally efficient way. The integrated algorithm is formulated in a recursive Bayesian framework that sequentially segments cardiac images and estimates myocardial displacements. ldquoLeave-one-outrdquo validation on 32 sequences demonstrates that the segmentation results are improved when the SSDM is used, and the tracking results are much more accurate when the segmentation module is added.