MidSurfer: A Parameter-Free Approach for Mid-Surface Extraction From Segmented Volumetric Data

Area of Science:

• Computer Graphics
• Medical Imaging
• Computational Geometry

Background:

• Extracting mid-surfaces from volumetric data is crucial for analyzing complex structures.
• Existing methods often require parameter tuning or lack accuracy in capturing intricate details.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce MidSurfer, a novel parameter-free algorithm for automated mid-surface extraction.
• To generate uniformly triangulated, smooth, and accurate meshes from segmented volumetric data.

Main Methods:

• Ridge Field Transformation: Transforms input segmented data.
• Mid-Polyline Extraction Algorithm: Extracts polyline segments from individual slices.
• Polyline Zipper Algorithm: Triangulates segments across slices to create a mesh.

Main Results:

• MidSurfer successfully generates detailed triangulated mid-surface meshes.
• The method demonstrates superior versatility, simplicity, and accuracy compared to previous techniques.
• The generated meshes accurately capture essential structural features.

Conclusions:

• MidSurfer offers an efficient and robust solution for mid-surface extraction.
• The parameter-free nature simplifies the process and enhances applicability.
• The publicly available plugin facilitates broader adoption and research.