Vessel extraction using the Buckmaster-Airy filter

Abstract

A new and powerful technique for vessel extraction from biomedical images using the so called BuckmasterAiry Filter is designed, prototyped and tested. The design, the prototyping and the testing were performed using computer algebra software, specifically the Maple package ImageTools. Some preliminary experiments were performed ant the results were excellent. Our new technique is based on partial differential equations.. Specifically two dimensional Airy diffusion equation and the two dimensional Buckmaster equation were used for designing the new Buckmaster-Airy Filter. Such new filter is able to enhance the quality of an image, producing simultaneously noise elimination, but without altering the edges of the image. The new Bukmaster-Airy filter is applied to the target image via discrete convolution. The results of some experiments of vessel extraction will be presented; and some lines for future research such as the possible implementation of the Buckmaster-Airy Filter as a new plugging for the program ImageJ, will be proposed.