Intensity-based Image Registration with a Guaranteed One-to-one Point Match
Jan Modersitzki, Bernd Michael Fischer · Methods of Information in Medicine · 2004
OBJECTIVES: In this paper, we propose a novel registration technique, which combines the concepts of landmark and automatic, non-rigid intensity-based approaches. A general framework, which might be used for many different registration problems is presented. The novel approach enables the incorporation of different distance measures as well as different smoothers. METHODS: The proposed scheme minimizes a regularized distance measure subject to some interpolation constraints. The desired deformation is computed iteratively using an Euler-scheme for the first variation of the chosen objective functional. RESULTS: A fast and robust numerical scheme for the computation of the wanted minimizer is developed, implemented, and applied to various registration tasks. This includes the registration of pre- and post-intervention images of the human eye. CONCLUSIONS: A novel framework for a parameter-free, non-rigid registration scheme which allows for the additional incorporation of user-defined landmarks is proposed. It enhances the reliability of conventional approaches considerably and thereby their acceptability by practitioners in a clinical environment.