| 摘要 |
For extracting, from a source image, irregular relatively distinct features from an irregular relatively less distinct object which occupies a part of the source image, a number of image processing steps are performed in which: the edge outline of the object is extracted from the source image to produce an object outline image; the object outline is traced and predetermined data points on the object outline are located; particular regions of the object are identified within the source image using the identified data points; and the relatively distinct features are extracted from the identified regions. The invention finds particular application for the assessment of skeletal maturity ('bone age') wherein the source image is, or is derived from a digital or digitised radiograph of a subject's hand and wrist, with the object being the hand and wrist and the feature being the bones within the hand and/or wrist. In this case, classification of bone outlines extracted from the image are compared to and classified with respect to reference sample bones to compute an assessment of skeletal maturity. <IMAGE> |
