Advances in Computational Vision and Medical Image Processing : Methods and Applications

Computational methodologies of signal processing and imaging analysis, namely considering 2D and 3D images, are commonly used in different applications of the human society. For example, Computational Vision systems are progressively used for surveillance tasks, traf?c analysis, recognition process, inspection p- poses, human-machine interfaces, 3D vision and deformation analysis. One of the main characteristics of the Computational Vision domain is its int- multidisciplinary. In fact, in this domain, methodologies of several more fundam- tal sciences, such as Informatics, Mathematics, Statistics, Psychology, Mechanics and Physics are usually used. Besides this inter-multidisciplinary characteristic, one of the main reasons that contributes for the continually effort done in this domain of the human knowledge is the number of applications in the medical area. For instance, it is possible to consider the use of statistical or physical procedures on medical images in order to model the represented structures. This modeling can have different goals, for example: shape reconstruction, segmentation, registration, behavior interpretation and simulation, motion and deformation analysis, virtual reality, computer-assisted therapy or tissue characterization. The main objective of the ECCOMAS Thematic Conferences on Computational Vision and Medical Image Processing (VIPimage) is to promote a comprehensive forum for discussion on the recent advances in the related ?elds trying to id- tify widespread areas of potential collaboration between researchers of different sciences.

The present book contains extended versions of papers presented in the international Conference VIPIMAGE 2007 – ECCOMAS Thematic Conference on Computational Vision and Medical Image, held in Faculdade de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, in 17-19 of October 2007. This conference was the first ECCOMAS thematic conference on computational vision and medical image processing. It covers topics related with image processing and analysis, medical imaging and computational modeling and simulation, considering their multidisciplinary.

This book collects the state-of-the-art research, methods and new ideas on the subject of computational vision and medical image processing contributing for the development of these areas of knowledge.