A Prior Knowledge-Based Algorithm for Tongue Body Segmentation

Because tongue image segmentation is an important procedure in the tongue characterization, its accuracy affects the following automatic process directly. In this paper, we propose a new tongue segmentation approach based on the combination a feature of tongue shape and the Snakes Correction model. We firstly get a rough tongue contour through using the features of tongue image in HIS color model, then correct a preliminary tongue contour with the feature of tongue shape, and apply this result to the Snake model for final result. The experimental results indicate that the approach is efficiently segmented tongue image.