Balloon based vertebra separation in CT images

Vertebra segmentation from CT volume data is needed for several medical applications. For this, an important preprocessing step is the separation of neighboring vertebrae. We introduce a method to compute planes separating the individual vertebrae of the spine. For that purpose, a virtual balloon is inflated within the vertebral canal. After inflation, the balloon graphically shows swellings at the intervertebral regions and necks in the vertebra regions which can be distinguished by Gaussian curvature analysis on the balloon surface. Planes are constructed in the intervertebral regions separating the individual vertebrae. First tests have shown that our methods can be adapted to vertebra separation even in MRT volume data.