MOMENT ALGORITHMS FOR BLOOD-VESSEL DETECTION IN INFRARED IMAGES OF LASER-HEATED SKIN

Block-detection and three-dimensional moment algorithms are applied ro determine the presence and orientation of cylinders in a three-dimens ional image. The proposed method detects blood vessels in a three-dime nsional tomographic image constructed by infrared radiometry. Based on the moment principle, the method can be employed to determine the cen troid, diameter, and orientation of arbitrarily shaped blood vessels f or application in the laser treatment of hypervascular skin lesions. ( C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.