Abstract: An image processing apparatus performs variable-length compression on the image data of each block included in one page, and adds a bit to the resultant code data of each block to make it have a constant data length. The apparatus stores the data length of the added bit. On the other hand, the apparatus stores a variable-length code from which the added bit is erased in a storage. If it is determined that respective bits are added to all blocks to make them have the constant data length, the apparatus adds respective bits of different data lengths to variable-length codes read from the storage, thereby converting the data lengths of the blocks into a shorter constant data length than the constant data length.

Abstract: A method of lung lobe segmentation having the steps of: providing of three dimensional first image data of a lung; segmentation of a tubular structure to identify first voxels of the first image data belonging to the tubular structure and to identify second voxels of the first image data which do not belong to the tubular structure; determining a distance measure for each one of the second voxels, by determining a minimum distance between each one of the second voxels to one of the first voxels to provide second image data; and performing a lobe segmentation based on the second image data.

Abstract: A markerless method is described for tracking the motion of subjects in a three dimensional environment using a model based on linked kinematic chains. The invention is suitable for tracking robotic, animal or human subjects in real-time using a single computer with inexpensive video equipment, and does not require the use of markers or specialized clothing. A simple model of rigid linked segments is constructed of the subject and tracked using three dimensional volumetric data collected by a multiple camera video imaging system. A physics based method is then used to compute forces to align the model with subsequent volumetric data sets in real-time. The method is able to handle occlusion of segments and accommodates joint limits, velocity constraints, and collision constraints and provides for error recovery. The method further provides for elimination of singularities in Jacobian based calculations, which has been problematic in alternative methods.