Re-initialization-free Level Set Method via Molecular Beam Epitaxy
  Equation Regularization for Image Segmentation
Fanghui Song Jiebao Sun Shengzhu Shi Zhichang Guo Dazhi Zhang
Variational level set method has become a powerful tool in image segmentation
due to its ability to handle complex topological changes and maintain
continuity and smoothness in the process of evolution. However its evolution
process can be unstable, which results in over flatted or over sharpened
contours and segmentation failure. To improve the accuracy and stability of
evolution, we propose a high-order level set variational segmentation method
integrated with molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) equation regularization. This
method uses the crystal growth in the MBE process to limit the evolution of the
level set function, and thus can avoid the re-initialization in the evolution
process and regulate the smoothness of the segmented curve. It also works for
noisy images with intensity inhomogeneity, which is a challenge in image
segmentation. To solve the variational model, we derive the gradient flow and
design scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) scheme coupled with fast Fourier
transform (FFT), which can significantly improve the computational efficiency
compared with the traditional semi-implicit and semi-explicit scheme. Numerical
experiments show that the proposed method can generate smooth segmentation
curves, retain fine segmentation targets and obtain robust segmentation results
of small objects. Compared to existing level set methods, this model is
state-of-the-art in both accuracy and efficiency.