Intensity-based Image Registration with a Guaranteed One-to-one Point Match

Abstract

In this paper, we propose a novel registration technique, which combines the concepts of landmark and automatic, non-rigid intensity-based approaches. A general framework, which might be used for many different registration problems is presented. The novel approach enables the incorporation of different distance measures as well as different smoothers. The proposed scheme minimizes a regularized distance measure subject to some interpolation constraints. The desired deformation is computed iteratively using an Euler-scheme for the first variation of the chosen objective functional. A fast and robust numerical scheme for the computation of the wanted minimizer is developed, implemented, and applied to various registration tasks. This includes the registration of pre- and post-intervention images of the human eye. A novel framework for a parameter-free, non-rigid registration scheme which allows for the additional incorporation of user-defined landmarks is proposed. It enhances the reliability of conventional approaches considerably and thereby their acceptability by practitioners in a clinical environment.