The Visible Korean Human (VKH) dataset opens up new possibilities and challenges for computer supported visualization and
inspection of three-dimensional anatomical structures. High quality three-dimensional visualizations can be generated using
voxel based surface rendering techniques with sub-voxel resolution as available in the VOXEL-MAN System. However, before three-dimensional
visualizations of anatomical structures can be generated in high quality an accurate segmentation of the structures has to
be performed. Because an automatic segmentation of most anatomical structures is impossible, an interactive edge-oriented
segmentation was done for selected structures using the live-wire method. However, small segmentation errors were unavoidable
using this interactive slice-oriented technique that induced a significant reduction of the quality of three-dimensional visualizations.
In this paper, a method for a data-driven correction of the manual segmentation results is presented and improved visualizations
of the skull of the VKH are shown. The method uses knowledge about typical color values occurring in the segmented structure.
With the help of three-dimensional morphological operators voxels in the threedimensional neighborhood of the pre-segmented
object are selected. These voxel’s (R,G,B) vectors are tested for their similarity to the mean vector of the segmented structure.
As similarity measure the Mahalanobis distance is used implicitly respecting the correlation between the R,G,B features. From
a geometrical point of view the use of the Mahalanobis distance leads to a characterization of the segmented tissue by an
ellipsoid in the (R,G,B) color space. First results show that based on the refined segmentation improved three-dimensional
visualizations using voxel based surface rendering of the skull can be generated. The method described has been integrated
into the VOXEL-MAN System.
Keywords Visible Korean Human - segmentation - RGB color space - cross-sectional Anatomy - three-dimensional imaging