Images segmentation with improved PCNN by differential evolution

The image segmentation plays an important role in both qualitative and quantitative analysis of medical ultrasound images. But medical ultrasound images have features of poor contrast and strong speckle noise and segmenting result may not be satisfactory with state-of-arts methods. In this paper, we propose a novel automatic segmentation algorithm based on pulse coupled neural network (PCNN) with improved differential evolution. Differential evolution algorithm as a new evolutionary algorithm can accomplish the automatic search of target parameter with its superior characteristic. The parameters of PCNN are settled by improved differential evolution automatically. Experimental results show that the method is an effective segmentation method for medical ultrasonic image. © 2011 ISSN 1881-803X.