A new 3D shape-dependant skeletonization method. Application to porous media

This communication presents a new method to compute a precise shape-dependant skeleton and its application to porous media. The local geometry of the object's structure is taken into account in order to switch between curve and surface thinning criterions. The resulting skeleton combines 2D surfaces and 1D curves to represent respectively the plate-shaped and rod-shaped parts of the object. First, methods to compute the shape-dependant skeleton are described: rod and plate classification, surface and curve thinning. Then, applications of the technique are presented in the field of biomedical imaging (trabecular bone) and geology (sandstone). A clinical study is led on 2 sets of bone samples. It shows the ability of the skeleton to characterize the trabecular bone microarchitecture.