Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Cover Image for Volume 60, Issue 9
July 2019
Volume 60, Issue 9
Open Access
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   July 2019
Automatic segmentation of retinal capillaries in adaptive optics perfusion images using a convolutional neural network
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Gwen Musial
    Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Hope M Queener
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Suman Adhikari
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Hanieh Mirhajianmoghadam
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Alexander W Schill
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
    Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Nimesh Bhikhu Patel
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Jason Porter
    College of Optometry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
    Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, United States
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships   Gwen Musial, None; Hope Queener, None; Suman Adhikari, None; Hanieh Mirhajianmoghadam, None; Alexander Schill, None; Nimesh Patel, None; Jason Porter, None
  • Footnotes
    Support  BrightFocus Foundation National Glaucoma Research Grant, NIH Grant P30 EY007551
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science July 2019, Vol.60, 1496. doi:
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      Gwen Musial, Hope M Queener, Suman Adhikari, Hanieh Mirhajianmoghadam, Alexander W Schill, Nimesh Bhikhu Patel, Jason Porter; Automatic segmentation of retinal capillaries in adaptive optics perfusion images using a convolutional neural network. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2019;60(9):1496.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose : Metrics of retinal capillary structure may be useful biomarkers for retinal and optic nerve head (ONH) diseases. Despite their high resolution, adaptive optics (AO) perfusion images can possess large variations in contrast, intensity, and background noise, thereby limiting the use of global or adaptive thresholding methods. We sought to develop an automated segmentation approach to quantify perfused capillaries in AO images.

Methods : Perfusion images were generated by calculating the standard deviation of each pixel’s intensity over time from stabilized split detector AO videos taken 2-6° from the ONH when focused at the nerve fiber layer. A convolutional neural network (CNN) was trained to classify 4 pixel classes: capillary, larger vessel, background, image border. Manually marked capillaries were < 20 pixels (~20 μm) in diameter. To train the CNN, 9,112 patches (128 x 128 pixels) were extracted from 150 Gaussian filtered (σ = 3) AO images (758 x 758 pixels) from 4 normal human and 6 normal non-human primate eyes. To test the CNN, 1,936 patches were extracted from 12 Gaussian filtered AO images from 3 eyes that were not part of the training set. The CNN’s probability map was converted to 4 class maps by Otsu’s method. A second rater marked all test images. To account for slight shifts between the same marked capillaries (Fig. 1b, green arrow), we developed a modified Dice coefficient to include segmentations that were separated by less than the average capillary radius (5 pixels) as true positives.

Results : CNN capillary segmentation had an accuracy of 0.938. Mean traditional and modified Dice coefficients for the test set were 0.621 and 0.908 between rater 1 and CNN, and 0.613 and 0.910 between raters 1 and 2. Mean densities (%) across the test set were similar for rater 1, 2, and CNN (11.4 ± 2.3, 11.9 ± 2.6, 11.2 ± 3.4; P=.84).

Conclusions : Close agreement between the CNN and manual segmentations may enable the robust estimation of perfused capillary metrics. The algorithm separates capillaries from diffuse background noise, distinguishes capillaries that cross larger vessels (Fig. 1b, orange arrow), and may translate to other imaging modalities.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.

 

Figure 1. Representative manual and automatic segmentations: (a) AO image of perfused vasculature. (b) Image from (a) showing manual (red) and CNN (blue) capillary segmentations, and regions of overlap (purple). Scale bar: 50μm.

Figure 1. Representative manual and automatic segmentations: (a) AO image of perfused vasculature. (b) Image from (a) showing manual (red) and CNN (blue) capillary segmentations, and regions of overlap (purple). Scale bar: 50μm.

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