Embryologists require identifiable factors when analysing embryos grown in-vitro that can better predict an embryos successful development in the uterus. It has been proposed that the volume of various embryo features, such as blastomeres, within a developing of embryo could be used as an indicator of viability. An initial interface has been developed using existing image processing tools to segment z-stacks produced via confocal microscopy and create a set of volumes for analysis. A further addition to these tools was developed with the intent of improving the accuracy of the segmentation process; specifically, in identifying individual blastomeres whose proximity to neighbouring blastomeres resulted in the false identification of a single segment. A method has been proposed that uses a contour produced by an earlier segmentation procedure and identifies concave regions along the contour. These are interpreted as probable indicators of the location of boundaries between different blastomeres. By using points along the contour in these concave regions we attempt to extrapolate the boundaries between blastomeres.

Author Name: Kieran Rafferty, Sarah Drury, Geraldine Hartshorne, Silvester Czanner

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Keywords: Embryological datasets; Image segmentation; Embryology; Blastomeres; Concave corners

ISSN: 2326-5825

EISSN: 2326-5833

EOI/DOI:

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