A Method of Analyzing a Shape with Potential Symmetry and Its Application to Detecting Spinal Deformity

This paper describes a technique for analyzing a shape with potential symmetry which includes approximate symmetry and original symmetry. A technique is proposed for identifying a symmetry axis of a shape with potential axial symmetry by searching for the largest symmetric subset of the shape. It is applied to the axial detection and asymmetry evaluation of Moire topographic images of human backs to automate spinal deformity inspection. Some experimental results are shown and discussion is given.