Cell-shape wizard - a concept for user-guidance for active shape segmentation in fluorescence cell micrographs

Fluorescence micrographs are acquired for the quantitative evaluation of different types of cell experiments within the fields of e.g. virology, micro-biology, or immunology. Life-scientists either assess and evaluate these micrographs manually or automated with adequate software tools. Nevertheless, the usage and parameterization of these image processing and analysis methods is a challenging task, which is often infeasible for life scientists with no or little image processing or computer science knowledge. In order to bridge the so-called ""semantic gap"" between high level and complex to parameterize image processing methods and their life scientist user, we propose the use of the wizard interaction pattern. In this contribution, we will review existing wizard approaches and guidelines for interactive fluorescence micrograph segmentation and derive a practical concept for a cell segmentation wizard, using active contours and active shape models as one high level segmentation approach. The proposed concept for a Cell-Shape-Wizard integrates and couples tight user guidance with the benefits of interactive cell segmentation in fluorescent micrographs.