DSP implementation of a low-complexity algorithm for real-time automated vessel detection in images of the fundus of the human retina

In this paper we propose an algorithm for real-time vessel segmentation in sequences of RGB images of the human retina. The algorithm is made up of two main blocks providing vessel enhancement and thresholding, respectively. It is implemented on a DSP board for future embedding in ophthalmology equipments. The obtained results (binary images) show a good trade-off between processing speed and accuracy, since the main structure of the vessel network is preserved and the simplicity of the algorithm allows the DSP to process about ten images per second.