First, we recall some existing techniques concerning nonrigid
matching, such as ‘snakes-based’ methods, similarity
maximization techniques and optical flow. Then we present
and detail our concept of diffusing models, illustrated by
its application to a simplified case, when two identical
discs are matched rigidly (demon 0). We present a general
iterative scheme to implement diffusing models, with several
possible variants (demons 1, 2 and 3) which illustrate how the
concept can be applied to generate new matching algorithms.
Finally, we present experimental results with several medical
applications such as the tracking of deformable organs or
three-dimensional (3-D) inter-patients matching.