Structure contouring, such as for segmentation or radiation treatment planning, using a 3D paint brush combined with an edge-detection algorithm

A computer-implemented method of contouring of a region of interest based on imaging parameters of spatial imaging data and guided by user input of locations in the spatial imaging data, the method comprising:

• receiving first and second location seed points from a user via user input received in conjunction with corresponding displayed spatial imaging data;
• defining a seed axis extending between the first and second location seed points;
• edge detecting for a boundary of the region of interest via an edge detection algorithm using the imaging parameter of the spatial imaging data and using rays extending outward perpendicular to the seed axis or perpendicular to first or second semi-spheres defined using the first and second seed locations;
• and
• contouring the region of interest by painting the boundary using a paint brush shape smoothed via a mesh smoothing algorithm.