Systems and methods for semi-automated segmentation of medical images

A method for segmenting a medical image, the method comprising:

• a) receiving an image acquired from at least a portion of a subject's anatomy;
• b) identifying a first point within a target structure identified on the image;
• c) identifying a second and a third point associated with extents of a target biological tissue, the first, second, and third points defining a sector described by the first point, a central angle, and a subtended arc;
• d) determining a plurality of arc points along the subtended arc;
• e) extending a plurality of linear segments along directions determined by the first point and the plurality of arc points;
• f) determining an intensity profile along each linear segment to identify boundaries of the target biological tissue;
• and
• g) generating a report indicating at least a contour of the target biological tissue using the identified boundaries.

A non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by a computer processor, cause the computer processor to generate a medical image by carrying out steps comprising:

• a) receiving image data acquired from at least a portion of a subject's anatomy;
• b) using the image data, denoting a first point within a bony structure;
• c) using the image data, denoting a second and a third point associated with extents of an articular joint tissue, the first, second, and third points defining a sector described by the first point, a central angle, and a subtended arc;
• d) determining a plurality of arc points along the subtended arc;
• e) extending a plurality of linear segments along directions determined by the first point and the plurality of arc points;
• f) determining an intensity profile along each linear segment to identify boundaries of the articular joint tissue;
• and
• g) generating at least one medical image of the subject's anatomy indicating at least a contour of the articular joint tissue using the identified boundaries.