Method and system for image segmentation using models

A non-transitory machine-readable medium for processing medical image data, comprising:

• code operable for accessing patient image data representative of a portion of a patient's internal anatomy containing an anatomical feature;
• code operable for accessing image data representative of a model of the anatomical feature, wherein the model of the anatomical feature comprises a plurality of internal structural features;
• code operable for aligning the model of the anatomical feature with a region of the patient image data corresponding to the anatomical feature;
• code operable for aligning each of the plurality of internal structural features with their corresponding internal structural feature in the patient image data;
• and
• code operable for segmenting patient image data aligned with the model of the anatomical feature from patient image data not aligned with the model of the anatomical feature.

A system for processing medical image data, comprising:

• means for accessing patient image data representative of a portion of a patient's internal anatomy containing an anatomical feature;
• means for accessing image data representative of a model of the anatomical feature, wherein the model of the anatomical feature comprises a plurality of internal structural features;
• means for aligning the model of the anatomical feature with a region of the patient image data corresponding to the anatomical feature;
• means for aligning each of the plurality of internal structural features with their corresponding internal structural feature in the patient image data;
• and,
• means for segmenting patient image data aligned with the model of the anatomical feature from patient image data not aligned with the model of the anatomical feature.