Mesh collision avoidance

The invention relates to a system for segmenting an object in image data using model-based image segmentation. The system comprises a feature unit for identifying features in the image data for computing an external energy of a mesh on the basis of a current position of the mesh. The feature unit further comprises a candidate feature unit for selecting a plurality of candidate features in the image data. The feature unit further comprises a position unit for determining a position of each candidate feature of the plurality of the candidate features relative to a region of the image data. The feature unit further comprises a feature function unit for computing a strength of each candidate feature. The feature unit further comprises an evaluation unit for evaluating each candidate feature of the plurality of candidate features and for identifying the feature among the plurality of candidate features based on this evaluation.