Gradient vector flow has achieved good results in image processing. But the simple iterative computing method, result in slow convergence speed, restrictions its applications. In order to explore the effective solving scheme for the gradient vector field, this paper proposes a method based on BFGS algorithm for gradient vector field calculation. The numerical solving process is given in detail and which is used in image processing task. Experimental results show that the BFGS-GVF algorithm shows a better performance of gradient vector field. Compared with generlized Newton-Type methods for energy formulation, CV active contour, IALM-GVF Snake algorithm, BFGS-GVF Snake algorithm can obtain clear and smooth contour.