Adaptively weighted spatial compounding for ultrasound image contrast enhancement

An ultrasound imaging method, comprising:

• receiving, with a processor, a plurality of images obtained by an ultrasound imaging probe at a respective plurality of different angles;
• computing, with the processor, an edge map for each respective image of the plurality of images;
• computing, with the processor, a weighted function of each corresponding pixel of each image in the plurality of images, using the edge maps as weight maps;
• assembling, with the processor, a spatially compounded image based on values of the weighted functions of each corresponding pixel;
• and
• outputting, with the processor, the spatially compounded image on a display in communication with the processor.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having program code recorded thereon, wherein the program code comprises instructions executable by a processor of an ultrasound imaging system to cause the ultrasound imaging system to:

• receive a plurality of images of a patient's internal anatomy obtained by an ultrasound imaging probe at a respective plurality of different angles;
• for each respective image of the plurality of images, compute an edge map;
• using the edge maps as weight maps, compute a weighted function of each corresponding pixel of each image in the plurality of images;
• assemble a spatially compounded image based on values of the weighted functions of each corresponding pixel;
• and
• output the spatially compounded image on a display in communication with the processor.