Identifying an optimal image from a number of ultrasound images

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of identifying, from a number of ultrasound images () acquired during an ultrasound examination of a subject (), the ultrasound image best suited to analyze a pre-determined anatomical structure of the subject. The method comprises the steps of (a) Providing a number of ultrasound images () acquired during an ultrasound examination of the subject; (b) Deriving at least one biometric parameter () related to the anatomical structure from a physical examination of the subject, (c) Retrieving a reference image () showing a target view of the anatomical structure (); (d) For each of the number of ultrasound images (), calculating an image similarity index between the ultrasound image and the reference image, (e) For at least the ultrasound image(s) having the best image similarity index, determining () a biometric parameter from the ultrasound image, and calculating a biometric similarity index, i.e. a measure of the agreement between the biometric parameter, as determined from the ultrasound image, and the corresponding biometric parameter as derived from the physical examination; and (f) selecting the optimal ultrasound image based on the biometric similarity index, and optionally on the image similarity index.