Computer Phantoms for Simulating Ultrasound B-Mode and CFM Images

Abstract

Programs capable of simulating ultrasound images have recently been developed. This opens the possibil- ity of evaluating transducers and focusing schemes not only from their point spread function, but also from an imaging point of view. The calculation of the ultrasound field is based on linear acoustics using the Tupholme- Stepanishen method for calculating the spatial impulse response. Any transducer can be simulated by splitting the aperture into rectangular or triangular sub-apertures, and the calculation can include any transducer excita- tion and apodization. The acoustic settings can be controlled in the entire image through dynamic apodization and focusing. The transmit and receive apertures can be defined independently of each other. Frequency depen- dent attenuation can also be included in the simulation.