Simulation of contrast agent enhanced ultrasound imaging based on field II

Abstract

Pulse-echo ultrasound signal formation can be simulated by numerical emulation of the process chain: emit signal - electromechanical emit transformation - wave propagation and scattering - electromechanical receive transformation - receive signal. The simulation software Field II is indented for simulation of linear ultrasound systems. We present an extension to Field II that enables the inclusion of nonlinear oscillations of ultrasound contrast agent bubbles into the simulation. An example is given for contrast agent enhanced imaging of a virtual vessel phantom probed by a linear array transducer.