title: CREANUIS: a non-linear radiofrequency ultrasound image simulator.
abstract: Nonlinear ultrasound methods are widely used in clinical applications for tissue or contrast harmonic imaging. Accurate non-linear imaging simulation tools are required in research studies for the development of new methods. However, in existing simulators, the possible inhomogeneity of the coefficient of non-linearity, which is generally observed in tissue and in particular when contrast agents are involved, has not yet been implemented. This article describes a new ultrasound simulator, called CREANUIS, devoted to the computation of B-mode images where both linear and non-linear propagation in media is considered, with a possible inhomogeneous coefficient of non-linearity. The resulting fundamental images, based on a spatially variant and non-linear point spread function, are in accordance with those obtained through the reference linear FieldII simulator, with computation time reduced by a factor of at least 1.8. Non-linear images of media exhibiting inhomogeneous coefficients of non-linearity are also provided. The simulation software can be freely downloaded from our website.
authors.affiliation: CREATIS, Université de Lyon, CNRS UMR 5220, Inserm U1044, Université Lyon 1, INSA-Lyon, Villeurbanne, France. francois.varray@creatis.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Varray
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Basset
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tortoli
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cachard
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D003198:Computer Simulation; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D008954:Models, Biological; D017711:Nonlinear Dynamics; D011846:Radio Waves; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Coefficient of non-linearity; Non-linear propagation; Radiofrequency image simulation; Ultrasound non-linearity