Computer model for harmonic ultrasound imaging

Harmonic ultrasound imaging has received great attention from ultrasound sc anner manufacturers and researchers. In this paper, we present a computer m odel that can generate realistic harmonic images. In this model, the incide nt ultrasound is modeled after the "KZK" equation, and the echo signal is m odeled using linear propagation theory because the echo signal is much weak er than the incident pulse. Both time domain and frequency domain numerical solutions to the "KZK" equation were studied. Realistic harmonic images of spherical lesion phantoms were generated for scans by a circular transduce r. This model can be a very useful tool for studying the harmonic buildup a nd dissipation processes in a nonlinear medium, and it can be used to inves tigate a wide variety of topics related to B-mode harmonic imaging.