Simulating ultrasonic pulse echo registration including multiple scattering, attenuation and nonlinearity

The advantages of nonlinear ultrasound propagation are exploited in an ever increasing number of applications. As a consequence, much research is devoted to the development of numerical methods capable of modeling nonlinear pressure wave fields propagating through (inhomogeneous) biomedical tissue. These tools are essential to design and optimize ultrasound transducers and to investigate novel ultrasound modalities or devices. The iterative nonlinear contrast source (INCS) method is an accurate full-wave method for modeling three-dimensional nonlinear acoustic wave fields propagating through soft biomedical tissue containing arbitrary inhomogeneities in the coefficient of nonlinearity, attenuation and speed of sound. This method is directionally independent and can deal with large three-dimensional domains, measuring hundreds of wavelengths and periods, and scattering. Here, we present the first synthetic harmonic ultrasound images generated with INCS. The images are created using a delay-and-sum aperture focusing scheme. Results show the applicability of the INCS method as a simulator for ultrasound harmonic imaging systems.