A model for the propagation and scattering of ultrasound in tissue

J Acoust Soc Am. 1991 Jan;89(1):182-90. doi: 10.1121/1.400497.

Abstract

An inhomogeneous wave equation is derived describing propagation and scattering of ultrasound in an inhomogeneous medium. The scattering term is a function of density and propagation velocity perturbations. The integral solution to the wave equation is combined with a general description of the field from typical transducers used in clinical ultrasound to yield a model for the received pulse-echo pressure field. Analytic expressions are found in the literature for a number of transducers, and any transducer excitation can be incorporated into the model. An example is given for a concave, nonapodized transducer in which the predicted pressure field is compared to a measured field.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acoustics
  • Algorithms*
  • Computer Graphics
  • Computer Simulation
  • Humans
  • Image Enhancement / instrumentation*
  • Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / instrumentation*
  • Models, Theoretical*
  • Transducers
  • Ultrasonography / instrumentation*