SIMUS3: An open-source simulator for 3-D ultrasound imaging

Abstract

Background and objective: Computational Ultrasound Imaging (CUI) has become increasingly popular in the medical ultrasound community, facilitated by free simulation software. These tools enable the design and exploration of transmit sequences, transducer arrays, and signal processing. We recently introduced SIMUS, a frequency-based ultrasound simulator within the open-source MUST toolbox, which offers numerical advantages and allows easy consideration of frequency-dependent factors. In response to the growing interest in simulating ultrasound imaging with 2-D matrix arrays, we present 3-D versions, PFIELD3 and SIMUS3.

Method: The linear acoustic equations driving these functions are described, with theoretical assumptions reviewed for user guidance.

Results: Comparative analyses with Field II, using a 32×32 element 3-MHz matrix array, highlight the performance of PFIELD3 and SIMUS3 under various transmission conditions.

Conclusions: This work extends the capabilities of existing CUI tools and provides researchers with valuable resources for advanced ultrasound simulations.

Keywords: 3-D ultrasound imaging; Computer ultrasound imaging; Open-source codes.