mSOUND

mSOUND models linear and nonlinear acoustic wave propagation in heterogeneous media to simulate spatially varying acoustic properties relevant to biological tissues.

Key Features:

• Modeling scope: Simulates both linear and nonlinear acoustic wave propagation in heterogeneous media.
• Spatially varying properties: Represents speed of sound, density, attenuation coefficient, power-law exponent, and nonlinear coefficient as spatially varying functions.
• Computational framework: Employs an iterative one-way model based on a mixed domain method.
• TMDM forward projection: Computes transient acoustic fields generated by sources defined on a plane using the Transient Mixed-Domain Method.
• FSMDM forward projection: Computes pressure distributions at specific frequencies using the Frequency-Specific Mixed-Domain Method, assuming linear or weakly nonlinear propagation.
• TMDM backward projection: Reconstructs initial acoustic pressure fields using the TMDM backward projection approach.
• Implementation: Implemented in MATLAB.

Scientific Applications:

• Treatment planning: Simulates acoustic fields in heterogeneous biological tissues for ultrasound therapy planning.
• Photoacoustic tomography (PAT): Reconstructs initial acoustic pressure fields to support PAT image formation and resolution improvement.
• Transducer design: Computes frequency-specific and transient pressure distributions to inform ultrasound transducer design.
• Acoustic characterization: Evaluates effects of spatially varying attenuation and nonlinear coefficients on wave propagation.
• Medical ultrasound and bioacoustics research: Provides modeling capabilities for experimental and computational studies involving complex acoustic environments.

Methodology:

Uses an iterative one-way model based on a mixed domain method and implements Transient Mixed-Domain Method (TMDM) forward projection, Frequency-Specific Mixed-Domain Method (FSMDM) forward projection (for linear or weakly nonlinear propagation), and TMDM backward projection for reconstruction of initial acoustic pressure fields.