Interactive development of a CT-based tissue model for ultrasound simulation

The objective of this study was to make an interactive method for development of a tissue model, based on anatomical information in computed tomography (CT) images, for use in an ultrasound simulator for training or surgical pre-planning. The method consisted of (1) comparison of true ultrasound B-mode images with corresponding ultrasound-like images, and (2) modification of tissue properties to decrease the difference between these images. Ultrasound-like images that reproduced many, but not all the properties of corresponding true ultrasound images were generated. The tissue model could be used for real-time simulation of ultrasound-like B-mode images on a moderately priced computer.