Experimental modelling of imaging artifacts in ultrasound examination of human lungs

To determine the nature of artifacts on the ultrasound image of human lungs (so-called B-lines), experimental phantoms were created consisting of a silicone layer for acoustic imitation of intercostal muscles, a layer formed with fine-pored anti-burn sponge imitating healthy or edematous lung tissue, a sponge fragment, a mandarin juice pouch and a drop of ultrasound gel imitating the structures of the lung fabrics. The resulting echograms were compared with images recorded in clinical cases of pulmonary pathologies. It is shown that the appearance of artificial B-lines is associated with the effects of multiple reverberation in liquid-filled structures imitating lung tissue, while their brightness and width on the echogram depend on the characteristic size of the internal structure of the phantom.