Software Update: Now Available for Vantage NXT System Customers
Verasonics has announced to customers its latest Vantage NXT software release (ver. 2.0). This software release is now available for download via customer folders, providing access to updated features and options.
Acquisition SDK Programming Model
Verasonics has introduced the Acquisition SDK Programming Model (Acquisition SDK), a C-based API, that allows Vantage® NXT Research Ultrasound System users to program their system without MATLAB® dependencies. The Acquisition SDK Programming Model, which is comprised of a C-API, example code, and documentation, offers users similar data structures and naming conventions to those of the MATLAB Programming Model to simplify the porting of existing sequences to the Acquisition SDK environment. The Acquisition SDK is an ideal complement for users who aim to develop applications intended for commercialization or for integration of their legacy or third-party software to run on the Vantage NXT Platform. The Acquisition SDK is available for purchase and can be run on systems using the latest Vantage NXT software release (ver. 2.0), now in customer folders.
Complementary Programming Models Increase User Productivity & Performance
Verasonics’ novel and highly flexible sequence-based MATLAB Programming Model was initially introduced in 2007 and has been expanded over the years to increase support for new ultrasound research applications. Today, it remains the gold standard in research ultrasound programming, allowing users to rapidly prototype new ultrasound applications.
Verasonics’ MATLAB Programming Model provides several advantages:
- Leverage the flexibility of Verasonics’ native image reconstruction
- Develop custom processing functions written in other programming languages
- Utilize MATLAB’s built-in tools and capabilities
- Use Verasonics’ extensive set of example scripts, VSX GUI display, the Verasonics Research Ultrasound Simulator, built-in Help System and several other Verasonics-developed utilities and toolboxes
The new Acquisition SDK Programming Model provides Vantage NXT users with the option to implement their sequences and algorithms prototyped in MATLAB to achieve increased performance in a variety of ways:
- Optimize code to run more efficiently without MATLAB dependencies
- Develop software using other programming languages
- Develop their own GUIs in environments outside of MATLAB
Users may also choose to skip prototyping in MATLAB, moving directly to the Acquisition SDK Programming Model to develop their own image reconstruction, processing and display functions.
Acquisition SDK and GPU Compatibility
For users wishing to accelerate their computations with one or more GPU’s, Acquisition SDK offers full support for NVIDIA hardware. This SDK has been designed to allow the user to allocate memory on either the host computer or GPU device with the additional option of using NVIDIA’s Unified memory option. Furthermore, for applications where the acquired RF data is intended to be processed immediately on the GPU, the Acquisition SDK is compatible with the GPU Toolkit with GPU Direct Option (for Linux OS only).
Product Development and Commercial Organizations
Since its inception, Verasonics has been working with commercial companies to build clinical ultrasound products based on Verasonics’ technology. Until the Acquisition SDK, commercial licensees have either compiled their MATLAB code using the MATLAB Compiler or modified Verasonics’ source code to remove MATLAB dependencies for their products.
With the Acquisition SDK, commercial companies not interested in using compiled MATLAB code can now develop applications without MATLAB dependencies, thus further reducing development costs and time to market.
An Ecosystem for Third-Party Software
Many Verasonics customers have developed legacy software applications, which were challenging to integrate with Verasonics’ research ultrasound systems through the MATLAB Programming Model. The Acquisition SDK’s stable C-based API makes it easier for users to interface their software applications to program the Vantage NXT Acquisition Hardware and also opens the possibility for customers, as well as independent software development companies, to develop new applications for use on Vantage NXT.
Additional Acquisition SDK capabilities are planned in upcoming 2025 Vantage NXT software releases.
For questions on the Acquisition SDK Programming Model, Vantage NXT Research Ultrasound Systems or other Verasonics solutions, contact [email protected].