Statistical spectral analysis for echo signals from microbubbles and solid spheres

The spectral analysis of echo signals from linear and non-linear scatters is important for understanding the behavior of ultrasound contrast microbubbles (MBs) and assisting the design of insonifying pulse waveforms. Most pulse designs assume a theoretical MB behavior instead of using experimental data despite it being accepted that theoretical models have not succeeded in describing MB behavior. Fourier transform (FT) based non-parametric spectral analysis methods are widely used but have limitations in spectral and temporal localization. This study is the first to incorporate receiver characteristics and introduce a parametric model for the estimation of temporal and spectral content of experimental echo signals. This study improves spectral analysis performance and helps understand MB behavior.