SPECTRAL MAPS BY AR MODELS AS A SUPPORT TO CONVENTIONAL ULTRASONIC IMAGING

Topological maps based on ultrasonic spectral parameters for tissue characterization are presented. The proposed technique combined with the conventional B-mode display, offers a complete and integrated diagnostic tool, since it locally characterizes the investigated region in terms of both amplitude an frequency shift of the corresponding echoes. The Power Spectral Density is estimated using autoregressive models, due to their high resolution and computational efficiency properties.