International audienceIn order to improve the tissue characterization, the probability density function of ultrasonic backscattered echoes which may be treated as random signals, is modeled by using Nakagami statistical distribution. Recently, it has been found that Nakagami statistical model constitutes a quite good model in tissue characterization due to its simplicity and general character. In the present study, computer simulations and experiments on phantoms have been carried out to test the validity of Nakagami distribution in order to model the backscattered envelope of ultrasonic signals in the nonlinear regime. Experiments were performed using a 5MHz linear array connected to an open research platform. A commercially available phantom was used to mimick tissue backscatter. For different sizes and positions of the sampling window, the RF signals have been acquired at different frequencies and bandwidths, then filtered around the center frequency and around twice the center frequency. The signals obtained have been analyzed in order to evaluate the Nakagami parameter (m), the scaling parameter (Ω) and the probability density function. These results have been compared to those obtained by using Field II software
