Angle-independent estimation of maximum velocity through stenoses using vector Doppler ultrasound

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2003 Apr;29(4):575-84. doi: 10.1016/s0301-5629(02)00736-6.

Abstract

Categorisation for arterial stenoses treatment is determined primarily by the degree of occlusion, which is often estimated ultrasonically from blood velocity measurements. In current single-beam ultrasound (US) systems, this estimate can suffer from gross errors due to angle-dependence. The purpose of this study was to find out if an experimental dual-beam US system could reduce the angle-dependence of the velocity estimates. We compared four dual-beam velocity estimation algorithms on both a string phantom and straight tube wall-less flow phantoms incorporating symmetrical and asymmetrical stenoses from 0% to 91% by area. The estimated maximum velocity varied, on average, by 7.6% for beam-vessel angles from 40 degrees to 80 degrees. The fluctuation in the magnitude estimate was reduced by a factor of 2.6 using a hybrid single-dual-beam algorithm. We conclude that, when the true velocity lies in the scan plane, the dual-beam system reduces the angle-dependence and, thus, has the potential to improve categorisation of patients with arterial stenoses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / physiopathology
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Constriction, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler