HIGH-RESOLUTION 3D COLOR-FLOW MAPPING - APPLIED TO THE ASSESSMENT OF BREAST VASCULATURE

In order to develop a three dimensional (3D) color flow map of low vel ocity flow through small vessels, we explore the use of a high resolut ion velocity estimation technique and a new technique for the differen tiation of regions of flow and stationary tissue. Following the transm ission of a wideband signal, a signal processing strategy that tracks the motion of small regions of blood is used to estimate velocity. We find that the use of wideband transmission, with coherent estimation o ver a long pulse train, provides the opportunity to map very low veloc ity flow, and to detect flow at beam-vessel angles near 90 degrees. Th e use of 3D continuity processing to differentiate flow and stationary tissue is shown to improve noise immunity. In-vitro and in-vivo veloc ity maps are presented. The 3D velocity profile is then constructed.