PEAK VELOCITY ESTIMATION IN ARTERIAL-STENOSIS MODELS USING COLOR VECTOR DOPPLER

Maximum velocity as measured from spectral Doppler is dependent on the angle theta between the beam and the direction of motion of blood, Th e Doppler shift is dependent on the velocity component in the directio n of the ultrasound beam, hence theta cannot be determined accurately, These factors produce errors in the estimation of arterial stenosis f rom velocity, In this study, a 2D colour vector Doppler technique was tested using a flow model with simulated arterial stenoses, Colour-flo w images obtained from different beam directions were compounded, givi ng estimates of velocity magnitude and angle, The maximum velocity mag nitude increased with the degree of stenosis, and there was no depende nce on the beam-vessel angle, This technique does not require manual e ntry of beam-vessel angle, nor does it have the angle dependence assoc iated with spectral estimation of maximum velocity, This may help redu ce the errors in assessment of arterial stenosis. (C) 1997 World Feder ation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.