Quantitative Measurements using Ultrasound Vector Flow Imaging

Duplex Vector Flow Imaging (VFI) imaging is introduced as a replacement for spectral Doppler, as it automatically can yield fully quantitative flow estimates without angle correction. Continuous VFI data over 9 s for 10 pulse cycles were acquired by a 3 MHz convex probe connected to the SARUS scanner for pulsating flow mimicking the femoral artery from a CompuFlow 1000 pump (Shelley Medical). Data were used in four estimators based on directional transverse oscillation for velocity, flow angle, volume flow, and turbulence estimation and their respective precisions. An adaptive lag scheme gave the ability to estimate a large velocity range, or alternatively measure at two sites to find e.g. stenosis degree in a vessel. The mean angle at the vessel center was estimated to 90.9◦±8.2◦ indicating a laminar flow from a turbulence index being close to zero (0.1 ±0.1). Volume flow was 1.29 ±0.26 mL/stroke (true: 1.15 mL/stroke, bias: 12.2%). Measurements down to 160 mm were obtained with a relative standard deviation and bias of less than 10% for the lateral component for stationary, parabolic flow. The method can, thus, find quantitative velocities, angles, and volume flows at sites currently inaccessible to spectral systems, and at much larger velocities and ranges than conventional systems without any angle correction making measurements less time-consuming and more correct.