A review of the measurement of blood velocity and related quantities using Doppler ultrasound

Ultrasound systems can be used to investigate blood flow by use of the Doppler effect. The flow information may be displayed as either a real-time sonogram or a two-dimensional colour image. Estimates of maximum velocity using commercial systems are in error by typically 10-100 per cent; this is associated with the inability of the single-beam Doppler method to measure the true direction of flow, and with geometric spectral broadening. Vector Doppler systems acquire Doppler information along two beam directions and are able to measure accurately the velocity and direction of motion within the scan plane. The small beam width of modern Doppler systems means that the condition of uniform insonation, required for estimation of mean velocity from mean frequency shift, is not valid except for the very smallest vessels. Other quantities related to the velocity may also be estimated, such as the volumetric flow and wall shear stress. Flow visualization using colour flow imaging suffers from dependence of the displayed colour on the direction of blood motion. The vector Doppler technique may be extended to colour flow to give improved visualization of flow, in which there is no angle dependence within the scan plane.     

Continuous-wave Doppler for the noninvasive evaluation of aortic blood velocity and rate of change of velocity: evaluation in dogs

A new continuous-wave Doppler device is described, which has the capability of measuring peak aortic blood velocity and acceleration noninvasively in the ascending aorta of patients. To test the accuracy of the device, blood velocity and acceleration in the ascending aorta were compared with measurements obtained using an electromagnetic flowmeter in 16 open-chest anesthetized dogs. The Doppler probe was hand held directly on the aorta. Aortic flow was measured with a cuff electromagnetic flow transducer placed at the root of the aorta. Isoproterenol and propranolol, sometimes in combination with lidocaine, were administered intravenously to augment or reduce left ventricular contractile performance. Values of peak velocity, measured with the Doppler, corresponded closely to values measured with the electromagnetic flowmeter (r = 0.95). Values of peak acceleration also corresponded closely with the electromagnetic flow measurements (r = 0.96). The results indicate that valid measurements of blood acceleration in the ascending aorta, as well as blood velocity, can be obtained with continuous-wave Doppler.     

Blood flow: insights from ultrasound

Ultrasonic pulse-echo systems can provide range-finding, time-position and real-time two-dimensional images of soft-tissue structures within the body. The Doppler effect can be used to study motion and blood flow. Continuous wave Doppler instruments provide information about velocity and direction of flow; depth discrimination can be obtained by pulsing the ultrasound. Two-dimensional Doppler flow imaging can be achieved by manual scanning of a probe over the skin surface. The combination of real-time pulse-echo imaging with pulsed Doppler blood flow detection in the duplex scanner makes it possible to localize the anatomical position of the Doppler sample volume. Real-time Doppler colour flow imaging combines traditional ultrasonic scanning with a two-dimensional flow map. Using appropriate ultrasonic instruments, blood flow volume rates, blood flow velocity profiles, pressure gradients, orifice areas, flow disturbances, jets, characteristics of blood vessels and the circulatory system, and tissue perfusion can all be investigated. These investigations have clinical applications in the study of cardiac, cerebral and peripheral blood flow, blood flow in the female pelvis, the fetus, the abdomen, the neonate, and in malignant tumours. Contemporary ultrasonic diagnosis employs exposure levels that are apparently free from biological risk, but other factors need to be taken into account in considering the prudent use of ultrasonic methods. Promising research is being carried out into the mechanism of ultrasonic scattering by blood, Doppler speckle, time-domain processing for blood flow imaging, methods for increasing the scanning speed, Doppler flow microscopy and contrast agents. The new technology that will result from this research should lead to further substantial progress in ultrasonic blood flow studies.     

A venous pulse Doppler catheter-tip flowmeter for measuring arterial blood velocity, flow, and diameter in deep arteries.

Numerous schemes have been used for measuring hemodynamic properties of deeply lying arteries; however, all have their limitations. This paper describes a new relatively nontraumatic intravenous approach that uses a catheter in connection with a pulsed ultrasonic Doppler velocity meter (PUDVM) and an echo track. The catheter was initially tested in a hydraulic model system for calibration of velocity and flow parameters. Lately, the catheter has permittted measurements of local instantaneous blood velocity, flow, and wall motion characteristics in adult Beagle dogs in the abdominal aorta and iliac artery. Evaluation studies have been conducted to compare the catheter-tip recordings with an independent method for measuring blood flow and wall motion. Coupling of this catheter-tip device with the PUDVM and echo track provides chronic measurements of hemodynamic parameters in these deep vessels which were virtually impossible to obtain previously. This technique may prove useful in monitoring vessel pathology longitudinally as well as in basic experimental situations requiring flow and arterial wall mechanical properties.     

基于超声造影剂谐波图像的流场测量技术

本文研究了基于超声造影剂的血流运动场估计与显示技术,通过在血液中注入超声造影剂作为示踪粒子,对造影谐波图像进行时域相关处理,可得到成像部位的二维流场分布图。相对于常规Ｄｏｐｐｌｅｒ方法中用Ｄｏｐｐｌｅｒ回波信号的频偏计算流速值,该技术可直接从超声图像提取与夹角无关的流速矢量信息。本文通过流动模型验证该方法,浸入超声水槽中的乳胶管中流动着血液替代品,沿水流方向进行超声成像,对实验所得的造影后的Ｂ超图像以及谐波图像,用一种节省计算量的多尺度相关算法进行处理,并相互比较。结果显示,谐波图像相对Ｂ超基波图像具有更高的信杂比,从根本上解决了基波图像低信噪比对时域相关测量精度的限制,可以得到与夹角无关的二维血流场分布图,该方法是医学和有关工业领域中超声流场测量的一种有效的方法。     

Note: Reflection-type micro multipoint laser Doppler velocimeter for measuring velocity distributions in blood vessels

We have developed a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV) for measuring velocity distributions in blood vessels. We converted a transmission-based LDV into a reflection-based LDV to make it suitable for clinical applications. The velocity distribution image of a serpentine flow channel obtained could be qualitatively explained by the numerical results. Finally, we evaluated the system by using it to measure injection of blood into a glass tube by a syringe pump. The results obtained demonstrate that erythrocytes can be used as seeding particles for the reflection-type micro multipoint LDV. The results obtained are useful as basic data for clinical applications.     

Ultrasonic transesophageal measurement of hemodynamic parameters in humans.

A noninvasive method has been developed to monitor centerline blood velocity waveforms and vessel diameter in the descending aorta and pulmonary artery of conscious humans. An esophageal endoscope fitted with miniature ultrasound transducers is swallowed and positioned in the esophagus near vessels of interest. The transducers are connected to ultrasound Doppler velocimeters and echotrack instrumentation to obtain the pertinent hemodynamic parameters. This paper describes the design and fabrication of the esophageal ultrasound transducers and the techniques involved in human applications. In addition, blood velocity and wall motion measurements obtained in conscious men at rest and during exercise are described.     

基于锁相放大器的全光纤式激光多普勒测速系统

为了提高激光多普勒测速系统的测量精度及其实用性,基于锁相放大器和光纤设计搭建了一套激光多普勒测速系统。该系统的优点在于,锁相放大器的引入能够放大信号并可避免杂散光影响,从而大大提高系统的信噪比;此外,利用光纤取代传统的传输与接收光路,有效避免振动、灰尘、杂散光等环境因素影响,使实验条件大大简化。利用该系统测量移动平面镜和漫射面镜的结果表明,该系统能够准确测量移动物体的速率,误差在1%以内。该系统将来可应用于在线监测活体组织的血液流速测量中。     

超声多普勒谱修正的油水两相流流速测量

针对水平管道油水两相流流速的无扰动测量问题,提出一种基于超声/电学双模态传感器的流速测量方法。测量系统由连续波超声多普勒传感器和基于电容与电导的电学传感器构成,分别用于获取两相流流速和分相含率。由于连续波多普勒的测量区域集中于管道中心,受流速剖面、含率分布影响,所测得流速并非流体的总表观流速。在假设含率分布满足高斯分布的前提下,建立相含率加权的多普勒能量谱模型,将含率分布的影响因素引入总表观流速的测量,并建立总表管流速和分相表观流速的计算模型。在试验基础上,分别确定水连续和油连续时总表观流速计算模型的参数。试验表明,通过模型计算出的表观流速与实际测量的流速能够较好吻合,总表观流速的相对误差小于6.32%,分相表观流速的方均根误差小于5.64%。     

Human left main coronary artery blood flow: noninvasive Doppler echocardiography with sample volume tracking

We developed sample volume tracking units that controlled the pulsed ultrasonic Doppler sample volume location in relation with the anterior-posterior movement of the human left main coronary artery (LMCA). Combined with noninvasive Doppler echocardiographic mechanical sector scanners (DS), the trackers controlled the axial location of the sample volume by range gate control. The Doppler angle was minimized with the long axis of the imaged LMCA. Both stored waveform, memory-driven (MD) and real-time (RT) trackers were developed. These devices were used to measure blood velocity spectral waveforms and lumen diameters, which were used to calculate flow. Using the RT tracker, we compared DS measurements with known flows (0-1000 ml/min) in a moving 4 mm tygon tubing phantom (r = 0.92, SEE = 32 ml/min). Using the MD tracker, we compared the DS with simultaneous invasive flow measurements in 11 patients with angiographically normal coronaries and ventricular function during cardiac catheterization. Using the RT tracker, we compared the DS measurements with subsequent nonsimultaneous, invasive flow data in 8 similar patients. Invasively determined flows were calculated from angiographic diameters and blood velocities which were obtained with a Doppler velocimeter catheter. Regression coefficients (r) were: (Table: see text). V = maximum velocity, D = diameter, Q = mean flow, *p less than .05 Interoperator and intraoperator variabilities in vivo of DS measurements with RT tracking were 21% and 15%, respectively. We conclude that Doppler echocardiography with either MD or RT sample volume tracking may be of limited clinical usefulness in the noninvasive measurement of phasic left main coronary artery blood flow in unselected patients.     

Ultrasonic pulse-Doppler flow meter application for hydraulic power plants

At hydraulic power stations, Pitot tubes have commonly been used to measure flow rates in steel penstocks for performance testing of hydraulic turbines. Due to the difficulties of Pitot tube installation, transit-time ultrasonic flow meters are becoming a popular replacement, but their accuracy is sensitive to velocity profiles that depend on Reynolds numbers and pipe surface roughness. Ultrasonic pulse Doppler flow meters have recently gained favor as suitable tools to measure flow rates in steel penstocks because they can measure instantaneous velocity profiles directly. Field tests were conducted at an actual hydraulic power plant using an ultrasonic pulse Doppler flow meter, and it was found capable of measuring velocity profiles in a large steel penstock with a diameter of over one meter and Reynolds number of more than five million. Furthermore, two ultrasonic transducers were placed on the pipe surface to validate the multi-line measurement of asymmetric flow. Each transducer recorded the velocity profile simultaneously from the pipe centerline to its far wall during plant operation. Velocity profiles were obtained from three-minute measurements to improve the accuracy of flow rate measurements.     

Velocity resolved laser Doppler blood flow measurements in skin

A Doppler flow meter was developed, consisting of a PC and a control card for two Doppler sensors to be fixed on skin. From the measured Doppler signals a power spectrum is calculated by a software FFT. In contrast to usual laser Doppler flow measurements in skin, which provide only a mean flow, a flow spectrum is calculated with the assumption of an isotropic distribution of the directions of the velocity of the erythrocytes and irradiation vectors in the skin. Up to four partial flows (integral over a certain frequency region of the flow spectrum) are displayed on the screen simultaneously with a resolution in time < 10 ms. The frequency span can be set independently for each flow. Corresponding to low and high Doppler frequencies the flows show different behavior and provide the possibility to distinguish between the flow in the superficial dermal plexus and larger micro-capillaries.     

Calibration procedure for performance evaluation of clinical Pulsed Doppler Systems

This paper describes the analysis of an experimental setup for the performances evaluation of Pulsed Doppler feature in clinical ultrasound scanners. The equipment basically consist on a commercial flow phantom made by a straight tube having a known and constant cross sectional area in which a blood mimicking fluid is forced to flow at laminar conditions. Given the accuracy declared by the manufacturer (±0.7 cm/s), unsatisfactory for low flow rates, we calibrated the phantom using the gravimetric method. From the digitized images of the Pulsed Doppler spectra over time, the mean velocities have been computed with the software package developed by the authors. Moreover, to test the calibration procedure in effective conditions, we carried out performance test on five different ultrasound platforms, equipped with phased array and convex array probes with a nominal mean velocity of the blood mimicking fluid ranging from 1.1 cm/s to 12.7 cm/s. The pooled data showed an overestimation of the mean velocity, from over 200% down to about 50%, depending on nominal flow rate and ultrasound equipment. The same data, corrected via the calibration curve, showed a sensible recovery of the estimated accuracy of the tested platforms at low flow rates (<3 cm/s).     

Determination of the velocity and size of bubbles in two-phase flows by using a laser doppler anemometer

Natural oscillations of a spherical interface between a gas and a liquid in a bubble are registered. A possibility of measuring the geometric parameters of stationary and moving particles of the disperse phase by a laser Doppler anemometer is demonstrated. A method for simultaneous determination of the size and velocity of a bubble or a droplet in a two-phase flow is developed. The mean sizes of a group of bubbles settled on a ruler are compared: the results are obtained by two independent methods, i.e., by analyzing the image and by processing the Doppler signal containing information about the natural oscillations of the spherical interface between the media. A possibility of using a laser Doppler anemometer for simultaneous measurements of the velocity and size of bubbles or droplets in a two-phase flow is confirmed.     

Use of gas bubbles for ultrasound Doppler flow velocity profile measurement

Ultrasonic velocimetry based on the Doppler shift effect accurately provides quasi-instantaneous flow fields for fluids with a sufficiently high acoustic scattering level. However, ultrasonic velocity instruments are known to perform poorly in clear water with low acoustic scattering level, which are frequent conditions in laboratory applications. This work confirms a technique to solve the problem by seeding the flow with micro hydrogen bubbles, generated by means of electrolysis.This paper investigates the influence of gas bubbles density on the quality of the ultrasound Doppler based velocity profiles in an open channel flow. The bubbles are generated by electrolysis of water using different magnitudes of electrical current. The estimation of the number of bubbles in the measurement volume confirms that the bubble diameter is similar to that of the wire used for electrolysis. This enables to determine the minimum density of gas bubbles needed to obtain a reasonably good echo and therefore an accurate velocity profile.     

A readout for pulsed Doppler velocity meters.

The use of the pulsed Doppler velocity meter in cardiovascular applications has been restricted, due in part to difficulties in experimental usage of the device and systematic errors in signal processing, leading to inaccurate results. These problems have been alleviated by a multiparameter readout which provides information on the position of the sample region with respect to surrounding tissues in an M-mode type display, and a first moment Doppler frequency shift output capable of following the rapid velocity fluctuations which occur in disturbed flow conditions. The use of the readout in obtaining blood velocity measurements from within the human heart is demonstrated with representative examples of output for various clinical situations.     

Volumetric flow mapping for microvascular networks by bimodality imaging with light microscope and Laser Doppler imager

A method was developed to produce a composite image of microvascular networks with grayscales proportional to volumetric flows. Velocities in arterioles and venules were assessed with a high-resolution laser Doppler imager (LDI). The vascular structures were quantified from the micrograph with a computerized vessel detection algorithm. After registering the detected vascular network with the LDI scan, volumetric flows were calculated along the centerlines of the vessels. In vivo data were obtained from the hamster cheek pouch in 6 studies. Flow continuity of the flow map was evaluated by comparing the main flow (Q) with the sum of branch flows (Qs), averaging over the respective vessel segments incident to each bifurcation. The method was reproducible across the 6 studies with the correlation coefficient (r) between Qs and Q ranging from 0.913 to 0.986. In all, over 20,000 flow estimates from 360 vessel segments (24-160 microm in diameter) at 166 bifurcations were analyzed. With flow normalized between 0 and 1, the linear regression yielded: Qs = 1.03 Q + 0.006; r = 0.952, n = 166, P < 0.0005. The bimodality imaging method exploits a large amount of velocity and diameter data, and therefore should be useful for studying heterogeneous flows in the microvasculature.     

声学多普勒测流仪原理及应用

多普勒流速仪（ADCP）利用声学多普勒原理测量水流剖面的流速,是一种新型高精度流体测流仪器.多普勒测流与传统测流方法相比,具有测验分辨率高、精确度好、信息量大、资料完整等优点,尤其适用于复杂环境下的流体流速、流量的测量.文章透过多普勒测流与传统测流的对比,详细地阐述了多普勒测流的原理及方法.     

Numerical investigation of non-uniform magnetic field effects on the blood velocity and magnetic nanoparticles concentration inside the vessel

Among other applications, Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) are used as drug carriers for guided drug delivery purposes. The aim of the current study is to numerically investigate the effect of non-uniform magnetic field on the blood flow and MNPs concentration inside a vessel. The coupled governing equations under the influence of non-uniform magnetic field are utilized and non-dimensionalized. Two dimensionless parameters, Magnetic force number (MFN) and Magnetic drift number (MDN), are introduced and their effects on the blood flow velocity and the MNPs concentration are studied. The results show for the same magnetic force number, the MNPs concentration on the vessel wall increases as the magnetic drift number increases. While under the same magnetic drift number, magnetic nanoparticles decreases as magnetic force number increases. This implies that the MNPs concentration at the entrance is low while MNPs radius is large. In addition, the greater the magnetic force and the magnetic drift numbers is the higher the deformation of streamlines becomes.