Doppler colour flow imaging and flow quantification with a novel forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound system

Gatzoulis, L. and Ramnarine, K. and Pye, S. and Anderson, T. and Newby, D. and Hoskins, P. and McDicken, N. (2003) Doppler colour flow imaging and flow quantification with a novel forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound system. Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, 29 (1). pp. 53-64. ISSN 0301-5629

Abstract

The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of a novel forward-viewing intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) system for flow quantification and colour flow imaging combined with B-mode imaging. A stiff 3.8-mm diameter catheter was used to scan a 72° sector ahead of its tip. Operating at 30 MHz, the catheter was integrated with an IVUS scanner and a radiofrequency (RF) data-acquisition system. RF data were software processed for producing B-mode images and deriving velocity estimates. Steady flow in the range of 45 to 146 mL/min toward the catheter, was used in wall-less tissue-mimicking phantoms simulating healthy lumen (8-mm diameter), 30% diameter symmetrical stenosis and 37% diameter eccentric stenosis. The system provided colour flow images and good estimation of peak velocity and volumetric flows (within 1% to 9% and 16% to 48%, respectively, of calculated values) at 5 to 7 mm distal to the catheter. A sector forward-viewing IVUS imaging/Doppler system is suitable for combined anatomical and functional assessment of stenosed vessels.

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