Apparatus and method for detecting blood vessel size and direction for doppler flow measurement system
First Claim
1. In an ultrasonic diagnostic system, including means for receiving Doppler information signals having frequency components representing fluid flow through a region of interest, and means for formatting said Doppler information signals for presentation on a graphical display, a method for measuring a volumetric flow rate of a vessel within the region of interest comprising the steps of:
- selecting a vessel represented graphically on the display in which a volumetric flow rate measurement is desired;
searching in a plurality of directions that extend radially outward from a location defined within the selected vessel for an upper and a lower set of edge points that correspond to inner wall surfaces of the vessel;
fitting curves through the respective sets of edge points that define respective estimates of the inner wall surfaces;
measuring an angular difference between the respective curves and a beam direction of the Doppler information signals; and
deriving a volumetric flow rate measurement of the selected vessel within a region defined by the respective curves and based on the measured angular difference.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ultrasonic diagnostic system is provided that automatically measures a volumetric flow rate of a vessel presented on a graphical display by estimating the vessel size and direction. The Doppler information signals received from an ultrasonic transducer include frequency components representing fluid flow through a region of interest. The operator selects a vessel represented graphically on the display in which a volumetric flow rate measurement is desired. The ultrasonic diagnostic system then performs a search in a plurality of directions that extend radially outward from a location within the vessel for an upper and a lower set of edge points that correspond to inner wall surfaces of the vessel. Once the upper and lower set of edge points are identified, curves are fitted through the respective sets of edge points to define respective estimates of the inner wall surfaces. Next, an angular difference between the respective curves and a beam direction of the Doppler information signals is measured. Finally, a volumetric flow rate measurement of the selected vessel can be derived within a region defined by the respective curves and based on the measured angular difference.
60 Citations
21 Claims
-
1. In an ultrasonic diagnostic system, including means for receiving Doppler information signals having frequency components representing fluid flow through a region of interest, and means for formatting said Doppler information signals for presentation on a graphical display, a method for measuring a volumetric flow rate of a vessel within the region of interest comprising the steps of:
-
selecting a vessel represented graphically on the display in which a volumetric flow rate measurement is desired; searching in a plurality of directions that extend radially outward from a location defined within the selected vessel for an upper and a lower set of edge points that correspond to inner wall surfaces of the vessel; fitting curves through the respective sets of edge points that define respective estimates of the inner wall surfaces; measuring an angular difference between the respective curves and a beam direction of the Doppler information signals; and deriving a volumetric flow rate measurement of the selected vessel within a region defined by the respective curves and based on the measured angular difference. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An ultrasonic diagnostic system, including means for receiving Doppler information signals having frequency components representing fluid flow through a region of interest, and means for formatting said Doppler information signals for presentation on a graphical display, comprising:
-
means for selecting a vessel represented graphically on the display in which a volumetric flow rate measurement is desired; means for searching in a plurality of directions that extend radially outward from a location defined within the selected vessel for an upper and a lower set of edge points that correspond to inner wall surfaces of the vessel; means for fitting curves through the respective sets of edge points that define respective estimates of the inner wall surfaces; means for measuring an angular difference between the respective curves and a beam direction of the Doppler information signals; and means for deriving a volumetric flow rate measurement of the selected vessel within a region defined by the respective curves and based on the measured angular difference. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
-
Specification