Vector Doppler: accurate measurement of blood velocity in two dimensions

An ultrasound Doppler system capable of determining both the magnitude and direction of complex blood velocities has been developed and demonstrated. This system uses a single transmitter and two receivers to resolve orthogonal velocity vector components. The system has been tested on a moving string phantom and on a carotid artery. The method may improve the detection of early vascular diseases and improve the accuracy of volumetric blood flow measurements in peripheral arteries.