High resolution 3D color flow mapping: applied to the assessment of breast vasculature.
In order to develop a three dimensional (3D) color flow map of low velocity flow through small vessels, we explore the use of a high resolution velocity estimation technique and a new technique for the differentiation of regions of flow and stationary tissue. Following the transmission of a wideband signal, a signal processing strategy that tracks the motion of small regions of blood is used to estimate velocity. We find that the use of wideband transmission, with coherent estimation over a long pulse train, provides the opportunity to map very low velocity flow, and to detect flow at beam-vessel angles near 90 degrees. The use of 3D continuity processing to differentiate flow and stationary tissue is shown to improve noise immunity. In-vitro and in-vivo velocity maps are presented. The 3D velocity profile is then constructed.
Ferrara
K W
KW
Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22903, USA.
Zagar
B
B
Sokil-Melgar
J
J
Algazi
V R
VR
D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001940:Breast / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color / Q000379:methods*; D016217:Ultrasonography, Mammary / Q000379:methods*