P1E-8 Ultrasonic Doppler Measurement of Tissue Vibrations: Opportunities and Limitations

Doppler measurement of tissue vibrations (ultrasonic vibrometry) can provide clinical information about vascular pathology that may be otherwise difficult to obtain using conventional duplex ultrasound. Vibrometry can provide improved sensitivity, since the scattering strength from tissue is significantly higher than that from blood. In addition, detection of tissue vibrations has reduced angle dependency and does not require visualization of the vessel lumen, making the exam less dependent on operator skill and less time-consuming. The fundamental sources of error that can affect the measurement accuracy of the vibration characteristics are Doppler spectral broadening and tissue acceleration. Parametric simulation studies analyzing the effect of these sources of error and their implications are presented. We also present preliminary results from renal artery stenosis (RAS), demonstrating that a diagnosis based on the characteristics of measured tissue vibrations correlates well with the routine clinical diagnosis