Measurement of the complete (3D) velocity vector of blood flows

The transversal crossing of ultrasound beams by moving scatterers is studied to derive a process dedicated to transverse motion estimation. A 3D blood flow model is formulated, allowing the test of various correlation algorithms to detect motion completely. Time correlation techniques giving axial displacement can be extended to transverse directions to detect 3D motion. The principle of a multiple probe is defined, and the implementation of the associated processing is demonstrated. It relies mainly on the time domain correlation processor used for axial detection, working also for transverse components. The complexity of this process is about five times that of the axial correlation processor. Feasibility of measuring this preliminary study indicates the complete velocity vector of blood flow with this approach