Vectorial measurement of blood velocity by means of ultrasound.

The complete determination of blood velocity as a vector can be achieved using ultrasound techniques, by correlating the echo signals provided by a sector transducer. Here the general problem is approached by suggesting the processing procedure which should be adopted, so that longitudinal and transverse velocity components can be separated. After this a specific transducer layout is considered, which is suitable for in-plane measurements, and possible performances are evaluated by means of simulation. Finally, an experimental facility, set up to demonstrate the validity of the theoretical lines developed in two-dimensional geometry, is described, together with the preliminary results obtained.