An analogue mean frequency estimator for the quantitative measurement of blood flow by Doppler ultrasound.

Ultrasonic Doppler-shifted signals from blood can be displayed in various forms using either analogue or digital processing techniques. One of the most commonly extracted parameters from the Doppler spectrum is the mean frequency envelope. This waveform can be used for the interpretation of physiological changes within man and can also be used for the estimation of volume flow rate within a vessel. This paper describes a practical implementation of an analogue, instantaneous mean frequency estimator and its use in the measurement of blood flow volume. The circuit is linear to within two per cent and operates over a frequency range of 200 Hz to 10 kHz. It can extract a velocity-time envelope from a Doppler signal within noise and performs well in a clinical environment. It is relatively inexpensive compared with digital signal processing techniques and requires minimal setting up. Simple connection to a Doppler velocimeter using phase quadrature demodulation will produce a directional output.