Three-dimensional blood flow velocity vector estimation with a triple-beam ultrasonic lens

Current commercial ultrasound blood flow measurement systems only measure the axial component of the true blood now velocity vector. In order to overcome this limitation, a technique to estimate the three-dimensional blood flow velocity vector has been developed. This technique is based on an overlapping triple-beam approach, where three overlapping ultrasound beams are generated by a triple-beam ultrasonic lens transducer. Blood cell scatterers are tracked by 2-D RF correlation techniques as they pass from beam to beam. Extensive software simulations have been written, along with a prototype 3-D flow velocity measurement hardware system. This paper presents the results of software simulation and experimental measurements for parabolic flow in a flow phantom at a beam-vessel of 90°, which is not possible with current commercial systems