In vivo estimation of cardiovascular flows with surface integration of velocity vectors from color Doppler imaging

Ultrasound can be used to noninvasively study the pumping heart. To be able to obtain more accurate flow estimates, we have designed the Surface Integration of Velocity Vectors (SIVV) echocardiographic method for angle independent determination of cardiac flow. The aim is to develop a noninvasive method for quantification of volume flows that can be used instead of the invasive methods that exist today. Using gated and time-delayed electrocardiographic acquisitions, Doppler data (Vingmed CFM 800) was collected for consecutive heart beats. Left ventricular inflow and outflow regions were studied. The SIVV analysis with velocity information from a variable number of planes as well as different wall filters and the time correction algorithm as described by Eidenvall et al. (1992), are implemented. Preliminary data from stroke volume determination agrees well (8% difference, 67 ml by SIVV versus 62 ml by the Fick equation).