DOPPLER ULTRASOUND SPECTRAL SHAPE DOWNSTREAM OF SIGNIFICANT ARTERIAL-STENOSIS IN-VIVO

Peak analysis was applied to pulsed Doppler ultrasound spectra from in vive poststenotic velocity fields of canine common carotid arteries, Turbulent spectra from a region of jet breakup, five diameters (5 D) down from a 68% diameter reducing stenosis, were closely approximated by a single Gaussian peak, Multiple peaks resulting from the analysis of complex spectra from the shear layers between jet and recirculation zones, 1.5 D downstream of a 40% stenosis, correlated well with the known features of the poststenotic velocity field, It is concluded that peak analysis can be used to separate the spectral components of distinct flow regimes from the complex spectra of regions of complicated flow, This may provide a method for the diagnosis of mild degrees of arterial stenosis using pulsed Doppler ultrasound.