An ECG-Gated Color Doppler Imaging System for Determination of Coronary Bypass Graft Patency

A computer based pulsed Doppler imaging system designed for the noninvasive assessment of coronary and cardiac dynamics has been constructed. A multigate pulsed Doppler of the moving target indicator type is implemented using CCD delay lines. Doppler sector scan images of flow, gated on the ECG, allow on-line direct imaging of flow in blood vessels within the body. Our display is gated on the electrocardiogram so that the heart cycle is divided into 16 time segments. Information is recorded and displayed in real time along the direction of current interrogation along with previously recorded information along other sector lines during the same portion of the heart cycle. In addition, a real time Doppler M-mode display at 210 lines per second provides a method for displaying Doppler flow information with better time resolution. A simultaneous echo image of surrounding tissues is also possible. Experimental trials on flow-through phantoms and human volunteers indicates the ability to directly image flow in the vessels as small as 3 mm diameter. It is anticipated the device will be used to image flow in coronary bypass grafts, followed by real time spectrum analysis of a conventional single gate pulsed Doppler in order to quantify the velocity of flow in such vessels.

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