Identifying Ovine Transcranial Acoustic Windows

Abstract

Transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) is used to measure cerebral blood flow velocity in patients with cerebrovascular pathology. The task of locating an adequate acoustic window, through which TCD may be performed, is frequently time consuming or impossible for patients with thick or dense temporal bones. We examined the possibility of utilising B-Mode ultrasound images to guide detection of acoustic windows prior to TCD. B-Mode images of the temporal bone were acquired on deceased sheep shortly after death. We found that on selected sheep, the inner table of the temporal bone was visible on B-Mode imaging. We suggest that visibility of the inner table of the temporal bone on B-Mode imaging is associated with a high probability of successful TCD at that location.