Ultrasonic quantification of valvular regurgitant blood flow

Abstract

Valvular regurgitation is assessed by identifying a characteristic regurgitation jet in a colorflow image. An M-line is placed over the region of regurgitation and Doppler M-mode information is acquired from the flow convergence region adjacent the regurgitant orifice. The Doppler M-mode information, acquired at a higher acquisition rate than the colorflow frame rate, is used to produce a measure of the regurgitant flow rate and volume through the orifice. The flow rate can be used with velocity data acquired during the regurgitation event to produce a dynamic estimate of the size of the regurgitant valve orifice.