Method and system for Doppler ultrasound measurement of blood flow

A Doppler ultrasound apparatus for measuring flow velocity in a localized region within a vessel using Doppler ultrasound, said apparatus comprising:

• an ultrasound probe for generating and detecting an incident and reflected ultrasound signal, respectively, said incident and reflected ultrasound signal including a Doppler ultrasound signal;
• means for generating an orientation and position signal for said ultrasound probe;
• and
• means for processing said orientation and position signal, and said ultrasound signal into a corrected ultrasound signal representing said flow velocity based on generating a three-dimensional representation of said vessel for determining a three-dimensional flow direction for said localized region within the vessel;
• wherein said corrected ultrasound signal compensates for errors in measuring said flow that are due to angular misalignment of said ultrasound probe relative to said flow velocity in said localized region.

A method for measuring a flow in a localized region within a vessel using a Doppler ultrasound apparatus, said flow having an associated velocity, said method comprising the steps of:

• generating and detecting an incident and reflected ultrasound signal, respectively, using an ultrasound probe, said incident and reflected ultrasound signal including a Doppler ultrasound signal;
• generating an orientation and position signal for said ultrasound probe;
• and
• processing said orientation and position signal, and said ultrasound signal into a corrected ultrasound signal representing said flow by generating a three-dimensional representation of said vessel for determining a three-dimensional flow direction for said localized region within the vessel;
• wherein said corrected ultrasound signal compensates for errors in measuring said flow that are due to angular misalignment of said ultrasound probe relative to said velocity of said flow in said localized region.