Interactive doppler processor and method

A method for interactively detecting a maximum velocity as a frequency or velocity value from echo signals in an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:

• detecting a maximum velocity as a function of a threshold determined as a function of at least one echo signal;
• displaying said maximum velocity;
• and
• altering said detecting step in real time in response to user input.

An apparatus for interactively detecting a maximum velocity as a frequency or velocity value from echo signals in an ultrasound system in a maximum velocity mode comprising:

• a processor, said processor comprising maximum velocity code;
• said code comprising a variable and a threshold calculated as a function of at least one echo signal value;
• a user input, said user input providing a value for said variable while said ultrasound system is in a maximum velocity mode;
• and
• at least one maximum velocity value calculated as a function of said threshold and said variable.

A method for interactively detecting a maximum velocity from echo signals in an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:

• selecting a configuration during a maximum velocity mode;
• processing said echo signals;
• determining said maximum velocity in response to said processing;
• and
• adjusting said determining in response to said selection of said configuration.

An apparatus for interactively detecting a maximum velocity from echo signals in an ultrasound system comprising:

• a processor, said processor comprising configuration code and maximum velocity code;
• said configuration code comprising multiple configuration data;
• said maximum velocity code comprising a variable;
• a user input, said user input providing data to select at least one of said multiple configuration data during processing of the maximum velocity code;
• and
• said at least one configuration data providing a value for said variable.

A method for providing a measurement of cardiac output based on echo signals in an ultrasound system comprising the steps of:

• processing said echo signals to determine a maximum velocity;
• inputting a diameter of a left ventricle outflow tract manually;
• determining velocity time integral from said maximum velocity and a heart rate;
• and
• multiplying said heart rate by said velocity time integral by an area derived from said diameter to obtain a measurement indicative of the cardiac output.

An apparatus for providing cardiac output from echo signals in an ultrasound system comprising:

• a processor, said processor comprising maximum velocity code for determining a maximum velocity;
• determining with said processor, a heart rate and a velocity time integral from said maximum velocity;
• a user input operatively connected to said processor, said user input providing a diameter input data;
• a multiplier, said multiplier for multiplying said diameter input data with said heart rate and said velocity time integral to obtain a measurement indicative of cardiac flow.