Medical diagnostic ultrasound system and method for flow analysis

A medical diagnostic ultrasound system for automated flow analysis, the system comprising:

• a memory operable to store first and second data sets corresponding to first and second two dimensional areas of the target, the target including a vessel;
• a processor operable to determine first and second cross-sectional areas of the vessel from the first and second data sets, respectively;
• and
• an output device operable to indicate an abnormality as a function of the first and second cross-sectional areas.

A medical diagnostic ultrasound method for automated carotid vessel analysis, the method comprising the acts of:

• (a) identifying first and second branches of the carotid vessel with a processor;
• (b) selecting one of the first and second branches as a function of the number of small branches connected with the first and second branches;
• and
• (c) automatically labeling the selected one of the first and second branches on a display.