Method and apparatus for determining an ultrasound fluid flow centerline

A method for determining the location of an effective center of a fluid flow in a vessel, comprising the steps of:

• (A) propagating ultrasound energy along an axis of propagation Z in a spacial coordinate system (x, y, z) in which the dimension z is in the same direction as the axis of propagation Z;
• (B) projecting the ultrasound energy upon the vessel defining a set of coordinates in the spacial coordinate system where the ultrasound energy impinges upon fluid in the vessel at a given value of the dimension y;
• (C) receiving a Doppler-shifted signal reflected from the fluid in the vessel at a plurality of said set of coordinates,
• (D) deriving a set of quantities expressed as a density from the Doppler-shifted signal for each of said set of coordinates, the density being a function of the Doppler shift in frequency associated with each of said set of coordinates, the density being indicative of the movement of the fluid;
• and
• (E) calculating one of the mean, mode or median of each of the dimensions of said set of coordinates in conjunction with the density associated therewith.