Vector Doppler imaging of a spinning disc ultrasound Doppler phantom.

Vector Doppler methods are used to obtain angle independent in-plane velocity information. Velocity magnitude as well as direction are reconstructed from regular steered colour flow and from split-aperture Doppler acquisitions. Spatially resolved in-plane velocity was obtained through Doppler colour flow mode and subsequent data triangulation. A depth-invariant constant Doppler angle was achieved by using a depth expanding transmit-receive Doppler aperture. Velocities of up to 50 cm s(-1) and 360 degrees vector velocity directions were measured. This was achieved by creating a spinning solid disc phantom. Such a phantom was built to allow underwater mounting and spinning of a solid disc-shaped ultrasound phantom (maximum velocity of 50 cm s-1). Doppler triangulation was realised by steered Doppler and by a split-aperture approach. Results of both imaging methods are shown. Split-aperture results showed errors of less then 10% for velocity magnitude estimation and less then 2.5 degrees for directional information.