Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient, the system comprising: a single-element disc-shaped ultrasound transducer for fastening to the patient and a controller subsystem. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit a series of plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to calculate a blood flow curve for waveform analysis.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient, the system comprising: a single-element disc-shaped ultrasound transducer for fastening to the patient and a controller subsystem. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit a series of plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to calculate a blood flow curve for waveform analysis.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient, the system comprising: a single-element disc-shaped ultrasound transducer for fastening to the patient and a controller subsystem. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit a series of plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to calculate a blood flow curve for waveform analysis.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient comprises a first unit having an ultrasound transducer and a fastener for fastening the unit to the patient. A controller subsystem comprises the first unit and a separate second unit. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to estimate a series of values, over time, of a measure proportional, but not equal, to the total blood volume flow passing through the region. A monitoring subsystem is configured to monitor the series of values over time and to generate a signal if a set of one or more of the values satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of monitoring blood flow in a vertebrate animal subject. Unfocussed plane-wave ultrasound pulses are transmitted into the subject, along a transmission axis, from a single-element ultrasound transducer (2) fastened to the subject (5). Reflections of the ultrasound pulses are received, generating a succession of pulse-Doppler response signals over time. Each pulse-Doppler response signal is processed to determine a first respective spatial-maximum velocity value for blood flowing towards the single transducer element (2), and a second respective spatial-maximum velocity value for blood flowing away. Heartbeats are identified from said spatial-maximum velocity values and a quality metric is assigned to each identified heartbeat. A subset of the spatial-maximum velocity values is identified for which the assigned quality metric exceeds a threshold level.

Abstract: A system for monitoring blood flow in a patient comprises a first unit having an ultrasound transducer and a fastener for fastening the unit to the patient. A controller subsystem comprises the first unit and a separate second unit. The controller subsystem is configured to: control the ultrasound transducer to transmit plane-wave pulses into the patient in a propagation direction; sample reflections of the plane-wave pulses, received at the ultrasound transducer, from a region within the patient, to generate pulse-Doppler response signals; and process the pulse-Doppler response signals to estimate a series of values, over time, of a measure proportional, but not equal, to the total blood volume flow passing through the region. A monitoring subsystem is configured to monitor the series of values over time and to generate a signal if a set of one or more of the values satisfies a predetermined criterion.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems and methods that provide reduction of multiline artifacts in Doppler imaging. Certain embodiments provide for various ensembles of transmit beams at different spatial locations and overlapping receive beams between the locations. Certain embodiments provide for calculating various auto-correlation estimates based on the received beams and then combining the auto-correlation estimates to create an image. In certain embodiments, combining the auto-correlation estimates comprises applying a linear interpolation filter that decreases the weight applied for receive beams that are spatially located further away from the transmit beam.

Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present technology provide systems and methods that provide reduction of multiline artifacts in Doppler imaging. Certain embodiments provide for various ensembles of transmit beams at different spatial locations and overlapping receive beams between the locations. Certain embodiments provide for calculating various auto-correlation estimates based on the received beams and then combining the auto-correlation estimates to create an image. In certain embodiments, combining the auto-correlation estimates comprises applying a linear interpolation filter that decreases the weight applied for receive beams that are spatially located further away from the transmit beam.

Abstract: Methods and devices are described for estimating blood flow characteristics through an orifice of a subject, such as regurgitant blood flow through a faulty heart valve. Acoustical techniques can be applied to send bursts of energy, such as high repetition pulsed ultrasonic signals, to a sample volume in a region of interest. For example, multiple beams can be formed from the bursts of energy each having a cross sectional area that is smaller than the cross sectional area of the orifice being investigated. By combining the multiple beams, a composite measure of the blood flow characteristics through the orifice can be obtained. In one example, the composite measure can provide an estimate of the cross sectional area of the interrogated orifice. The composite measure can also provide an estimate of the geometry of the orifice. Systems and components for providing such composite measures are also disclosed.