Doppler Ultrasound To Detect Blood Flow Using Sound Waves

A Doppler ultrasound is a noninvasive test that is used to measure your blood flow and blood pressure using high frequency reflected sound waves. This test is helps physicians to evaluate blood flow through the major arteries and veins of the arms, legs, and neck. It shows blocked or reduced blood flow through the major arteries that could eventually cause a stroke. This test enables doctors to find blood clots in leg veins that can block blood flow to the lungs. This test is also used during pregnancy to check the blood flow in an unborn baby to check the health of the fetus.

The Doppler Ultrasound Helps To Diagnose Many Conditions Such As:

  • Blood clots
  • Poorly functioning valves in your leg veins
  • Heart valve defects and congenital heart disease
  • A blocked artery
  • Decreased blood circulation into your legs
  • Bulging arteries
  • Narrowing (stenosis) of an artery

The Different Types Of Doppler Ultrasound Are:

  • Continuous wave Doppler:  In this type, the variation in pitch of the sound waves is used to provide information about blow flow through the blood vessels. The doctor evaluates the blow flow through the site that may be blocked or narrowed.
  • Duplex Doppler:  In this type of ultrasound, standard ultrasound methods are used to produce a picture of a blood vessel and the surrounding organs. This type of ultrasound gives information about the speed and direction of blood flow through the blood vessel being evaluated.
  • Power Doppler: It is a new ultrasound technique that is used to evaluate blood flow through vessels within solid organs.
During the test, a handheld instrument (transducer) is pressed against the site of your body being examined.  The transducer sends and receives sound waves. The sound waves get reflected by the blood cells. By measuring the rate of change of the frequency the doctor can estimate the blood flow. If there is no blood flow, the pitch remains same.


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