Carotid Doppler machine
Encyclopedia
A carotid Doppler machine is a device which can be used to measure blood flow velocities within the cervical carotid arteries, as well as the vertebral arteries and sometimes the subclavian arteries by means of non-invasive ultrasonic
scanning in which the Doppler effect
is utilized. This can be useful for estimating the effects of atherosclerotic disease on the lumen
in late stages; specifically the level of compromise in blood flow caused by reduction in arterial lumen diameter.
These are the same ultrasound machine used in obstetric ultrasonography
to evaluate the fetus
in pregnant women: they have high frequency probes used specifically for the purpose of imaging arteries and veins in full details and are equipped with color Doppler, pulsed wave and continuous wave doppler scans and collectively give good information about disease status of these arteries and veins.
Using B-mode scanning (imaging) and very careful technique, the same ultrasound machine can also be used to measure the arterial wall thickening
within segments of the carotid arteries non-invasively. This can be useful for detecting and tracking atherosclerotic disease
in early stages. This has been used in clinical research since the early 1990s and is occasionally used by some clinicians.
Medical ultrasonography
Diagnostic sonography is an ultrasound-based diagnostic imaging technique used for visualizing subcutaneous body structures including tendons, muscles, joints, vessels and internal organs for possible pathology or lesions...
scanning in which the Doppler effect
Doppler effect
The Doppler effect , named after Austrian physicist Christian Doppler who proposed it in 1842 in Prague, is the change in frequency of a wave for an observer moving relative to the source of the wave. It is commonly heard when a vehicle sounding a siren or horn approaches, passes, and recedes from...
is utilized. This can be useful for estimating the effects of atherosclerotic disease on the lumen
Lumen (anatomy)
A lumen in biology is the inside space of a tubular structure, such as an artery or intestine...
in late stages; specifically the level of compromise in blood flow caused by reduction in arterial lumen diameter.
These are the same ultrasound machine used in obstetric ultrasonography
Obstetric ultrasonography
Obstetric sonography is the application of medical ultrasonography to obstetrics, in which sonography is used to visualize the embryo or foetus in its mother's uterus...
to evaluate the fetus
Fetus
A fetus is a developing mammal or other viviparous vertebrate after the embryonic stage and before birth.In humans, the fetal stage of prenatal development starts at the beginning of the 11th week in gestational age, which is the 9th week after fertilization.-Etymology and spelling variations:The...
in pregnant women: they have high frequency probes used specifically for the purpose of imaging arteries and veins in full details and are equipped with color Doppler, pulsed wave and continuous wave doppler scans and collectively give good information about disease status of these arteries and veins.
Using B-mode scanning (imaging) and very careful technique, the same ultrasound machine can also be used to measure the arterial wall thickening
Intima-media thickness
Intima-media thickness , also called intimal medial thickness, is a measurement of the thickness of artery walls, usually by external ultrasound, occasionally by internal, invasive ultrasound catheters, see IVUS, to both detect the presence and to track the progression of atherosclerotic disease in...
within segments of the carotid arteries non-invasively. This can be useful for detecting and tracking atherosclerotic disease
Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which an artery wall thickens as a result of the accumulation of fatty materials such as cholesterol...
in early stages. This has been used in clinical research since the early 1990s and is occasionally used by some clinicians.
Reference
- Delmar's Guide to Laboratory and Diagnostic Tests. Rick Daniels. Edition 2, illustrated. Cengage LearningCengage LearningCengage Learning is a publisher of print and digital information services for the academic, professional and library markets, and delivers customized learning solutions for colleges, universities, professors, students, libraries, government agencies, corporations and professionals around the...
, 2009. ISBN 1418020672, 9781418020675. Page 194.