Color Doppler energy: computer analysis for detection of volume flow variations.

The aims of this study were to (1) determine whether analysis of a color Doppler energy image can show small differences in volume flow and (2) determine the performance characteristics of color Doppler energy to aid future analyses. Flow through a silicone tube in a waterbath was insonated, and the images were analyzed by computer producing arbitrary values for the different flow volumes at different machine settings. A significant difference in the derived values was found at volume low changes of 10 ml/min. The differences are most pronounced when small amounts of color are shown in the vessel. This region of high sensitivity can be altered by changing the machine settings of filter, scale, or level. The angle of insonation must be taken into account. In conclusion, computer analysis of color Doppler energy can monitor changes in blood flow volume with a high sensitivity.