A new imaging technique of 3-D velocity vector distribution using 2-D phased array probe

A new method of measuring the 3-D velocity vector is proposed. By adopting the 2-D phased array probe and based on the distribution of the weighted phase shift between two successive echoes on the receiving aperture, the proposed method enables us to employ a smaller-sized single aperture compared with the conventional techniques, and real-time measurement can be realized. The basic performance of the method was evaluated and sector scan images were constituted by simulation. The results validate the feasibility and ability of the proposed method in measuring the 3-D velocity vector distribution.