Combined Color-Doppler Flow and Angio Planewave UltraSensitive™ Imaging for Analysis of Hemodynamic Characteristics of Normal Upper Limb Arteries

Abstract Background To evaluate the hemodynamic characteristics of normal upper extremity arteries from the brachial artery to the fingertip arterioles. Methods We analyzed the characteristics and changes in the regularities of ultrasonic parameters in the upper extremity arteries of 104 healthy volunteers using color Doppler flow imaging and Angio Planewave UltraSensitive™ imaging. The measured ultrasonic parameters included the vessel diameter, blood-flow spectrum waveform, peak systolic velocity, end-diastolic velocity, resistance index, pulsatility index, ratio of PSV to EDV, blood-flow volume, along with systolic acceleration of each BA, radial artery, superficial palmar arch artery, palmar proper digital artery, and third-grade artery arch of the fingernail bed. Results From BA to FN3AA, the diameter, PSV, RI, S/D, VFlow, and slope of the artery significantly decreased (P