Provided herein is a method for use in medical applications that permits
affordable three-dimensional imaging of blood flow using a low-profile
easily-attached transducer pad, real-time blood-flow vector velocity, and
long-term unattended Doppler-ultrasound monitoring in spite of motion of
the patient or pad. The pad and associated processor collects and Doppler
processes ultrasound blood velocity data in a three dimensional region
through the use of a planar phased array of piezoelectric elements. The
invention locks onto and tracks the points in three-dimensional space
that produce the locally maximum blood velocity signals. The integrated
coordinates of points acquired by the accurate tracking process is used
to form a three-dimensional map of blood vessels and provide a display
that can be used to select multiple points of interest for expanded data
collection and for long term continuous and unattended blood flow
monitoring. The three dimensional map allows for the calculation of
vector velocity from measured radial Doppler.