The ultrasonic blood velocity detector as an aid to arteriography

Abstract

A reliable method of detecting the passage of saline or contrast medium down an artery, after needle puncture, has been developed as part of a refined technique of brachial arteriography. A simple commercially available ultrasonic blood velocity detector is used to monitor the arterial signal downstream of the injection site. The saline or contrast passing the probe causes a clearly audible and easily recognized change in the arterial signal. Preliminary results show that the method can be applied to the detection of an injected medium in any artery from which a reliable signal can be obtained using the blood velocity detector.