BASIC PRINCIPLES AND CLINICAL-APPLICATIONS OF THE TRANSVAGINAL DOPPLER DUPLEX SYSTEM IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

New technological advances in the field of ultrasound imaging and in Doppler signal acquisition and analysis help to open new fields of investigation in reproductive medicine. One such example is the recent introduction of the transvaginal Doppler duplex system, which can be applied as a sensitive, noninvasive "flow probe" to evaluate hemodynamic changes in pregnant and nonpregnant patients. Another important development is the application of Doppler color flow mappping, which facilitates vessel recognition and localization. Such instruments are expensive at present and are mostly limited for research purposes. Further developments are likely to emerge once new instruments and new methods of data analysis become available. Further increases in image resolution and improved Doppler signal generation and processing will enable more accurate flow measurements. Another important field is invasive flow measurement, which could be developed for intraoperative and intravascular investigations, based on specialized probes and catheter-mounted transducers. At present further investigations are required for defining the normal ranges in the population and for establishing abnormal patterns. Once causative mechanisms are defined, various treatments may be offered, while monitoring the changes using the techniques described here. © 1990 Plenum Publishing Corporation.