| abstract |
This invention relates generally to systems and methods for assessing blood circulation in blood vessels, for assessing vascular health, for performing clinical trials, for determining side effects of therapeutic interventions and to assess the effects of risk factors, therapies and substances, including therapeutic substances, on blood vessels, in particular blood vessels of the brain, all these operations being carried out by measuring various parameters of blood circulation in a or several vessels and by analysis of the results according to a defined mode. Relevant parameters of the blood circulation are the average flow speed, the systolic acceleration and the pulsatility index. By measuring and analyzing these parameters, one can assess the vascular health status of a particular vessel, multiple vessels and an individual. These measurements can also be used to determine whether a substance has an effect, either harmful or beneficial, on vascular health. In one of the many embodiments, this invention further provides an expert system for performing these methods. |