Measuring Blood Flow: Techniques and Applications - a Review

An adequate amount of blood supply is necessary for the proper functioning of all body organs as blood carries all the nutrients and oxygen that our body needs to stay healthy. Various diseases cause an impaired supply of blood to the organs. The measurement of the blood flow can therefore provide essential information for the diagnosis of diseases. Since changes in blood flow occurs with the very initial stage of disease, with a fast, reliable and noninvasive blood flow measurement technique, the physicians would be provided with new options for early disease diagnosis. Beginning with brief overview of early methods of blood flow measurement, this article reviews the recent blood flow measuring techniques in detail and ends with suggestions for future research in related areas.