Multi-dimensional real-time blood flow velocity field measurement in elastic vascular phantoms using ultrasonic particle image velocimetry technique

Abstract

The experiment was implemented to measure the multi-component blood flow velocity in elastic vascular phantoms. Poly (vinyl alcohol) cryogel, PVA-C, is presented as a tissue-mimicking material, suitable for application in ultrasound imaging. The hardness of PVA-C changed with the number of freeze-thaw cycles. Two kinds of PVA phantoms with different shape were made in our experiment. Mechanical tests were performed on cylindrical samples with a pressure column, and Young's modulus were obtained varying from 50kPa to 320kPa depending on the number of freeze-thaw cycles (one to eight).The phantoms of tubular body with different elasticity were fixed in the fluid system. The information of flow field in the vascular phantom was obtained using the newly developed ultrasound velocimetry technique (echo particle image velocimetry). The flow rate and the pressure at the upstream of the vascular phantom are respectively measured by the Flow Meter and the Pressure Transmitter.