title: Validation of a CT method for flow determination. Work in progress.
abstract: The dynamic computed tomographic (DCT) method of flow determination is based on the application of venoarterial indicator dilution curves as they reflect flow. Using a simple model consisting of a tube and a single mixing chamber, experimental parameters were optimized in a controlled manner to achieve ideal mixing for flow determination. Under these ideal conditions, and using 16 consecutive 3-second scans of an 8-mm thick section, tube diameters of 8 mm and 20 mm, and flow range of 0.7-2.7 liters per minute, the accuracy of the CT method of flow determination was good (17% error). There was a correlation coefficient of 0.85 between measured flow (FM) and calculated flow (FC), and the paired t-test for FM and FC indicated that there was no statistically significant difference (P = .25). The DCT method of flow determination has been validated in this experiment preliminary to its application to flow characterization in blood vessels in the animal model.
mesh_terms: D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012212:Rheology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*