title: Construction and geometric stability of physiological flow rate wall-less stenosis phantoms.
abstract: Wall-less flow phantoms are preferred for ultrasound (US) because tissue-mimicking material (TMM) with good acoustical properties can be made and cast to form anatomical models. The construction and geometrical stability of wall-less TMM flow phantoms is described using a novel method of sealing to prevent leakage of the blood-mimicking fluid (BMF). Wall-less stenosis flow models were constructed using a robust agar-based TMM and sealed using reticulated foam at the inlet and outlet tubes. There was no BMF leakage at the highest flow rate of 2.8 L/min in 0%, 35% and 57% diameter reduction stenoses models. Failure of the 75% stenosis model, due to TMM fracture, occurred at maximum flow rate of 2 L/min (mean velocity 10 m/s within the stenosis). No change of stenosis geometry was measured over 4 days. The construction is simple and effective and extends the possibility for high flow rate studies using robust TMM wall-less phantoms.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics, Department of Medical and Radiological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH3 9YW UK. kramnarine@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Ramnarine
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Hoskins
mesh_terms: D000162:Acoustics; D000362:Agar; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016477:Artifacts; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016893:Carotid Stenosis; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D000362:Agar