2015-01-13
Calibrating Doppler imaging of preterm intracerebral circulation using a microvessel flow phantom
Publication
Publication
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience , Volume 8 - Issue JAN p. 1- 8
Introduction: Preterm infants are born during critical stages of brain development, in which
the adaptive capacity of the fetus to extra-uterine environment is limited. Inadequate brain
perfusion has been directly linked to preterm brain damage. Advanced high-frequency
ultrasound probes and processing algorithms allowvisualization of microvessels and depiction
of regional variation. To assess whether visualization and flow velocity estimates of
preterm cerebral perfusion using Doppler techniques are accurate,we conducted an in vitro
experiment using a microvessel flow phantom.
Materials and Methods: An in-house developed flow phantom containing two microvessels
(inner diameter 200 and 700mm) with attached syringe pumps, filled with bloodmimicking
fluid, was used to generate non-pulsatile perfusion of variable flow. Measurements
were performed using an Esaote MyLab70 scanner.
Results: Microvessel mimicking catheters with velocities as low as 1 cm/s were adequately
visualized with a linear ultrasound probe.With a convex probe, velocities <2 cm/s
could not be depicted.Within settings, velocity and diameter measurements were highly
reproducible [intra-class correlation 0.997 (95% CI 0.996–0.998) and 0.914 (0.864–0.946)].
Overall, mean velocity was overestimated up to threefold, especially in high velocity
ranges. Significant differences were seen in velocity measurements when using steer
angle correction and in vessel diameter estimation (p <0.05).
Conclusion: Visualization of microvessel-size catheters mimicking small brain vessels is
feasible. Reproducible velocity and diameter results can be obtained, although important
overestimation of the values is observed. Before velocity estimates of microcirculation can
find its use in clinical practice, calibration of the ultrasound machine for any specific Doppler
purpose is essential. The ultimate goal is to develop a sonographic tool that can be used
for objective study of regional perfusion in routine practice.
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doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2014.01068, hdl.handle.net/1765/77452 | |
Frontiers in Human Neuroscience | |
Organisation | Department of Biostatistics |
Camfferman, F., Ecury-Goossen, G., La Roche, J., de Jong, N., van ’t Leven, W., Vos, R., … Dudink, J. (2015). Calibrating Doppler imaging of preterm intracerebral circulation using a microvessel flow phantom. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 8(JAN), 1–8. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2014.01068 |