Accurate and reproducible measurement of blood flow profile is very important in many clinical investigations for diagnosing cardiovascular disorders. Given that many factors could affect human circulation, and several parameters must be set to properly evaluate blood flows with phase-contrast techniques, we developed an MRI-compatible hydrodynamic phantom to simulate different physiological blood flows. The phantom included a programmable hydraulic pump connected to a series of pipes immersed in a solution mimicking human soft tissues, with a blood-mimicking fluid flowing in the pipes. The pump is able to shape and control the flow by driving a piston through a dedicated software. Periodic waveforms are used as input to the pump to move the fluid into the pipes, with synchronization of the MRI sequences to the flow waveforms. A dedicated software is used to extract and analyze flow data from magnitude and phase images. The match between the nominal and the measured flows was assessed, and the scope of phantom variables useful for a reliable calibration of an MRI system was accordingly defined. Results showed that the NO-HYPE phantom is a valuable tool for the assessment of MRI scanners and sequence design for the MR evaluation of blood flows.

NO-HYPE: a novel hydrodynamic phantom for the evaluation of MRI flow measurements

Gadda G.
Primo
;
Gambaccini M.;Taibi A.
;
Zamboni P.
Penultimo
;
2021

Abstract

Accurate and reproducible measurement of blood flow profile is very important in many clinical investigations for diagnosing cardiovascular disorders. Given that many factors could affect human circulation, and several parameters must be set to properly evaluate blood flows with phase-contrast techniques, we developed an MRI-compatible hydrodynamic phantom to simulate different physiological blood flows. The phantom included a programmable hydraulic pump connected to a series of pipes immersed in a solution mimicking human soft tissues, with a blood-mimicking fluid flowing in the pipes. The pump is able to shape and control the flow by driving a piston through a dedicated software. Periodic waveforms are used as input to the pump to move the fluid into the pipes, with synchronization of the MRI sequences to the flow waveforms. A dedicated software is used to extract and analyze flow data from magnitude and phase images. The match between the nominal and the measured flows was assessed, and the scope of phantom variables useful for a reliable calibration of an MRI system was accordingly defined. Results showed that the NO-HYPE phantom is a valuable tool for the assessment of MRI scanners and sequence design for the MR evaluation of blood flows.
2021
Gadda, G.; Cocozza, S.; Gambaccini, M.; Taibi, A.; Tedeschi, E.; Zamboni, P.; Palma, G.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
s11517-021-02390-2.pdf

accesso aperto

Descrizione: Full text editoriale
Tipologia: Full text (versione editoriale)
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 3.08 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
3.08 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in SFERA sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11392/2468693
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 3
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 3
social impact