Effect of Contrast Microbubble Concentration on Quality of Echo Particle Image Velocimetry (Echo PIV) Data: Initial In vitro Studies

We have recently developed a novel contrast-based ultrasonic particle image velocimetry (Echo PIV) technique to measure multi-component velocity vectors in opaque flows. In the technique, ultrasound contrast microbubbles are used as flow tracers, and digitally acquired backscattered RF-data are used with custom velocimetry analysis to obtain velocity vectors. The technique has been shown as useful in obtaining 2D flow velocity front various flow patterns, including blood flow. Well control of timely sensitive microbubble concentration in Echo PIV is very important to produce robust data quality. In this paper, effect of microbubble concentration on Echo PIV data quality was examined and a quantitative tool based on feature of Echo PIV image cross-correlation was developed to evaluate real time robustness of Echo PIV data quality induced by bubble concentration and image quality.