Ultrasound scattering from blood with hematocrits up to 100%

The backscattering coefficient of saline suspensions of porcine red blood cells was measured for hematocrits up to about 90%. It was found that the coefficient peaks at approximately 15%, but then, contrary to what a simple "gap theory" might suggest, it decays smoothly to zero, without showing another peak at high hematocrits. A one-dimensional (1D) slab scattering model, in which the number of slabs per unit length represents the hematocrit and whose thickness and acoustical properties are similar to red cells/plasma, was also used to investigate the relation between the backscattered power and hematocrit. Monte-Carlo simulations performed for randomized boundary conditions show a similar relation to that of the 3D system. The experimental data is compared to the Percus-Yevick theory for the packing of hard spheres, and the simulated data is compared to the Percus-Yevick theory for infinite slabs.