Cyclic variation of the power of ultrasonic Doppler signals backscattered by polystyrene microspheres and porcine erythrocyte suspensions

Factors affecting the power of the ultrasonic Doppler signal within the flow cycle have been evaluated experimentally using a pulsatile flow loop model. Polystyrene microspheres and porcine red cells suspended in saline solution for hematocrits between 2 and 40% were used as scattering fluid in the flow model. Experiments were performed at mean flow velocities of 11, 64, and 76 cm/s. In laminar flow experiments performed at a mean velocity of 11 cm/s, no variation of the Doppler power was found for both polystyrene microspheres and red cell suspensions (40% hematocrit). When turbulence was induced in the flow model, the power increasing during systole, a maximum was observed early after peak systole, and a decrease was obtained in diastole during deceleration of flow.