Application of ultrasonic particle imaging velocimetry to flows of rat arteries atherosclerosis model

Purpose: Hemodynamic changes in vascular stenosis could affect blood flow component of flow distribution which changed the nature of vascular smooth muscle cells. Observation and analysis of blood flow in the heart disease have important clinical significance of treatments of arterial stenosis. Method: The ultrasonic particle image velocimetry (Echo PIV) technique is appropriate for measuring blood flows by taking advantage of PIV and B-mode ultrasound contrast imaging. This study established animal models. 60 healthy male SD rats were selected and divided into 6 groups. On the 21st day of establishment of vascular stenosis model and drug treatment, the left common carotid artery of rats in groups was observed with ultrasound biomicroscopy. Morphological and hemodynamic changes in the normal blood vessels and the stenosis of the lumen were observed with application of Echo PIV. The reliability of Echo PIV was verified by comparing with ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry methods. Conclusion: Animal studies concerning arterial flows of rats show that the Echo PIV-measured peak and average velocities within several cardiac cycles are about 5-10% and 2-8% below the values measured by the ultrasonic spectral Doppler, respectively. Echo PIV method could directly assess whole field hemodynamic changes of normal blood vessels and vascular stenosis with non-invasion and real-time monitoring of restenosis therapy. It further to explore the prevention and treatment of restenosis and vascular plaque rupture mechanism.