Assessing ultrasonic and optical flow velocimetry in a millifluidic device using oil-in-water emulsions as blood mimicking fluid

TL;DR

This study introduces a soybean oil-in-water emulsion as a blood-mimicking fluid for ultrasonic and optical flow measurements in a millifluidic device, demonstrating strong agreement between methods and potential for blood flow studies.

Contribution

The paper presents a novel soybean oil-in-water emulsion as a blood-mimicking fluid compatible with ultrasonic and optical velocimetry in a 3D-printed millifluidic device.

Findings

Strong agreement between ultrasonic and optical flow measurements.

The emulsion mimics blood's physical and acoustic properties.

The device validates flow profiles against theoretical models.

Abstract

Blood-mimicking fluids (BMFs) play a critical role in ultrasonic imaging and Doppler flow studies by replicating the physical and acoustic properties of blood. This study introduces a novel soybean oil-in-water emulsion as a BMF with particle size and deformability akin to red blood cells. Using a millifluidic device, we cross-validated flow profiles through both Doppler velocimetry and optical particle tracking, demonstrating compatibility with theoretical Poiseuille flow models. The millifluidic chip, fabricated via stereolithography, provided an optimized platform for dual optical and ultrasonic assessments. Results showed strong agreement between the two methods across a range of flow rates, affirming the suitability of the emulsion for velocimetry applications. Furthermore, the acoustic properties of soybean oil droplets support their potential as an echogenic and stable alternative to conventional BMFs.