Impact of Microbubble Degradation and Flow Velocity on Subharmonic-aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE): An Experimental Investigation

Li Zhang; Yi-Fan Dong; Yao Chen; Xiao-Gang Li; Ya-Hong Wang; Ying Wang; Zhi-Tong Ge; Xin Wang; Sheng Cai; Xiao Yang; Qing-Li Zhu; Jian-Chu Li

doi:10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.03.010

Impact of Microbubble Degradation and Flow Velocity on Subharmonic-aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE): An Experimental Investigation

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2024 Apr 8:S0301-5629(24)00139-X. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.03.010. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Li Zhang¹, Yi-Fan Dong¹, Yao Chen², Xiao-Gang Li³, Ya-Hong Wang¹, Ying Wang¹, Zhi-Tong Ge¹, Xin Wang¹, Sheng Cai⁴, Xiao Yang¹, Qing-Li Zhu¹, Jian-Chu Li⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
² Department of Ultrasound, GE Healthcare Medical System (China), Shanghai, China.
³ Biobank Facility, National Infrastructures for Translational Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
⁴ Department of Health Medicine, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
⁵ Department of Diagnostic Ultrasound, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Electronic address: jianchu.li@163.com.

PMID: 38594125
DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2024.03.010

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of microbubble degradation and flow velocity on Sub-Harmonic Aided Pressure Estimation (SHAPE), and to explore the correlation between subharmonic amplitude and pressure as a single factor.

Methods: We develop an open-loop vascular phantom platform system and utilize a commercial ultrasound machine and microbubbles for subharmonic imaging. Subharmonic amplitude was measured continuously at constant pressure and flow velocity to assess the impact of microbubble degradation. Flow velocity was varied within a range of 4-14 cm/s at constant pressure to investigate its relationship to subharmonic amplitude. Furthermore, pressure was varied within a range of 10-110 mm Hg at constant flow velocity to assess its isolated effect on subharmonic amplitude.

Results: Under constant pressure and flow velocity, subharmonic amplitude exhibited a continuous decrease at an average rate of 0.221 dB/min, signifying ongoing microbubble degradation during the experimental procedures. Subharmonic amplitude demonstrated a positive correlation with flow velocity, with a variation ratio of 0.423 dB/(cm/s). Under controlled conditions of microbubble degradation and flow velocity, a strong negative linear correlation was observed between pressure and subharmonic amplitude across different Mechanical Index (MI) settings (all R² > 0.90). The sensitivity of SHAPE was determined to be 0.025 dB/mmHg at an MI of 0.04.

Conclusion: The assessment of SHAPE sensitivity is affected by microbubble degradation and flow velocity. Excluding the aforementioned influencing factors, a strong linear negative correlation between pressure and subharmonic amplitude was still evident, albeit with a sensitivity coefficient lower than previously reported values.

Keywords: Intravascular pressure measurement; Microbubbles; Subharmonic imaging; Subharmonic-aided Pressure Estimation; Ultrasound.