Three-dimensional ultrasound noninvasively measures blood flow regardless of user or equipment and will be particularly useful in emergent situations.
That’s according to Michigan Medicine researchers who tested the 3D approach on three clinical scanners using a custom device that mimics blood flow in humans. Over eight different testing conditions, ultrasound proved both accurate and reproducible, the Ann-Arbor-based experts reported Tuesday in Radiology.
“We had less than 10% error or variation,” lead author Oliver D. Kripfgans, PhD, said in a recent statement. “For some of the systems, we were down to only 3% to 5% difference between labs. These are fantastic results that show that, from a technology point of view, some systems could be ready to go to the clinic,” added Kripfgans, who is also an associate professor of radiology at Michigan Medicine.
The ability to measure blood flow helps clinicians gauge if vital organs are receiving enough oxygen-rich blood—an extremely important factor in many emergency situations and in managing a variety of chronic conditions, such as diabetes.
Current noninvasive methods like blood pressure and 2D ultrasound have “substantial limitations” and are prone to errors. These techniques also often vary according to the experience of the technologist performing the exam.
With this in mind, Kripfgans and colleagues, along with volunteers in the Quantitative Imaging Biomarkers Alliance, tested their 3D approach on a custom flow phantom. They did so in seven different labs and changed flow rates, imaging depth, and other parameters to determine reproducibility.
After testing, 3D color-flow ultrasound estimated blood flow accurately across each of the seven labs, the authors noted.
The Michigan imaging experts also said the simplicity of 3D ultrasound, along with a number of other characteristics, is what minimized variation between users and systems. And they believe the method may be in clinics sooner rather than later.
“Once the technique becomes available commercially on scanners, clinical adoption will be much faster because then it’s not a research project anymore, it’s something that’s readily available, and after that it’s just a matter of time before it reaches the clinic,” Kripfgans concluded.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.