A Comparison of Laser, Ultrasound, MRI, and Computational Fluid Dynamics Velocity Determination in Stenotic Flow

A variety of methods are currently available for the measurement and characterization of internal flows. Laser Doppler anemometry is taken to be the gold standard, but LDA measurements can also be extremely time consuming, particularly in three dimensional geometries and with pulsatile flow. The current study evaluated the differences between laser Doppler anemometry and several alternative methods for measuring velocities in turbulent flow through a 90% area reduction stenosis. Pulsed Doppler ultrasound and magnetic resonance phase velocity mapping were evaluated as alternative experimental techniques while two turbulent flow computational fluid dynamics models were assessed as alternative computational techniques. The results detailed the necessary compromises which exist between accuracy and ease of use in current velocity measurement techniques.