A blood-mimicking fluid for particle image velocimetry with silicone vascular models

For accurate particle image velocimetry measurements in hemodynamics studies it is important to use a fluid with a refractive index (n) matching that of the vascular models (phantoms) and ideally a dynamic viscosity matching human blood. In this work, a blood-mimicking fluid (BMF) composed of water, glycerol, and sodium iodide was formulated for a range of refractive indices to match most common silicone elastomers (n=1.40-1.43) and with corresponding dynamic viscosity within the average cited range of healthy human blood (4.4±0.5 cP). Both refractive index and viscosity were attained at room temperature (22.2±0.2°C), which eliminates the need for a temperature-control system. An optimally matched BMF, suitable for use in a vascular phantom (n=1.4140±0.0008, Sylgard 184), was demonstrated with composition (by weight) of 47.38% water, 36.94% glycerol (44:56 glycerol-water ratio), and 15.68% sodium iodide salt, resulting in a dynamic viscosity of 4.31±0.03 cP.