Open-Source Fully-Programmable Flow Phantom for Doppler Ultrasound

Carotid Doppler ultrasound is a vital diagnostic tool for the early detection of alterations in vascular function, and wearable devices have been recently proposed to enable continuous monitoring. Developing and optimizing such devices and algorithms necessitates the use of phantoms, which are artificial structures designed to mimic physiological features such as vessels, soft tissues, and blood. These validation processes often rely on commercial solutions, which are expensive, complex, and offer limited customization options. While academic alternatives are more flexible, they often utilize commercial pumping solutions with restricted programmability or high cost. To address these limitations, we introduce DOPFLOW, a novel Doppler ultrasound phantom system. DOPFLOW features a modular design comprising a hydraulic pump, a control board, and a phantom body mimicking Common Carotid Arteries. The system supports user-defined pulsatile patterns with maximum flow speeds exceeding 1 m/s, and it has been tested with a commercial ultrasound Doppler machine, demonstrating a velocity estimation error of less than 15%. Combined with the system's low cost (< 400 $) and open-source design, these capabilities make DOPFLOW a promising tool for developing next-generation Doppler ultrasound devices.