A built-up-type deformable phantom for target motion control to mimic human lung respiration

• Published in: Review of scientific instruments 2020-05, Vol.91 (5), p.054106-054106
• Main Authors: Lee, Hyuk Jin, Lee, Hae Jin, Lee, Jeong Su, Kang, Yung-Nam, Koo, Ja Choon
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acrylic resins; Computed tomography; Computer simulation; Deformation; Density; Diaphragm (anatomy); External pressure; Finite element method; Formability; Human motion; Humans; Hydraulic pressure; Lung - diagnostic imaging; Lung - physiology; Lungs; Mechanical Phenomena; Motion control; Movement; Phantoms, Imaging; Polyurethane resins; Radiology; Radiology - instrumentation; Respiration; Scientific apparatus & instruments; Silicon films; Stiffness; Tumors
• ISSN: 0034-6748; 1089-7623
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0003453

Existing human lung-mimicking requirements in various radiology application fields have led to the development of many different phantoms. However, most are static apparatus designed for equipment calibration. Although there are a few dynamic phantoms that generate predefined motions, they have complicated mechanisms that hamper even simple modifications for various lung illness simulations. As a result, existing dynamic phantoms in which a target can be embedded normally generate rectilinear target motions with limited displacement. Nevertheless, volume changes in the human lungs during normal respiration are significant, and targets inside the lungs move along various random paths depending on their location, stiffness, and the properties of the surrounding tissues. In the present work, a novel phantom design is introduced and tested. The phantom mimics the human lung motion and its deformation is initiated by a diaphragm movement. The phantom provides a fairly large deformation and the capability to adjust target motion paths. The presented device has a simple mechanism that can be easily modified to generate various pulmonary diseases. To produce a large deformation by diaphragm compressive motion, polyurethane cubic blocks constitute the deformable part of the lung phantom and a tumor made with silicone is inserted in the structure. The assembled lung part is housed within an acrylic case that is filled with water. The phantom system consists of acrylic, plastic, and low-density polyurethane to minimize artifacts when it undergoes computed tomography (CT) scans. The lung part is organized with various density polyurethane blocks, making it possible to produce nonlinear motion paths of the tumor. The lung part is deformed by a silicon film that is driven by external hydraulic pressure. A finite element method simulation and two-dimensional target motion tests were performed to verify phantom performance. The functionality of the proposed phantom system was confirmed in a series of CT images.