title: An anthropomorphic tissue-mimicking phantom of the oesophagus for endoscopic ultrasound.
abstract: This study details the design and construct of an anthropomorphic phantom of the oesophagus suitable for use with endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and 3-D volume measurements. The phantom was constructed using agar-based tissue-mimicking material (TMM) of different acoustical properties to simulate various anatomical and pathologic features. The acoustical properties were measured with a scanning acoustical macroscope. An Olympus GF-UM200 echo-endoscope and digital position measurement arm were used to scan the phantom at 7.5 and 12 MHz. Comparative dimensional measurements were performed on the phantom via 2-D and 3-D EUS. TMM attenuation varied between 0.1 and 0.5 dB/cm.MHz. Backscatter power, relative to normal TMM, was from 0 to -12.2 dB, with an average speed of sound of 1537 +/- 1.9 m/s. Measurements of objects within the phantom by 2-D and 3-D EUS had mean errors of 8% and 2.2%, respectively. The construction of the anthropomorphic EUS phantom facilitated EUS training and research and development studies.
authors.affiliation: Medical Physics, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK. s.inglis@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inglis
authors.forename: Kumar V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Ramnarine
authors.forename: John N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Plevris
authors.forename: W Norman
authors.initials: WN
authors.lastname: McDicken
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D004945:Esophagoscopy / Q000379:methods; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011786:Quality Control; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods