Design and fabrication of phantoms using stereolithography for small-animal imaging systems.
OBJECTIVE
We have investigated a new technology for fabricating phantoms with fine details for use in small-animal imaging.


METHODS
We used a high-resolution, 3-D stereolithography (SL) system to produce performance-evaluation phantoms such as cold-rod Derenzo, hot-channel Derenzo, and Defrise phantoms. SL performance was estimated by measuring the dimensions of many structures using a microscope. We also evaluated the degree of water absorption by two different SL resins, Somos 11120 and Accura 40, after curing.


RESULTS
The average bias and precision of the cold-rod structures over the size range 0.5 to 1.0 mm, were -0.4% and 1.74%, respectively. The water absorption study showed that Somos 11120 is a more suitable material for nuclear medicine applications.


CONCLUSIONS
We have demonstrated that SL is a robust and accurate method for fabrication of phantoms for small-animal imaging systems.
Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. miaepark@bwh.harvard.edu
Mi-Ae
MA
Park
Robert E
RE
Zimmerman
Andrew
A
Taberner
Michael W
MW
Kaye
Stephen C
SC
Moore
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D009683:Nuclear Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry
D014867:Water