title: Fabrication and control of CT number through polymeric composites based on coronary plaque CT phantom applications.
abstract: Biomedical phantoms are commonly used for various medical imaging modalities to improve imaging quality and procedures. Current biomedical phantoms fabricated commercially are high in cost and limited in the specificity of human environments and structures that can be mimicked. This study aimed to control the measurable computed tomography (CT) number in Hounsfield units through polymeric biomedical phantom materials using controlled amounts of hydroxyapatite (hA). The purpose was to fabricate CT phantoms capable of mimicking various coronary plaque types while introducing a fabrication technique and basis for a numerical model to which the technique may be applied. The CT number is tunable based on the controlled material properties of electron density and atomic numbers. Three different polymeric matrices of polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) were selected due to their varied specific densities and ease of fabrication acting as integral properties for CT phantom fabrication. These polymers were processed together with additions of hA in mass percentages of 2.5, 5, 10, and 20% hA as well as a 0% hA as a control for each polymeric material. By adding hA to PE, TPU, and PVDF an increasing trend was exhibited between CT number and weight percent of hA.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto , Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada.
authors.forename: Carlton F O
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Hoy
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, 5 King's College Road, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G8, Canada; University of Toronto, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, 184 College Street, Suite 140, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3E4, Canada; University of Toronto, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Rosebrugh Building, Suite 407, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada.
authors.forename: Hani E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Naguib
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, Institute of Biomaterials and Biomedical Engineering, Rosebrugh Building, Suite 407, 164 College Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada; University Health Network, Department of Medical Imaging, R. Fraser Elliott Building, 1st Floor, 190 Elizabeth Street, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada.
authors.forename: Narinder
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paul
keywords: attenuation; computed tomography; image analysis; microfabrication; polymer; tissues