Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 13, Issue 8 601-605, Copyright © 1994 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Improved cardiac anthropomorphic phantom
S. W. Smith, M. P. Combs, D. B. Adams and J. A. Kisslo
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.
An improved cardiac sonographic phantom is described that simulates the
anatomy of the human heart for applications as a low cost quality assurance
and training tool in echocardiography. The major new feature in the phantom
is the development of a polyurethane sponge left ventricle, which mimics
the myocardium during sonographic imaging while undergoing hydraulic
pumping. The left ventricle, including prosthetic mechanical mitral and
aortic valves, is housed in an optically transparent Lexan chamber or in a
tissue mimicking polyurethane rubber torso. Additional new features include
a port for transesophageal imaging, and an adjustable calibrated stroke
volume on the piston pump, which can serve as a standard for
echocardiographic stroke volume measurement. B-scans of the phantom show
excellent image quality in all three standard echocardiographic views as
well as in transesophageal scanning.
