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A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Yuan, Y; Wyatt, C; Maccarini, P; Stauffer, P; Craciunescu, O; Macfall, J; Dewhirst, M; Das, SK
Published in: Phys Med Biol
April 7, 2012

This paper describes a heterogeneous phantom that mimics a human thigh with a deep-seated tumor, for the purpose of studying the performance of radiofrequency (RF) heating equipment and non-invasive temperature monitoring with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The heterogeneous cylindrical phantom was constructed with an outer fat layer surrounding an inner core of phantom material mimicking muscle, tumor and marrow-filled bone. The component materials were formulated to have dielectric and thermal properties similar to human tissues. The dielectric properties of the tissue mimicking phantom materials were measured with a microwave vector network analyzer and impedance probe over the frequency range of 80-500 MHz and at temperatures of 24, 37 and 45 °C. The specific heat values of the component materials were measured using a differential scanning calorimeter over the temperature range of 15-55 °C. The thermal conductivity value was obtained from fitting the curves obtained from one-dimensional heat transfer measurement. The phantom was used to verify the operation of a cylindrical four-antenna annular phased array extremity applicator (140 MHz) by examining the proton resonance frequency shift (PRFS) thermal imaging patterns for various magnitude/phase settings (including settings to focus heating in tumors). For muscle and tumor materials, MRI was also used to measure T1/T2* values (1.5 T) and to obtain the slope of the PRFS phase change versus temperature change curve. The dielectric and thermal properties of the phantom materials were in close agreement to well-accepted published results for human tissues. The phantom was able to successfully demonstrate satisfactory operation of the tested heating equipment. The MRI-measured thermal distributions matched the expected patterns for various magnitude/phase settings of the applicator, allowing the phantom to be used as a quality assurance tool. Importantly, the material formulations for the various tissue types may be used to construct customized phantoms that are tailored for different anatomical sites.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Phys Med Biol

DOI

EISSN

1361-6560

Publication Date

April 7, 2012

Volume

57

Issue

7

Start / End Page

2021 / 2037

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Radio Waves
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Neoplasms
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Hot Temperature
  • Adipose Tissue
 

Citation

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Yuan, Y., Wyatt, C., Maccarini, P., Stauffer, P., Craciunescu, O., Macfall, J., … Das, S. K. (2012). A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification. Phys Med Biol, 57(7), 2021–2037. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/57/7/2021
Yuan, Yu, Cory Wyatt, Paolo Maccarini, Paul Stauffer, Oana Craciunescu, James Macfall, Mark Dewhirst, and Shiva K. Das. “A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification.Phys Med Biol 57, no. 7 (April 7, 2012): 2021–37. https://doi.org/10.1088/0031-9155/57/7/2021.
Yuan Y, Wyatt C, Maccarini P, Stauffer P, Craciunescu O, Macfall J, et al. A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification. Phys Med Biol. 2012 Apr 7;57(7):2021–37.
Yuan, Yu, et al. “A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification.Phys Med Biol, vol. 57, no. 7, Apr. 2012, pp. 2021–37. Pubmed, doi:10.1088/0031-9155/57/7/2021.
Yuan Y, Wyatt C, Maccarini P, Stauffer P, Craciunescu O, Macfall J, Dewhirst M, Das SK. A heterogeneous human tissue mimicking phantom for RF heating and MRI thermal monitoring verification. Phys Med Biol. 2012 Apr 7;57(7):2021–2037.
Journal cover image

Published In

Phys Med Biol

DOI

EISSN

1361-6560

Publication Date

April 7, 2012

Volume

57

Issue

7

Start / End Page

2021 / 2037

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • Water
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Radio Waves
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
  • Neoplasms
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Humans
  • Hot Temperature
  • Adipose Tissue