Anthropomorphic cardiac ultrasound phantom
A phantom is described which simulates the human cardiac anatomy for applications in ultrasound imaging, ultrasound Doppler, and color-flow Doppler imaging. The phantom consists of a polymer left ventricle with prosthetic mitral and aortic valves which is mounted in a molded cavity within a simulated human torso. The torso is fabricated from tissue-mimicking material. The ventricle is connected to a mock circulatory loop. Aerated tap water serves as an ultrasound contrast medium within the circulatory loop for ultrasound imaging. Five-micrometer silica particles suspended in water are used as red cell-mimicking scatterers for ultrasound Doppler measurements. A piston pump, connected to the torso by a single port, pumps degassed water within the cavity which in turn pumps the left ventricle. Real-time ultrasound images and Doppler studies measure flow patterns through the valves and within the left ventricle.
