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Mishra A, Cleveland RO. Agarose as a Tissue Mimic for the Porcine Heart, Kidney, and Liver: Measurements and a Springpot Model. Bioengineering (Basel) 2024; 11:589. [PMID: 38927825 PMCID: PMC11200806 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering11060589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Agarose gels are often used as a tissue mimic. The goal of this work was to determine the appropriate agarose concentrations that result in mechanical properties that match three different porcine organs. Strain tests were carried out with an amplitude varying from 0.01% to 10% at a frequency of 1 Hz on a range of agarose concentrations and porcine organs. Frequency sweep tests were performed from 0.1 Hz to a maximum of 9.5 Hz at a shear strain amplitude of 0.1% for agarose and porcine organs. In agarose samples, the effect of pre-compression of the samples up to 10% axial strain was considered during frequency sweep tests. The experimental measurements from agarose samples were fit to a fractional order viscoelastic (springpot) model. The model was then used to predict stress relaxation in response to a step strain of 0.1%. The prediction was compared to experimental relaxation data, and the results agreed within 12%. The agarose concentrations (by mass) that gave the best fit were 0.25% for the liver, 0.3% for the kidney, and 0.4% for the heart. At a frequency of 0.1 Hz and a shear strain of 0.1%, the agarose concentrations that best matched the shear storage modulus of the porcine organs were 0.4% agarose for the heart, 0.3% agarose for the kidney, and 0.25% agarose for the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Robin O. Cleveland
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PJ, UK;
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2
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Bar-Kochba E, Iwaskiw AS, Dunn JM, Ott KA, Harrigan TP, Demetropoulos CK. The dynamic response of human lungs due to underwater shock wave exposure. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303325. [PMID: 38748668 PMCID: PMC11095682 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Since the 19th century, underwater explosions have posed a significant threat to service members. While there have been attempts to establish injury criteria for the most vulnerable organs, namely the lungs, existing criteria are highly variable due to insufficient human data and the corresponding inability to understand the underlying injury mechanisms. This study presents an experimental characterization of isolated human lung dynamics during simulated exposure to underwater shock waves. We found that the large acoustic impedance at the surface of the lung severely attenuated transmission of the shock wave into the lungs. However, the shock wave initiated large bulk pressure-volume cycles that are distinct from the response of the solid organs under similar loading. These pressure-volume cycles are due to compression of the contained gas, which we modeled with the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. The extent of these lung dynamics was dependent on physical confinement, which in real underwater blast conditions is influenced by factors such as rib cage properties and donned equipment. Findings demonstrate a potential causal mechanism for implosion injuries, which has significant implications for the understanding of primary blast lung injury due to underwater blast exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eyal Bar-Kochba
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
| | - Alexander S. Iwaskiw
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
| | - Jenna M. Dunn
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
| | - Kyle A. Ott
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
| | - Timothy P. Harrigan
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
| | - Constantine K. Demetropoulos
- Research and Exploratory Development Department, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, MD, United States of America
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3
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Sharma D, Kanaujia BK, Kumar S, Rambabu K, Matekovits L. Low-loss MIMO antenna wireless communication system for 5G cardiac pacemakers. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9557. [PMID: 37308491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36209-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of death globally. The Internet of things (IoT) enabled with industrial, scientific, and medical (ISM) bands (2.45 and 5.8 GHz) facilitates pacemakers to remotely share heart health data to medical professionals. For the first time, communication between a compact dual-band two-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna (integrated inside the leadless pacemaker) and an outside-body dual-band two-port MIMO antenna in the ISM 2.45 and 5.8 GHz frequency bands is demonstrated in this work. The proposed communication system offers an attractive solution for cardiac pacemakers as it can operate on a 5G IoT platform while also being compatible with existing 4G standards. The experimental verification of the proposed MIMO antenna low-loss communication capability is also presented by comparing it to the existing single-input-single-output communication between the leadless pacemaker and outside body monitoring device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Sharma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Binod Kumar Kanaujia
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Karumudi Rambabu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Ladislau Matekovits
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.
- Faculty of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politehnica University Timişoara, 300006, Timişoara, Romania.
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni, National Research Council of Italy, Turin, Italy.
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4
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von Haxthausen F, Rüger C, Sieren MM, Kloeckner R, Ernst F. Augmenting Image-Guided Procedures through In Situ Visualization of 3D Ultrasound via a Head-Mounted Display. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:2168. [PMID: 36850766 PMCID: PMC9961663 DOI: 10.3390/s23042168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Medical ultrasound (US) is a commonly used modality for image-guided procedures. Recent research systems providing an in situ visualization of 2D US images via an augmented reality (AR) head-mounted display (HMD) were shown to be advantageous over conventional imaging through reduced task completion times and improved accuracy. In this work, we continue in the direction of recent developments by describing the first AR HMD application visualizing real-time volumetric (3D) US in situ for guiding vascular punctures. We evaluated the application on a technical level as well as in a mixed-methods user study with a qualitative prestudy and a quantitative main study, simulating a vascular puncture. Participants completed the puncture task significantly faster when using 3D US AR mode compared to 2D US AR, with a decrease of 28.4% in time. However, no significant differences were observed regarding the success rate of vascular puncture (2D US AR-50% vs. 3D US AR-72%). On the technical side, the system offers a low latency of 49.90 ± 12.92 ms and a satisfactory frame rate of 60 Hz. Our work shows the feasibility of a system that visualizes real-time 3D US data via an AR HMD, and our experiments show, furthermore, that this may offer additional benefits in US-guided tasks (i.e., reduced task completion time) over 2D US images viewed in AR by offering a vividly volumetric visualization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix von Haxthausen
- Institute for Robotics and Cognitive Systems, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christoph Rüger
- Department of Surgery, Campus Charité Mitte, Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Experimental Surgery, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Malte Maria Sieren
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, 23569 Lübeck, Germany
- Institute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, 23569 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Roman Kloeckner
- Institute of Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Lübeck, 23569 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Floris Ernst
- Institute for Robotics and Cognitive Systems, University of Lübeck, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
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Arteaga-Marrero N, Villa E, Llanos González AB, Gómez Gil ME, Fernández OA, Ruiz-Alzola J, González-Fernández J. Low-Cost Pseudo-Anthropomorphic PVA-C and Cellulose Lung Phantom for Ultrasound-Guided Interventions. Gels 2023; 9:gels9020074. [PMID: 36826245 PMCID: PMC9957311 DOI: 10.3390/gels9020074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
A low-cost custom-made pseudo-anthropomorphic lung phantom, offering a model for ultrasound-guided interventions, is presented. The phantom is a rectangular solidstructure fabricated with polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C) and cellulose to mimic the healthy parenchyma. The pathologies of interest were embedded as inclusions containing gaseous, liquid, or solid materials. The ribs were 3D-printed using polyethylene terephthalate, and the pleura was made of a bidimensional reticle based on PVA-C. The healthy and pathological tissues were mimicked to display acoustic and echoic properties similar to that of soft tissues. Theflexible fabrication process facilitated the modification of the physical and acoustic properties of the phantom. The phantom's manufacture offers flexibility regarding the number, shape, location, and composition of the inclusions and the insertion of ribs and pleura. In-plane and out-of-plane needle insertions, fine needle aspiration, and core needle biopsy were performed under ultrasound image guidance. The mimicked tissues displayed a resistance and recoil effect typically encountered in a real scenario for a pneumothorax, abscesses, and neoplasms. The presented phantom accurately replicated thoracic tissues (lung, ribs, and pleura) and associated pathologies providing a useful tool for training ultrasound-guided procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Arteaga-Marrero
- Grupo Tecnología Médica IACTEC, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), 38205 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Enrique Villa
- Grupo Tecnología Médica IACTEC, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), 38205 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Ana Belén Llanos González
- Departamento de Neumología, Complejo Universitario de Canarias (HUC), 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Marta Elena Gómez Gil
- Departameto de Radiología, Complejo Universitario de Canarias (HUC), 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Orlando Acosta Fernández
- Departamento de Neumología, Complejo Universitario de Canarias (HUC), 38320 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
| | - Juan Ruiz-Alzola
- Grupo Tecnología Médica IACTEC, Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), 38205 San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain
- Instituto Universitario de Investigaciones Biomédicas y Sanitarias (IUIBS), Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
- Departamento de Señales y Comunicaciones, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
| | - Javier González-Fernández
- Departamento de Ingeniería Biomédica, Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (ITC), 38009 Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
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6
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Stiles TA. Phantoms for Quantitative Ultrasound. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1403:281-301. [PMID: 37495923 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-21987-0_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Tissue-mimicking materials and phantoms have an important role in quantitative ultrasound. These materials allow for investigation of new techniques with the ability to design materials with properties that are stable over time and available for repeated measurements to refine techniques and analysis algorithms. This chapter presents an overview of the history of phantoms, methods of creation of materials with a variety of acoustic properties, and methods of measurement of those properties. It includes a section addressing the measurement of variance in those techniques using interlaboratory comparisons. There is a wide range of existing tissue-mimicking materials that exhibit properties similar to those of most soft tissues. Ongoing work is part of the expansion of QUS as materials are developed to better mimic specific tissues, geometries, or pathologies.
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7
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Using an Ultrasound Tissue Phantom Model for Hybrid Training of Deep Learning Models for Shrapnel Detection. J Imaging 2022; 8:jimaging8100270. [PMID: 36286364 PMCID: PMC9604600 DOI: 10.3390/jimaging8100270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tissue phantoms are important for medical research to reduce the use of animal or human tissue when testing or troubleshooting new devices or technology. Development of machine-learning detection tools that rely on large ultrasound imaging data sets can potentially be streamlined with high quality phantoms that closely mimic important features of biological tissue. Here, we demonstrate how an ultrasound-compliant tissue phantom comprised of multiple layers of gelatin to mimic bone, fat, and muscle tissue types can be used for machine-learning training. This tissue phantom has a heterogeneous composition to introduce tissue level complexity and subject variability in the tissue phantom. Various shrapnel types were inserted into the phantom for ultrasound imaging to supplement swine shrapnel image sets captured for applications such as deep learning algorithms. With a previously developed shrapnel detection algorithm, blind swine test image accuracy reached more than 95% accuracy when training was comprised of 75% tissue phantom images, with the rest being swine images. For comparison, a conventional MobileNetv2 deep learning model was trained with the same training image set and achieved over 90% accuracy in swine predictions. Overall, the tissue phantom demonstrated high performance for developing deep learning models for ultrasound image classification.
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8
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Sharma D, Kaim V, Kanaujia BK, Singh N, Kumar S, Rambabu K. A Triple Band Circularly Polarized Antenna for Leadless Cardiac Transcatheter Pacing System. IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON ANTENNAS AND PROPAGATION 2022; 70:4287-4298. [DOI: 10.1109/tap.2022.3145461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Sharma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikrant Kaim
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Binod Kumar Kanaujia
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Neeta Singh
- School of Engineering and Sciences, G. D. Goenka University, Gurugram, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Electronics and Communication Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur, India
| | - Karumudi Rambabu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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9
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3D Printing Surgical Phantoms and their Role in the Visualization of Medical Procedures. ANNALS OF 3D PRINTED MEDICINE 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.stlm.2022.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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10
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A 28 nm Bulk CMOS Fully Digital BPSK Demodulator for US-Powered IMDs Downlink Communications. ELECTRONICS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/electronics11050698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Low-invasive and battery-less implantable medical devices (IMDs) have been increasingly emerging in recent years. The developed solutions in the literature often concentrate on the Bidirectional Data-Link for long-term monitoring devices. Indeed, their ability to collect data and communicate them to the external world, namely Data Up-Link, has revealed a promising solution for bioelectronic medicine. Furthermore, the capacity to control organs such as the brain, nerves, heart-beat and gastrointestinal activities, made up through the manipulation of electrical transducers, could optimise therapeutic protocols and help patients’ pain relief. These kinds of stimulations come from the modulation of a powering signal generated from an externally placed unit coupled to the implanted receivers for power/data exchanging. The established communication is also defined as a Data Down-Link. In this framework, a new solution of the Binary Phase-Shift Keying (BPSK) demodulator is presented in this paper in order to design a robust, low-area, and low-power Down-Link for ultrasound (US)-powered IMDs. The implemented system is fully digital and PLL-free, thus reducing area occupation and making it fully synthesizable. Post-layout simulation results are reported using a 28 nm Bulk CMOS technology provided by TSMC. Using a 2 MHz carrier input signal and an implant depth of 1 cm, the data rate is up to 1.33 Mbit/s with a 50% duty cycle, while the minimum average power consumption is cut-down to 3.3 μW in the typical corner.
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11
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Sharma D, Kanaujia BK, Kaim V, Mittra R, Arya RK, Matekovits L. Design and implementation of compact dual-band conformal antenna for leadless cardiac pacemaker system. Sci Rep 2022; 12:3165. [PMID: 35210497 PMCID: PMC8873455 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06904-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The leadless cardiac pacemaker is a pioneering device for heart patients. Its rising success requires the design of compact implantable antennas. In this paper, we describe a circularly polarized Hilbert curve inspired loop antenna. The proposed antenna works in the WMTS (Wireless Medical Telemetry Services) 1.4 GHz and ISM (Industrial, Scientific, and Medical) 2.45 GHz bands. High dielectric constant material Rogers RT/Duroid 6010 LM ([Formula: see text]=10) and fractal geometry helps to design the antenna with a small footprint of 9.1 mm3 (6 mm × 6 mm × 0.254 mm). The designed antenna has a conformal shape that fits inside a leadless pacemaker's capsule is surrounded by IC models and battery, which are tightly packed in the device enclosure. Subsequently, the integrated prototype is simulated deep inside at the center of the multi-layer canonical heart model. To verify experimentally, we have put dummy electronics (IC and battery) inside the 3D printed pacemaker's capsule and surfaced the fabricated conformal antenna around the inner curved body of the TCP (Transcatheter Pacing) capsule. Furthermore, we have tested the TCP capsule by inserting it in a ballistic gel phantom and minced pork. The measured impedance bandwidths at 1.4 GHz and 2.45 GHz are 250 MHz and 430 MHz, whereas measured gains are - 33.2 dBi, and - 28.5 dBi, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepti Sharma
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Binod Kumar Kanaujia
- Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar (Punjab), 144011, India
| | - Vikrant Kaim
- School of Computational and Integrative Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Raj Mittra
- University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.,Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ravi Kumar Arya
- National Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110040, India
| | - Ladislau Matekovits
- Department of Electronics and Telecommunications, Politecnico Di Torino, Turin, Italy. .,Department of Measurements and Optical Electronics, Politehnica University Timisoara, 300006, Timisoara, Romania. .,Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni, National Research Council, 10129, Turin, Italy.
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12
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Deene YD, Wheatley M, Greig T, Hayes D, Ryder W, Loh H. A multi-modality medical imaging head and neck phantom: Part 1. Design and fabrication. Phys Med 2022; 96:166-178. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmp.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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13
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Carlson CS, Postema M. Deep impact of superficial skin inking: acoustic analysis of underlying tissue. BIO INTEGRATION 2021. [DOI: 10.15212/bioi-2021-0004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Background: Skin tattoos are a common decoration, but profound scientific study whether the presence of a skin tattoo alters the acoustic response from superficial tissue, and therefore from underlying tissue, was previously lacking. Any image aberrations
caused by tattoo presence may have been thought negligible, yet empirically found artifacts in brightness-mode images of tattooed skin suggest otherwise. This study investigated the nature of these artifacts theoretically and experimentally in extremely simplified cases of perfectly flat and
homogenous layered media and in tattooed pork.Methods: Theory was derived for computing the acoustic response from horizontally and vertically layered media containing a thin inked layer. Experiments were performed in vitro. Artificial and pork skin were tattooed, attached to phantom
material, and sonicated with a 13‐6-MHz probe. The speed of sound of these materials was determined, and the perceived refraction angles was measured.Results: The measured speeds of sound of tattooed materials were higher than those of their uninked counterparts. The presence
of tattoo ink was found to have increased the linear acoustic attenuation by 1 dB/cm. This value is negligible for typical tattoos of only few millimeters. The perceived critical refraction angles of adjacent materials could be detected, and their corresponding speeds of sound were quantified.
These coincided with values derived from theory.Conclusion: The ratio of speeds of sound of adjacent materials was shown to create distinct highlights in brightness-mode images. The artifacts observed in in vitro and in vivo brightness-mode scans were explained from near-vertical
transitions between areas of different sound speed. This is the first study correlating so-called critical refraction highlighting with speed-of-sound information. In addition, it was found that phantom material is a room-temperature acoustic alternative for experiments on live human skin.
In summary, the presence of superficial tattoos has a small but quantifiable effect on the acoustic response from deeper tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig S. Carlson
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1 Jan Smuts Laan, 2050 Braamfontein, South Africa
| | - Michiel Postema
- School of Electrical and Information Engineering, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 1 Jan Smuts Laan, 2050 Braamfontein, South Africa
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Cabrelli LC, Uliana JH, da Cruz Junior LB, Bachmann L, Carneiro AAO, Pavan TZ. Glycerol-in-SEBS gel as a material to manufacture stable wall-less vascular phantom for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2021; 7. [PMID: 34496358 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/ac24d6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Styrene-ethylene/butylene-styrene (SEBS) copolymer-in-mineral oil gel is an appropriate tissue-mimicking material to manufacture stable phantoms for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. Glycerol dispersion has been proposed to further tune the acoustic properties and to incorporate hydrophilic additives into SEBS gel. However, this type of material has not been investigated to produce wall-less vascular flow phantom for these imaging modalities. In this paper, the development of a wall-less vascular phantom for ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging is reported. Mixtures of glycerol/TiO2-in-SEBS gel samples were manufactured at different proportions of glycerol (10%, 15%, and 20%) and TiO2(0% to 0.5%) to characterize their optical and acoustic properties. Optical absorption in the 500-950 nm range was independent of the amount of glycerol and TiO2, while optical scattering increased linearly with the concentration of TiO2. Acoustic attenuation and speed of sound were not influenced by the presence of TiO2. The sample manufactured using weight percentages of 10% SEBS, 15% glycerol, and 0.2% TiO2was selected to make the vascular phantom. The phantom proved to be stable during the pulsatile blood-mimicking fluid (BMF) flow, without any observed damage to its structure or leaks. Ultrasound color Doppler images showed a typical laminar flow, while the B-mode images showed a homogeneous speckled pattern due to the presence of the glycerol droplets in the gel. The photoacoustic images of the phantom showed a well-defined signal coming from the surface of the phantom and from the vessels where BMF was flowing. The Spearman's correlations between the photoacoustic and tabulated spectra calculated from the regions containing BMF, in this case a mixture of salt solutions (NiCl2and CuSO4), were higher than 0.95. Our results demonstrated that glycerol-in-SEBS gel was an adequate material to make a stable vascular flow phantom for ultrasound photoacoustic imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana C Cabrelli
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Joao H Uliana
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | | | - Luciano Bachmann
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Antonio A O Carneiro
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Theo Z Pavan
- Departamento de Física, FFCLRP, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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15
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Abstract
The ultrasound phantoms used to educate medical students should not only closely mimic the ultrasound characteristics of human soft tissues but also be inexpensive and easy to manufacture. I have been studying handmade ultrasound phantoms and proposed an ultrasound phantom comprising calcium alginate hydrogel that met these requirements but caused a speckle pattern similar to that observed in ultrasound images of liver. In this study, I show that adding ethanol to the precursors used to fabricate the phantom reduces the speckle pattern. The ultrasound propagation velocity and attenuation coefficient of the phantom were 1561 ± 8 m/s and 0.54 ± 0.18 dB/cm/MHz, respectively (mean ± standard deviation), which are within the ranges of those in human soft tissues (1530-1600 m/s and 0.3-1.0 dB/cm/MHz, respectively). This phantom is easy to fabricate without special equipment, is inexpensive, and is suitable for elementary training on ultrasound diagnosis, operation of ultrasound-guided needles, and blind catheter insertion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minoru Aoyagi
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Nippon Institute of Technology, Miyashiro, Saitama, Japan
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16
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Rectus Femoris Mimicking Ultrasound Phantom for Muscle Mass Assessment: Design, Research, and Training Application. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10122721. [PMID: 34202957 PMCID: PMC8235438 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10122721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Ultrasound has become widely used as a means to measure the rectus femoris muscle in the acute and chronic phases of critical illness. Despite its noninvasiveness and accessibility, its accuracy highly depends on the skills of the technician. However, few ultrasound phantoms for the confirmation of its accuracy or to improve technical skills exist. In this study, the authors created a novel phantom model and used it for investigating the accuracy of measurements and for training. Study 1 investigated how various conditions affect ultrasound measurements such as thickness, cross-sectional area, and echogenicity. Study 2 investigated if the phantom can be used for the training of various health care providers in vitro and in vivo. Study 1 showed that thickness, cross-sectional area, and echogenicity were affected by probe compression strength, probe angle, phantom compression, and varying equipment. Study 2 in vitro showed that using the phantom for training improved the accuracy of the measurements taken within the phantom, and Study 2 in vivo showed the phantom training had a short-term effect on improving the measurement accuracy in a human volunteer. The new ultrasound phantom model revealed that various conditions affected ultrasound measurements, and phantom training improved the measurement accuracy.
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Development of Custom Wall-Less Cardiovascular Flow Phantoms with Tissue-Mimicking Gel. Cardiovasc Eng Technol 2021; 13:1-13. [PMID: 34080171 PMCID: PMC8888498 DOI: 10.1007/s13239-021-00546-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Flow phantoms are used in experimental settings to aid in the simulation of blood flow. Custom geometries are available, but current phantom materials present issues with degradability and/or mimicking the mechanical properties of human tissue. In this study, a method of fabricating custom wall-less flow phantoms from a tissue-mimicking gel using 3D printed inserts is developed. METHODS A 3D blood vessel geometry example of a bifurcated artery model was 3D printed in polyvinyl alcohol, embedded in tissue-mimicking gel, and subsequently dissolved to create a phantom. Uniaxial compression testing was performed to determine the Young's moduli of the five gel types. Angle-independent, ultrasound-based imaging modalities, Vector Flow Imaging (VFI) and Blood Speckle Imaging (BSI), were utilized for flow visualization of a straight channel phantom. RESULTS A wall-less phantom of the bifurcated artery was fabricated with minimal bubbles and continuous flow demonstrated. Additionally, flow was visualized through a straight channel phantom by VFI and BSI. The available gel types are suitable for mimicking a variety of tissue types, including cardiac tissue and blood vessels. CONCLUSION Custom, tissue-mimicking flow phantoms can be fabricated using the developed methodology and have potential for use in a variety of applications, including ultrasound-based imaging methods. This is the first reported use of BSI with an in vitro flow phantom.
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Tibamoso-Pedraza G, Navarro I, Dion P, Raboisson MJ, Lapierre C, Miró J, Ratté S, Duong L. Design of heart phantoms for ultrasound imaging of ventricular septal defects. Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg 2021; 17:177-184. [PMID: 34021458 DOI: 10.1007/s11548-021-02406-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ventricular septal defects (VSDs) are common congenital heart malformations. Echocardiography used during VSD hybrid cardiac procedures requires extensive training for image acquisition and interpretation. Cardiac surgery simulators with heart phantoms have shown usefulness for such training, but they are limited in visualization and characterization of complex VSD. This study explores a new method to build patient-specific heart phantoms with VSD, with proper tissue echogenicity for ultrasound imaging. METHODS Heart phantoms were designed from preoperative imaging of three patients with complex VSDs. Each whole heart phantom, including atrial and ventricular septums, was obtained by manual segmentation and by surface reconstruction, then by molding and by casting in different materials. Heart phantoms in silicone and polyvinyl alcohol cryogel (PVA-C) were considered, and they were reconstructed in 3-D using 2-D freehand ultrasound imaging. RESULTS An electromagnetic measurement system was used to measure the mean VSD diameters from the heart phantoms. Errors were evaluated below 1.0 mm for mean VSD diameters between 6.2 and 7.5 mm. CONCLUSION Patient-specific heart phantoms promise for representing complex heart malformations such as VSDs. PVA-C showed better tissue echogenicity than silicone for VSDs visualization and characterization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Tibamoso-Pedraza
- Interventional Imaging Lab, Department of Software and IT Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame West, Montreal, H3C 1K3, Canada.
| | - Iñaki Navarro
- Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Patrice Dion
- Interventional Imaging Lab, Department of Software and IT Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame West, Montreal, H3C 1K3, Canada
| | | | - Chantale Lapierre
- Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Joaquim Miró
- Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Sylvie Ratté
- Interventional Imaging Lab, Department of Software and IT Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame West, Montreal, H3C 1K3, Canada
| | - Luc Duong
- Interventional Imaging Lab, Department of Software and IT Engineering, École de technologie supérieure, 1100 Notre-Dame West, Montreal, H3C 1K3, Canada
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Pavan TZ, Evertsson M. Oil-Based Gel Phantoms and the Speed of Sound. ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:3170-3171. [PMID: 32782089 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Theo Z Pavan
- Department of Physics, FFCLRP, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Maria Evertsson
- Biomedical Engineering, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Alves N, Courtney BK. Response to "Oil-Based Gel Phantoms and the Speed of Sound". ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE & BIOLOGY 2020; 46:3172. [PMID: 32807569 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2020.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Alves
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brian K Courtney
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Cardiology, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Conavi Medical, North York, Ontario, Canada.
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