Abstract
Emerging three-dimensional (3D) printing technology enables the fabrication of optically realistic and morphologically complex tissue-simulating phantoms for the development and evaluation of novel optical imaging products. In this study, we assess the potential to print image-defined neurovascular phantoms with patent channels for contrast-enhanced near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging. An anatomical map defined from clinical magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was segmented and processed into files suitable for printing a forebrain vessel network in rectangular and curved-surface biomimetic phantoms. Methods for effectively cleaning samples with complex vasculature were determined. A final set of phantoms were imaged with a custom NIRF system at 785 nm excitation using two NIRF contrast agents. In addition to demonstrating the strong potential of 3D printing for creating highly realistic, patient-specific biophotonic phantoms, our work provides insight into optimal methods for accomplishing this goal and elucidates current limitations of this approach.
Highlights
Performance standards for established medical imaging modalities commonly describe image quality test methods involving tissue-simulating phantoms with simplified internal and external geometries [1]
Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging devices are commonly used with the passive contrast agent Indocyanine Green (ICG) for clinical cerebral angiography, including during surgeries for arteriovenous malformations and aneurisms [4,5,6]
3.1 Printed phantoms Significant challenges were encountered in fabricating biomimetic phantoms with viable vasculature
Summary
Performance standards for established medical imaging modalities commonly describe image quality test methods involving tissue-simulating phantoms with simplified internal and external geometries [1]. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging devices are commonly used with the passive contrast agent Indocyanine Green (ICG) for clinical cerebral angiography, including during surgeries for arteriovenous malformations and aneurisms [4,5,6]. This approach is used to provide contrast-enhanced visualization for lymph node imaging [7] as well as cardiovascular and organ/tissue transplant surgeries [8]. Polymer-based phantoms [10] may be more well suited for performance evaluation of neurosurgical NIRF imaging products as well as for surgical training in procedures involving optical imaging
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