Abstract
Tissue-equivalent phantoms that mimic the optical properties of human and animal tissues are commonly used in diffuse optical imaging research to characterize instrumentation or evaluate an image reconstruction method. Although many recipes have been produced for generating solid phantoms with specified absorption and transport scattering coefficients at visible and near-infrared wavelengths, the construction methods are generally time-consuming and are unable to create complex geometries. We present a method of generating phantoms using a standard 3D printer. A simple recipe was devised which enables printed phantoms to be produced with precisely known optical properties. To illustrate the capability of the method, we describe the creation of an anatomically accurate, tissue-equivalent premature infant head optical phantom with a hollow brain space based on MRI atlas data. A diffuse optical image of the phantom is acquired when a high contrast target is inserted into the hollow space filled with an aqueous scattering solution.
Highlights
Objects which mimic the optical properties of human tissues, known as phantoms, are commonly used to evaluate the performance of devices built for diagnostic applications of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and imaging [1]
Light propagation in biological tissues at NIR wavelengths is dominated by elastic scattering, the diagnostic information normally stems from the strong variation in absorption, by the oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of hemoglobin in blood [2]
The imaging technique known as diffuse optical tomography (DOT) involves coupling multiple sources and detectors to the skin in order to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image representing the optical properties of the underlying tissues
Summary
Objects which mimic the optical properties of human tissues, known as phantoms, are commonly used to evaluate the performance of devices built for diagnostic applications of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and imaging [1]. Light propagation in biological tissues at NIR wavelengths is dominated by elastic scattering, the diagnostic information normally stems from the strong variation in absorption, by the oxygenated and deoxygenated forms of hemoglobin in blood [2]. The imaging technique known as diffuse optical tomography (DOT) involves coupling multiple sources and detectors to the skin in order to generate a three-dimensional (3D) image representing the optical properties of the underlying tissues. Bentz et al [7] report the use of 3D printing to generate a phantom in the form of a whole rat with heterogeneous optical properties. To our knowledge no one has yet proposed a method of 3D printing large geometries with customizable and precisely known optical properties
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
