Stable and Flexible Materials to Mimic the Dielectric Properties of Human Soft Tissues

Abstract

Emerging biomedical applications require realistic phantoms for validation and testing of prototype systems. These phantoms require stable and flexible tissue-mimicking materials with realistic dielectric properties in order to properly model human tissues. To create a tissue-mimicking material to fulfill these needs, carbon powder and urethane rubber mixtures were created, and the dielectric properties were measured using a dielectric probe. Both graphite and carbon black were tested. Mixtures of graphite and urethane (0% to 50% by weight) provided relatively low permittivity and conductivity, suitable for mimicking fatty tissues. Mixtures of carbon black and urethane (0% to 15% by weight) provided a broad range of suitable properties. Samples with 15% carbon black had permittivity and conductivity similar to higher-water-content tissues, however the cured samples were not mechanically suitable for moulding into complex shapes. Finally, mixtures of graphite, carbon black, and urethane were created. These exhibited a range of dielectric properties and can be used to mimic a variety of soft tissues. The mechanical properties of these samples were tested and presented properties that exceed typical phantom requirements. This tissue-mimicking material will be useful when creating thin, flexible, and robust structures such as skin layers.