ANATOMICALLY REALISTIC THREE DIMENSIONAL PHANTOMS FOR IMAGING

摘要

This application generally relates to the field of medical imaging. According to certain embodiments, anatomically accurate phantoms with tunable activity concentrations and x-ray attenuation coefficients for use in positron emission tomography and positron emission tomography/x-ray computed tomography are created by utilizing a three dimensional printer. According to certain embodiments, radiolabeled or x-ray contrast material is added to a binder used in a three dimensional printer, and the resultant radiolabeled or x-ray contrast binder is selectively used to bind a prototype powder into an accurate scanning rendition of a selected portion of anatomy. By utilizing one or more radiolabeled or x-ray contrast binders, multiple tissue densities can be present in a single phantom, with complex geometries rendered therein.