CONTRAST RESOLUTION TISSUE MIMICKING PHANTOMS FOR NUCLEAR MAGETIC RESONANCE IMAGING

摘要

CONTRAST RESOLUTION TISSUE MIMICKINGPHANTOMS FOR NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGINGABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURETissue mimicking phantoms for NMR imagers are producedhaving a base tissue mimicking material enclosed within asealed container. The base tissue mimicking materialcomprises a gel which has been solidified from a mixtureof agar, animal hide gelatin, water, glycerol, andanti-bacterial agents such as n-propanol, p-methylbenzoicacid, and formaldehyde. The formaldehyde also serves tocross link the animal hide gel and thereby raise themelting point of the tissue mimicking material to atemperature well above normal ambient temperatures. Thisbase tissue mimicking material is stable both indimensions and NMR properties over long periods of time.Contrast resolution inclusions are formed within the basetissue mimicking material which have T1, T2, or bothwhich differ from the corresponding values for the basetissue mimicking material, thereby allowing theseinclusions to be imaged and distinguished from thesurrounding material. The inclusions simulate tumors innormal tissue, and are preferably formed in a variety ofsizes down to very small diameter spherical objects whichat or beyond the imaging capability of the NMR imagingapparatus. Inclusions which are stable in size, shape andNMR properties over time while in direct contact with thebase tissue mimicking material without the need for abarrier can be formed of the same solidified gel materialas the base tissue mimicking material but differing in thedry weight concentration of agar. Several sets ofinclusions may be formed having differing dry weightconcentrations of agar in each set so that each set willhave a different level of contrast with the base tissuemimicking material.