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Design of an anthropomorphic PET phantom with elastic lungs and respiration modeling
Author(s) -
Black David G.,
Yazdi Yas Oloumi,
Wong Jeremy,
Fedrigo Roberto,
Uribe Carlos,
Kadrmas Dan J.,
Rahmim Arman,
Klyuzhin Ivan S.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.473
H-Index - 180
eISSN - 2473-4209
pISSN - 0094-2405
DOI - 10.1002/mp.14998
Subject(s) - imaging phantom , torso , computer science , breathing , biomedical engineering , medical imaging , positron emission tomography , physics , simulation , nuclear medicine , artificial intelligence , medicine , anatomy
Purpose Respiratory motion during positron emission tomography (PET) scans can be a major detriment to image quality in oncological imaging. The impact of motion on lesion quantification and detectability can be assessed using phantoms with realistic anatomy representation and motion modeling. In this work, we develop an anthropomorphic phantom for PET imaging that combines anatomic fidelity and a realistic breathing mechanism with deformable lungs. Methods We start from a previously developed anatomically accurate but static phantom of a human torso, and add elastic lungs with a highly controllable actuation mechanism which replicates the physics of breathing. The space outside the lungs is filled with a radioactive water solution. To maintain anatomical accuracy and realistic gamma ray attenuation in the torso, all motion mechanisms and actuators are positioned outside of the phantom compartment. The actuation mechanism can produce custom respiratory waveforms with breathing rates up to 25 breaths per minute and tidal volumes up to 1200 mL. Results Several tests were performed to validate the performance of the phantom assembly, in which the phantom was filled with water and given respiratory waveforms to execute. All parts demonstrated expected performance. Force requirements were not exceeded and no leaks were detected, although continued use of the phantom is required to evaluate wear. The motion of the lungs was determined to be within a reasonable realistic range. Conclusions The full mechanical design is described in this paper, as well as a software application with graphical user interface which was developed to plan and visualize respiratory patterns. Both are available online as open source files. The developed phantom will facilitate future work in evaluating the impact of respiratory motion on lesion quantification and detectability in clinical practice.