An ultrasound phantom is provided which has ultrasound wave velocities, attenuation coefficients and scattering coefficients which closely mimic those of human tissue and which permits diagnostic ultrasound equipment to be accurately tested and calibrated on a continuing day-to-day basis. The phantom preferably includes a substantially air-tight enclosure or box, having therein a quantity of reticulated synthetic resin foam material and a salt water solution. The ultrasonic characteristics of the phantom are completely uniform, stable and reproduceable, can be varied at will by using different foam materials and/or liquids, and the phantom can be stored and used at room temperature without degradation thereof. Localized zones having different ultrasonic qualities for mimicking various normal and pathological tissues can also be provided by hollowed, cut-out regions within the foam material, with different inserts located within certain of the hollowed regions.
A contrast resolution tissue-equivalent ultrasound test phantom comprises a block of material having ultrasonic propagation characteristics similar to that of human or animal tissue. A plurality of contrast objects are embedded in the block, each having a different reflectivity. The contrast objects have at least one dimension wherein the size of the object in cross-section decreases so that periodic ultrasonic scans of all of the objects simultaneously produce successive displays of plural cross-sectional patterns, the pattern in each display having the same size but different contrasts whereas the pattern size changes for successive displays.
The characteristics of an ultrasonic scanning system, including band-width, center frequency, and spectrum shape of reflected signals, are determined by directing ultrasonic energy from the system into a phantom having known ultrasonic attenuation and detecting the reflected ultrasonic signal for various depths in the phantom. Band-width is measured from the slope of frequency versus phantom depth. Center frequency is determined from the frequency of the signal reflected from the surface of the phantom. Spectrum shape is determined from the change in frequency of the reflected signal with change in phantom depth.
An ultrasound phantom for use with an ultrasound scanner. The ultrasound phantom includes a container having a bottom and walls, margins of the walls remote from the bottom defining a window, which is closed by an ultrasound-transmitting window cover. A phantom body is contained within the container and includes a matrix made of a matrix material exhibiting a matrix ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient. The phantom body further includes a multiplicity of scattering particles spaced sufficiently close to each other that the scanner is incapable of resolving individual scattering particles and testing spheres having a testing sphere ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient, at least one of which is different from the corresponding matrix ultrasonic speed, specific gravity, attenuation coefficient, and backscatter coefficient. The testing spheres are located within the phantom body in a random array.
A device for testing the profile of an ultrasonic beam comprising a block of solid material permitting propagation of said beam therethrough without substantial scattering. A plurality of discrete particles having surfaces interfacing with said solid material are located in and are generally uniformly distributed throughout a substantially planar region in said block. The test device is scanned with an ultrasonic beam and an image of the beam profile is generated by reflection of the beam by the particles.
An apparatus and method for training physicians and technicians to locate stones found in simulated human body organs, principally simulated biliary and renal calculi, and then actually fragment these calculi using ESWL. A reusable semi-anthropomorphic phantom comprises an opaque liver tissue-equivalent mass having anatomically correct simulated organ cavities associated with the midsection of a human body, principally the gall bladder and the kidney. Channels lead from the exterior of the phantom to the simulated organs. A concrement is introduced into at least one simulated organ, the channels and simulated organs are filled with a fluid-like substance, and the channels are closed with plugs. A trainee then utilizes an ultrasound or X-ray locating device to examine the phantom until the concrements are located. The coordinates of the located concrements are then utilized with a concrement destroying apparatus such as an extracorporeal shock wave lithotripter (ESWL). The trainee then focuses the energy of the concrement destroying apparatus (such as a shock wave) towards the located concrements, thereby causing fragmentation. The channels can then be opened and the contents of the simulated organ removed to inspect the results of the procedure.
