Dynamic Test Phantom for Cardiac CT Imaging Quality Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current CT imaging technologies face challenges in accurately diagnosing cardiovascular diseases due to motion artifacts and vascular transposition, especially in dynamic and irregular heart motions, as existing quality control methods are inadequate for simulating the complex motion of the heart.
Innovation Solution
A dynamic test phantom simulating cardiovascular motion, comprising a control system, electric cylinder unit, piston pump unit, and cardiovascular phantom, which replicates ventricular strokes and various heart phases, including arrhythmia and coronary artery stenosis, to evaluate the quality of cardiac CT imaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If static phantoms are used for CT quality control testing, then geometric projection principles and axial scanning can be applied to evaluate static organ imaging quality, but the imaging quality control of moving organs such as the cardiovascular system cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static phantom into a dynamic system by introducing a liquid filling system that can change the filling state of the phantom's cavities. The liquid can be dynamically injected or withdrawn to simulate different physiological states (e.g., blood flow in arteries, ventricular filling), enabling the phantom to adapt to various motion and physiological conditions while maintaining structural integrity for accurate imaging quality control
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the phantom by introducing a liquid filling mechanism. The liquid filling state can be adjusted to change the density, attenuation characteristics, and structural configuration of the phantom, allowing it to simulate different physiological conditions and motion states, thereby expanding its applicability from static to dynamic organ imaging quality control
2Strength
If existing dynamic heart phantoms use composites such as silica gel or polyvinyl alcohol to simulate tissue biomechanical properties, then certain biomechanical properties are achieved, but radiation equivalence to human tissue is not taken into consideration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite material construction where the phantom structure combines materials with different properties: the structural components maintain biomechanical characteristics (flexibility, elasticity) similar to heart tissue, while the liquid filling material is specifically selected to have X-ray attenuation properties equivalent to blood or other physiological fluids. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of biomechanical realism and radiation equivalence for accurate cardiac CT imaging quality evaluation
3Shape
If liquid is filled in coronary artery phantoms to simulate vascular structure, then anatomical structure is achieved, but the liquid cannot flow to simulate real cardiovascular motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydraulic system with a liquid injection mechanism that can dynamically control the filling and emptying of the phantom's vascular and chamber cavities. This system simulates the flow of blood through the cardiovascular system by controlling liquid movement in and out of different anatomical regions, enabling the phantom to reproduce real cardiovascular motion patterns including arterial filling, ventricular contraction, and diastolic relaxation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic liquid filling and emptying cycles that mimic the rhythmic nature of cardiovascular function. The injection mechanism operates in periodic cycles corresponding to cardiac cycles, creating repetitive patterns of liquid flow that simulate normal heart function, arrhythmias, and other cardiac motion patterns for comprehensive imaging quality evaluation
4Ease of operation
If the motion of atriums and ventricles is simulated only at constant speed or in a sinusoidal manner, then simple motion patterns are achieved, but real changes in the motion of the heart in each time phase are not reflected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static or simple periodic motion simulation to dynamic motion control by implementing a programmable injection mechanism. This mechanism can vary the injection speed, volume, and timing to accurately reproduce complex cardiac motion patterns including isovolumetric contraction, rapid ejection, slow ejection, rapid filling, and slow filling phases, thereby achieving realistic characterization of heart motion in each time phase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes multiple motion parameters including injection speed, liquid volume, injection timing, and pressure to simulate different cardiac phases and pathological conditions. This parameter control allows the phantom to transition from simple constant or sinusoidal motion to complex, phase-specific motion patterns that accurately reflect real cardiovascular physiology and pathology
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The dynamic phantom provides a standardized method for evaluating CT imaging quality by simulating real heart motion, ensuring accurate diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, with CT values equivalent to human tissues and adjustable heart rates, allowing for the simulation of various lesion models.
Implementation Method 1
the piston pump unit is connected with the electric cylinder transmission unit, and the electric cylinder unit controls the piston pump unit to linearly reciprocate based on a command issued by the PLC control system, to pump a liquid in or out of the cardiovascular phantom through the fluid circuit unit
Implementation Method 2
the electric cylinder unit controls the piston pump unit to linearly reciprocate based on a command issued by the PLC control system
Data Source
AI summary
The invention discloses a quality testing method dynamic test phantom simulating cardiovascular motion for quality evaluation of CT imaging, and its control principle and quality testing method. The dynamic test phantom includes: a control system, an electric cylinder unit, a piston pump unit, a fluid circuit unit and a cardiovascular phantom; the control system includes a control box and a control PC, wherein the control box includes a PLC control system and an electrocardiogram generator, and the PLC control system is connected with the control PC and the electrocardiogram generator respectively; the electric cylinder unit includes an electric cylinder drive unit and an electric cylinder transmission unit, wherein the electric cylinder drive unit is connected with the PLC control system, and the electric cylinder transmission unit is connected with the electric cylinder drive unit; the piston pump unit is connected with the electric cylinder transmission unit; the fluid circuit unit includes a fluid confluence module and fluid pipelines, which are connected with the piston pump unit and the cardiovascular phantom respectively; and the cardiovascular phantom includes a ventricular phantom, coronary artery phantoms and a water tank. The dynamic test phantom according to the invention can simulate ventricular strokes and multiple motion phases, and has standard models of normal heart rate, arrhythmis, coronary artery stenosis, etc.