3D Printed Radiometric Phantom for Patient-Specific Dose Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for verifying radiation doses in external radiotherapy and reconstructing radiological accidents lack precision due to the use of standard phantoms that do not accurately represent individual patient anatomy, leading to incomplete three-dimensional dose distribution measurements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for producing a radiometric physical phantom using 3D printing, which involves creating a radiological model from anatomical images to replicate the patient's tissue composition and density, allowing for the production of a phantom with dosimetric gels that mimic the patient's tissue characteristics, enabling precise three-dimensional dose distribution measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If standard numerical anthropomorphic phantoms are used for dose verification and accident reconstruction, then the verification process can be performed, but the dose distribution obtained is not representative of the actual patient because the morphology differs from the patient's anatomy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a physical copy of the patient's anatomical structure using 3D printing technology. The printing device reproduces the patient's morphology and tissue density distribution from medical imaging data (CT or MRI), creating a tangible phantom that accurately represents the individual patient's anatomy rather than using standardized numerical phantoms with generic morphology
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the phantom by incorporating materials with varying radiodensities that correspond to different tissue types (bone, soft tissue, air cavities). The 3D printing process allows precise control of material density and composition to match the patient's actual tissue characteristics, transforming a uniform standard phantom into a customized representation with accurate anatomical parameters
2Measurement precision
If standard real physical phantoms with point dosimeters are used, then three-dimensional dose map reconstruction is possible, but the dose distribution remains unrepresentative due to standard morphology differing from patient's particular morphology
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a physical copy of the patient's anatomical structure using 3D printing technology. The printing device reproduces the patient's morphology and tissue density distribution from medical imaging data (CT or MRI), creating a tangible phantom that accurately represents the individual patient's anatomy rather than using standardized numerical phantoms with generic morphology
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different materials with specific radiodensity properties to different regions of the phantom corresponding to different tissue types. Each anatomical region is filled with materials that match its radiological properties (bone-equivalent, soft-tissue-equivalent, air-equivalent), creating local quality variations that accurately represent the patient's heterogeneous tissue composition
3Shape
If 3D printing is used to produce the phantom framework, then the patient's anatomical particularities can be reproduced, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the phantom manufacturing into distinct segments: first creating the structural framework (skeleton) with the patient's external morphology using 3D printing, then separately filling different internal cavities with appropriate dosimetric materials. This segmentation simplifies the overall process by breaking down the complex task of creating a heterogeneous anatomical phantom into manageable stages with specialized materials for each tissue type
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
This approach allows for a highly accurate representation of radiation absorption and distribution within the patient, providing a realistic phantom for validating treatment plans and reconstructing radiological accidents, thereby enhancing the precision of dose verification and accident reconstruction.
Implementation Method 1
using a 3D printing device, produce a framework of the phantom by reproducing each radiological volume by an enclosure filled with air and delimited by a wall, the wall being made up of a material for 3D printing
Implementation Method 2
fill each enclosure of the framework of the phantom associated with a radiological organ with a dosimetric gel whose physical characteristics are close to or identical to those of the class of chemical compositions and densities of the radiological organ
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (2) of producing a radiometric physical phantom of a biological organism to be irradiated or already irradiated having at least two volumes of appreciably different biological tissues comprises a step (6) of determining a radiological three-dimensional model on the basis of anatomical three-dimensional image(s) of the organism, a step (10) of producing a material framework of the phantom with the aid of a 3D printer, and a step (16) of filling the enclosures of the framework with gels. The radiological three-dimensional model groups together into radiological organs the mutually adjacent tissues having chemical compositions and densities which are similar. Each radiological organ is characterized geometrically by a radiological volume as sum of the volumes of the grouped tissues, and radiologically by a radiological class identifying the span of the chemical compositions and densities which are similar of the grouped tissues. A physical phantom manufactured by the method of production and a system for implementing the method of production. A method of experimentally determining the distribution of the doses of radiation on the phantom produced and a system for implementing the method of experimental determination.