Spectral CT Phantom With Interchangeable Material Inserts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spectral CT imaging systems face challenges in accurately calibrating material density images due to the lack of durable phantoms that can accurately mimic clinically relevant materials, and existing phantoms are difficult to customize for different patient sizes or materials, leading to variability in calibration results.
Innovation Solution
A phantom system with a housing and interchangeable inserts made of materials like iodine, hydroxyapatite, tricalcium phosphate, body fat, sodium chloride, gold, and iron, which can be positioned in sealed passages or slots to provide known material densities for calibration, allowing for customization and accurate simulation of various materials and patient sizes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If conventional synthetic material phantoms are used to simulate Hounsfield units, then the phantom can be made durable and last a long time, but the phantom fails to accurately mimic clinically relevant materials in spectral CT imaging
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is divided into multiple removable inserts, each containing a specific material (iodine, calcium, fat, etc.). This segmentation allows each insert to be optimized for accurate spectral representation of its specific material while the overall phantom structure remains durable and reusable.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom uses composite construction with a durable housing structure combined with interchangeable material inserts. This allows the phantom to maintain structural integrity over time while using materials that accurately represent clinical tissues for spectral CT calibration.
2Measurement precision
If individual material phantoms are created for each material separately, then each material can be calibrated accurately, but the calibration process becomes time-consuming and results vary between different phantoms and technicians
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple material inserts (iodine, calcium, fat, water, etc.) are combined into a single phantom housing. This allows all material density calibrations to be performed simultaneously in one scanning session, eliminating the need for separate scans for each material and ensuring consistent results across all materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The single phantom housing serves multiple functions by accommodating various material inserts. This universal design allows the same phantom structure to be used for calibrating multiple different materials, reducing variability between calibrations and eliminating the need for multiple separate phantom creations.
3Measurement precision
If phantoms are created just prior to calibration and discarded afterward, then the calibration can be performed with fresh materials, but the phantoms cannot be stored and must be recreated each time
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is segmented into a reusable housing and removable inserts. The housing and inserts can be separated, cleaned, and stored individually, allowing the phantom to be preserved and reused for multiple calibration sessions while maintaining material integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the entire phantom after use, the design allows for recovery and reuse of the housing and inserts. The removable inserts can be cleaned and reinserted, enabling the phantom to be reused multiple times while maintaining calibration accuracy.
4Ease of manufacture
If fixed phantoms are used for calibration, then the phantom structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the phantom cannot be customized for different patient sizes or material types
Solution Approach 1:
The phantom is segmented into a standard housing with removable inserts. This simple base structure is easy to manufacture, while the interchangeable inserts provide customization for different materials and can be arranged to represent different patient sizes and anatomical variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The phantom transitions from a static fixed design to a dynamic configurable system. The removable inserts allow the phantom to be reconfigured for different calibration needs, patient sizes, and material types while maintaining a simple underlying structure that is easy to manufacture.
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 phantom system enables precise calibration of spectral CT systems by providing stable, customizable inserts that accurately mimic clinical materials, enhancing the accuracy and consistency of material density images across different patient sizes and material types.
Implementation Method 1
The intensity of the attenuated beam radiation received at the detector array is typically dependent upon the attenuation of the x-ray beam by the subject
Data Source
AI summary
A phantom includes a housing enclosing an interior volume and having a plurality of passages formed therein, wherein each passage is fluidly isolated from the interior volume. First and second inserts are included and configured to be positioned in a first passage of the plurality of passages and include materials having a known material density. The material is selected from iodine, hydroxyapatite (HAP), tricalcium phosphate (TCP), body fat, fatty plaque, sodium chloride (NaCl), gold (Au), and iron (Fe). The material of the inserts can be different materials or the same material at different densities.