Urethane Phantom for Optoacoustic Probe Tissue Mimicry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optoacoustic phantoms degrade easily and fail to accurately replicate the optical and acoustic properties of human tissue, leading to interference in imaging and suboptimal quality assurance checks.
Innovation Solution
A method for manufacturing a phantom that involves mixing scattering and absorbing materials, such as TiO2 and carbon black with mineral oil, with a urethane solution, and curing at specific temperatures to create a durable phantom that mimics human tissue properties, including the arrangement of wire targets for training and quality assurance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If gel wax phantoms are used to replicate tissue properties, then the phantom can be colored and irregularities can be placed, but the phantom degrades easily, changes color, and does not match tissue properties accurately
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite material system combining plastisol base material with titanium dioxide for scattering, carbon black with asphaltine for absorption, and urethane solution for durability. This composite approach allows the phantom to maintain tissue-like optical properties while achieving long-term stability and resistance to degradation and color change.
2Reliability
If urethane based phantoms are used for durability, then the phantom maintains material properties over time, but the phantom has difficulties in absorbing ink and other materials for coloring and placement of irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the urethane-based material by incorporating specific ratios of scattering and absorbing materials, and adjusting the base material composition to create a plastisol formulation that maintains durability while improving absorbency for coloring and irregularity placement. The parameter changes in material composition enable both longevity and manufacturability.
3Ease of operation
If gel wax phantoms are used for training, then irregularities can be detected during practice, but the phantom properties degrade and interfere with imaging accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite phantom material that combines the ease of use characteristics of gel wax with the stability of urethane-based materials. The composite formulation with titanium dioxide, carbon black, and plastisol components provides consistent optical and acoustic properties that do not degrade over time, ensuring both user-friendly operation and imaging accuracy for training purposes.
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 resulting phantom maintains its material properties over time, providing consistent and accurate tissue-like properties for training and quality assurance, enhancing the detection of irregularities and improving the performance of optoacoustic imaging systems.
Implementation Method 1
forming a scattering material that includes TiO2 and a base material
Implementation Method 2
forming an absorbing material that includes carbon black with asphaltine and a base material
Implementation Method 3
light is used to deliver optical energy to a volume of the tissue site, which as a result of optical absorption with the tissue structures, produce acoustic (and more generally pressure) waves
Data Source
AI summary
A method for forming a phantom for an optoacoustic probe is provided that may include forming a scattering material. The method may also include forming an absorbing material, and mixing the scattering material with the absorbing material to form a tissue material. The method can also include mixing the tissue material with a urethane solution to form a phantom material, and curing the phantom material to form the phantom.