Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: A phantom used in quality assurance and performance tests and/or in pre-purchase testing of ultrasound scanners is provided. The phantom includes a container, a boundary formed within the container, and a curved scanning surface. The container includes a top surface, a bottom surface opposite the top surface, and a wall mounted between the top surface and the bottom surface to form the container. The boundary is configured to hold a tissue mimicking material. The curved scanning surface is formed in the top surface in a direction towards an interior of the container. The curved scanning surface is shaped to support translation perpendicular to an image plane of an application end of an ultrasound transducer along at least a portion of an axis extending between a first location on the curved scanning surface and a second location on the curved scanning surface.

Abstract: Tissue mimicking materials for elastography phantoms have elastic, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance characteristics that are characteristic of human soft tissues and well suited for the calibration and performance assessment of elastography imaging systems. In one embodiment, the material is formed from a base material containing an oil dispersed within a gel matrix and at least one inclusion formed from a gel. In another embodiment, the material is formed from a gel-forming material suffused throughout an open-cell reticulated mesh matrix.

Abstract: Tissue mimicking materials for elastography phantoms have elastic, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance characteristics that are characteristic of human soft tissues and well suited for the calibration and performance assessment of elastography imaging systems. In one embodiment, the material is formed from a base material containing an oil dispersed within a gel matrix and at least one inclusion formed from a gel. In another embodiment, the material is formed from a gel-forming material suffused throughout an open-cell reticulated mesh matrix.

Abstract: Tissue-mimicking material suitable for phantoms for use with at least ultrasound and MRI have sections of material in contact with each other which mimic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging properties of human tissues, and preferably also computed tomography properties, so that the phantom can be used for the testing of imaging by various types of medical imagers. A suitable tissue-mimicking material for use in phantoms of this type includes an aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules, a copper salt, a chelating agent for binding the copper ions in the salt, and a gel-forming material. Small glass beads may be intermixed therewith to provide a selected ultrasound attenuation coefficient without substantially affecting the MRI properties of the material. Larger glass beads may be used in a section to control primarily the ultrasound backscatter coefficient without significant effect on the ultrasound attenuation coefficient.

Abstract: A tissue mimicking material for ultrasound phantoms has ultrasound speed and attenuation characteristics that are characteristic of human tissue and well suited for use in measuring and calibrating the potential biological effects of ultrasound equipment. The material is formed of an aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules condensed from skim milk with a total solids content in the range of 10% to 30% by weight. The total fat content is less than 1% by weight, with the residual lipid particles of a size sufficiently small to remain in suspension without agglomerating and separating from the mixture over extended periods of time.

Abstract: Tissue-mimicking material suitable for phantoms for use with at least ultrasound and MRI have sections of material in contact with each other which mimic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging properties of human tissues, and preferably also computed tomography properties, so that the phantom can be used for the testing of imaging by various types of medical imagers. A suitable tissue-mimicking material for use in phantoms of this type includes an aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules, a copper salt, a chelating agent for binding the copper ions in the salt, and a gel-forming material. Small glass beads may be intermixed therewith to provide a selected ultrasound attenuation coefficient without substantially affecting the MRI properties of the material. Larger glass beads may be used in a section to control primarily the ultrasound backscatter coefficient without significant effect on the ultrasound attenuation coefficient.

Abstract: Tissue-mimicking material suitable for phantoms for use with at least ultrasound and MRI have sections of material in contact with each other which mimic ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging properties of human tissues, and preferably also computed tomography properties, so that the phantom can be used for the testing of imaging by various types of medical imagers. A suitable tissue-mimicking material for use in phantoms of this type includes an aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules, a copper salt, a chelating agent for binding the copper ions in the salt, and a gel-forming material. Small glass beads may be intermixed therewith to provide a selected ultrasound attenuation coefficient without substantially affecting the MRI properties of the material. Larger glass beads may be used in a section to control primarily the ultrasound backscatter coefficient without significant effect on the ultrasound attenuation coefficient.

Abstract: An ultrasound phantom is adapted to provide multiple testing capabilities for quality assurance on ultrasound scanners. The phantom includes a section with an array of target spheres which allow the ability of the scanner to delineate the intersection of a plane of symmetry of the scan slice with diagnostic objects to be determined. Other sections allow low contrast resolution of large objects, spatial resolution regarding lateral and axial dimensions, maximum visualization depth, image gray level uniformity, and distance measurement accuracy to be determined. The phantom may be utilized to provide comparative tests of various scanners and to monitor the performance of a particular scanner over time to determine any changes in the performance of the scanner.

Abstract: An improved ultrasound phantom includes a container having a window covered by an ultrasound transmitting window cover that seals and protects a water based tissue mimicking material within the container. The window cover includes a multi-layer film formed of at least a layer of metal adhered to a layer of plastic. The metal layer is essentially impervious to moisture and air molecules, preventing both desiccation of the water based material within the phantom and oxidation or contamination of the tissue mimicking material. Multiple windows may be formed in the container which are closed with the multi-layer film cover, and the container may be formed entirely or partially as a flexible sack of multi-layer film.

Abstract: A tissue mimicking material for use in ultrasound scanner phantoms has a very low acoustic backscatter coefficient. The tissue mimicking material has the ultrasonic speed and attenuation characteristics of human tissue, with a backscatter coefficient of about 40 dB below that of human liver tissue. The tissue mimicking material may be in liquid or solid form. A component in both the liquid and solid forms is a filtered aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules and emulsion of fatty acid esters. This mixture may be based on a combination of evaporated whole milk and water. The material also includes a hydroxy compound, such as n-propanol, to control the ultrasonic speed of propagation through the material. A preservative from bacterial invasion, such as thimerosal, is also preferably included in the material. The solid form of the material contains the same material as the liquid form, with a very pure gel-forming material included to form a solid material.

Abstract: Automated testing of the resolution capability of medical imagers, such as ultrasound scanners, magnetic resonance imagers and computed tomography equipment, is carried out using phantoms having coplanar arrays of target objects, such as spheres, the locations of which are precisely known. Images of the phantom at positions containing background material and the target spheres are taken, digitized and processed to determine in the digitized images the locations of the target spheres by making use of the known location and spacing of the spheres. Lesion signal-to-noise ratios are then calculated at the now located positions of the target spheres in the image, and this information may be utilized to determine thresholds for detectability that allow evaluation of the performance of the imager being utilized.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is presented an automated system for testing the ability of clinical ultrasound scanners to detect focal lesions in human tissue. An ultrasound scanner phantom containing background material mimicking the ultrasonic characteristics of human tissue and coplanar spherical target lesions ultrasonically contrasting with the background material is scanned using the ultrasound scanner to be tested. Digitized images are made of the ultrasound scan of slices in the ultrasound phantom containing background material only and of slices on which the focal lesions are centered. A lesion signal to noise ratio (SNR).sub.L is then calculated at each defined pixel coordinate in the target lesion slice.

Abstract: A tissue mimicking material for use in ultrasound scanner phantoms has a very low acoustic backscatter coefficient. The tissue mimicking material has the ultrasonic speed and attenuation characteristics of human tissue, with a backscatter coefficient of about 40 dB below that of human liver tissue. The tissue mimicking material may be in liquid or solid form. A component in both the liquid and solid forms is a filtered aqueous mixture of large organic water soluble molecules and emulsion of fatty acid esters. This mixture may be based on a combination of evaporated whole milk and water. The material also includes a hydroxy compound, such as n-propanol, to control the ultrasonic speed of propagation through the material. A preservative from bacterial invasion, such as thimerosal, is also preferably included in the material. The solid form of the material contains the same material as the liquid form, with a very pure gel-forming material included to form a solid material.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention there is presented an automated system for testing the ability of clinical ultrasound scanners to detect focal lesions in human tissue. An ultrasound scanner phantom containing background material mimicking the ultrasonic characteristics of human tissue and coplanar spherical target lesions ultrasonically contrasting with the background material is scanned using the ultrasound scanner to be tested. Digitized images are made of the ultrasound scan of slices in the ultrasound phantom containing background material only and of slices on which the focal lesions are centered. A lesion signal to noise ratio (SNR).sub.L is then calculated at each defined pixel coordinate in the target lesion slice.

Abstract: Tissue mimicking phantoms for NMR imagers are produced having a base tissue mimicking material enclosed within a sealed container. The base tissue mimicking material is a gel solidified from a mixture of agar, animal hide gelatin, water, glycerol, and anti-bacterial agents such as n-propanol, p-methylbenzoic acid, and formaldehyde. The formaldehyde also serves to cross link the animal hide gel and thereby raise the melting point of the tissue mimicking material to a temperature above normal ambient temperatures. This base tissue mimicking material is stable both in dimensions and NMR properties over long periods of time. Contrast resolution inclusions are formed within the base tissue mimicking material which have T.sub.1, T.sub.2, or both which differ from the corresponding values for the base tissue mimicking material, thereby allowing these inclusions to be imaged and distinguished from the surrounding material.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Tissue mimicking material for use in ultrasound phantoms formulated as a uniform suspension of solid particles of graphite, talc, pumice, polyethylene microspheres, or liquid particles of vegetable oils, kerosine, or combinations thereof described as scatterers in a congealed gelatin-water-alcohol-preservative matrix; containing detergents to create the liquid particles.