Suitability of low density materials for 3D printing of physical breast phantoms.

Suitability of low density materials for 3D printing of physical breast phantoms.
Phys Med Biol. 2018 Jul 12;:
Authors: Ivanov D, Bliznakova K, Buliev I, Popov P, Mettivier G, Russo P, Di Lillo F, Sarno A, Vignero J, Bosmans H, Bravin A, Bliznakov Z
Abstract
Breast physical phantoms are a basic tool for the assessment and verification of performance standards in daily clinical practice of x-ray breast imaging modalities. They are also invaluable in testing and evaluation of new x-ray breast modalities to be potentially established, e.g. breast computed tomography, dual-energy breast CT and phase-contrast mammography and tomography. Nowadays, there is a lack or there are only a limited number of breast physical phantoms available for this purpose.
 The aim of this study is to explore a range of 3D printing materials such as resins, PLA, ABS, Nylon etc., to determine their attenuation and refractive properties, and to finally compare them to the properties of the breast tissues: adipose, glandular and skin.
 To achieve this goal, step-wedge phantoms were computationally modeled and then manufactured using stereolithographic and fused-deposition modeling technologies. X-ray images of the phantoms were acquired, using monochromatic beam at ID17, ESRF, Grenoble for three energies - 30 keV, 45 keV and 60 keV. Experimental data were further processed to obtain the linear attenuation coefficients of these materials. Compariso...

Source: Physics in Medicine and Biology - July 12, 2018 Category: Physics Authors: Ivanov D, Bliznakova K, Buliev I, Popov P, Mettivier G, Russo P, Di Lillo F, Sarno A, Vignero J, Bosmans H, Bravin A, Bliznakov Z Tags: Phys Med Biol Source Type: research