Open-Source Fully-Programmable Flow Phantom for Doppler Ultrasound
Student Contest:
Yes
Affiliation Type:
Academia
Keywords:
Doppler Ultrasound, Flow Phantom, Carotid Artery, Open Source
Abstract:
Carotid Doppler US (DU) is a vital test for early detection of vascular diseases. Validating new DU devices and algorithms commonly involves commercial DU Phantoms, which are expensive, complex, and lack customizability. To overcome these limitations, we introduce the first low-cost, easy to produce, and open-source DU phantom system. We use silicone rubber with tissue-mimicking properties to create a wall-less channel mimicking the common carotid artery. A syringe-based pump and control electronics are developed to inject blood-mimicking fluid. During operation, the software actuates the pump to achieve the user-defined pulse velocity profile. We validate the phantom with the M-mode (2.25 MHz, 50 FPS) measurements of the channel walls' expansion, and also with the Pulsed Wave Doppler capturing fluid velocity profile. Measurements match the programmed pulsatile pattern, indicating high reproducibility of the pulses (peak velocity = 100 cm/s, 1 s period) and low flow velocity error (RMSE <15%). With an estimated cost of only 400 $ and open-sourced design files, the proposed solution shows the potential to expand access and accelerate the research and development of DU systems.
