Development and Validation of Multi-Modal Anisotropic 3D-Printed Lattice Phantoms

Project Description

Skeletal muscle and brain tissue are often modeled as anisotropic or transversely isotropic materials. Shear wave elastography and magnetic resonance elastography enable noninvasive, quantitative measurements of the biomechanical properties of soft tissues. But there is an unmet research need to provide the community with calibrated and standardized, tunable, anisotropic elastography phantoms. We present anisotropic composite phantoms: 3D-printed scaled lattice structures embedded in an isotropic background material for characterization using both MR and ultrasound elastography techniques. We will optimize our lattice design parameters to mimic material properties specifically observed in anisotropic soft tissues, and with access to the BioPACIFIC MIP facility we can demonstrate broader applicability of these phantom fabrication protocols.

Instruments