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. 2015;6(3):225-8.
doi: 10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2015.03.012.

A novel and inexpensive ballistic gel phantom for ultrasound training

Richard Amini  1 , Jeffrey Z Kartchner  2 , Lori A Stolz  1 , David Biffar  3 , Allan J Hamilton  3 , Srikar Adhikari  1
Affiliations

A novel and inexpensive ballistic gel phantom for ultrasound training

Richard Amini et al. World J Emerg Med. 2015.

Abstract

Background: Ultrasonography use is increasing in emergency departments, and ultrasound education is now recommended in resident training. Ultrasound phantoms are used in many institutions for training purposes. The purpose of this study is to describe an inexpensive and simple method to create ultrasound-imaging models for the purpose of education and practice using clear ballistic gel.

Methods: Clear ballistic gel is used to simulate tissue for firing practice and other military evaluations.

Results: The transparent and durable ultrasound phantom we produced was clear and contained four vessel lumens. The images obtained using the phantom were of high quality and compared well to normal sonographic anatomy.

Conclusions: The clear ballistic brand gel is unique because it is inexpensive, does not dry out, does not decay, is odorless, and is reusable. The ultrasound images obtained using the phantom are realistic and useful for ultrasound education.

Keywords: Emergency Medicine; Medical education; Phantoms; Teaching materials; Ultrasonography; imaging; interventional.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest: The authors declare that there are no competing interest and relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence their work.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Materials necessary for this phantom.
Figure 2
Figure 2
One-inch cubes of ballistic gel.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Melting ballistic gel in oven safe glassware.
Figure 4
Figure 4
A plastic food storage container with plumbing tubing threaded through holes.
Figure 5
Figure 5
The plastic container placed with plumbing tubing on ice.
Figure 6
Figure 6
The melted gel poured into the plastic container.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Gel model with four phantom lumens.
Figure 8
Figure 8
One side of the gel tilted out of the model’s container in order to fill the lumens with liquid.
Figure 9
Figure 9
Ultrasound image of clear ballistic phantom with a needle in vessel.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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    1. Kendall JL, Faragher JP. Ultrasound-guided central venous access: a homemade phantom for simulation. CJEM. 2007;9:371–373. - PubMed

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