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. 2020 Apr;33(2):456-464.
doi: 10.1007/s10278-019-00257-5.

Imaging Properties of Additive Manufactured (3D Printed) Materials for Potential Use for Phantom Models

Elizabeth Silvestro  1   2 , Khalil N Betts  3   4 , Michael L Francavilla  3   4   5 , Savvas Andronikou  3   4 , Raymond W Sze  3   4   5
Affiliations

Imaging Properties of Additive Manufactured (3D Printed) Materials for Potential Use for Phantom Models

Elizabeth Silvestro et al. J Digit Imaging. 2020 Apr.

Abstract

Over the last few decades, there has been growing interest in the application of additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing for medical research and clinical application. Imaging phantoms offer clear benefits in the way of training, planning, and quality assurance, but the model's availability per catalog tend to be suited for general testing purposes only. AM, on the contrary, offers flexibility to clinicians by enabling custom-built phantoms based on specific interests or even individual patient needs. This study aims to quantify the radiographic properties (ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and computed tomography) of common additive manufacturing technologies and to discuss potential opportunities to fabricate imaging phantoms. Test phantoms were composed of samples from the three most common AM styles, namely PolyJet, fused deposition modeling (FDM), and stereolithography (SLA). Test imaging of the phantoms was performed on ultrasound, MRI, and CT and reviewed and evaluated with radiology software. The ultrasound images showed clearly defined upper and lower edges of the material but did not demonstrate distinct differences in internal echogenicity between materials. The MR scans revealed a distinct signal intensity difference between the model (17 grayscale value) and the printer support (778 grayscale value). Finally, the CT images showed a slight variation between the plastic (82 HU) and rubber (145 HU) materials. The radiographic properties of AM offer a clear opportunity to create basic two- or three-material phantoms. These would be high-accuracy and cost-effective models. Although the materials currently available are not suitable for complex multi-material applications as realistic as true human anatomy, one can easily foresee the development of new materials with broader density in the near future.

Keywords: 3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Phantoms; Simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Printer Style phantom. Contains the sample part map and images of the phantom under ultrasound, CT, and MRI for the Printer Style phantom
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
PolyJet Phantom. Contains the sample part map and images of the phantom under ultrasound, CT, and MRI for the PolyJet phantom
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sphere Phantom. Contains the sample part map and the image under ultrasound for the Sphere phantom
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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