Phantom for comparing flow rates obtained with Doppler US and MR imaging

When in vivo quantitative flow studies are performed with magnetic resonance (MR), imaging and Doppler ultrasound, a means for testing the accuracy of the measurement techniques is necessary. The authors have devised a nonferrous, tissue-mimicking phantom in which various sizes, configurations, and angles of tubing may be used. Removable ultrasonic tissue-mimicking material composed of graphite gel particles suspended in propanol and water allows tube pulsation simulating normal vasculature. With MR imaging, other materials such as water may be used. A reservoir of simulated blood and a high-speed peristaltic pump allows flow rates of up to 3.5 L/min. This newly designed phantom is easy to use and facilitates multimodality analysis of flow phenomena