An arterial wall motion test phantom for the evaluation of wall motion software

Steven J Hammer, Judith Dineley, William J Easson, Peter R Hoskins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Increasing cardiovascular disease has led to new ultrasound methods of assessing artery disease such as arterial wall motion measurement. To validate arterial wall motion software, we developed a mechanically-controlled wall motion test phantom with straight upper and lower agar tissue mimicking material layers that resemble an artery cross section. The wall separation, displacements and wall velocities and accelerations can be controlled within physiologically realistic levels. A user-definable displacement or one of several pre-defined displacement waveforms can be created by the user with custom-written software. The test phantom is then controlled using the defined waveform with a stepper motor controller. Accuracy assessment of the test phantom with a laser vibrometer yielded a positional accuracy of 36+/-2 microm. A typical application of the test phantom is demonstrated by assessing a tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) method for estimating the distension waveform. The TDI-based method was found to have a minimum resolvable displacement of 22.5 microm, and a measurement accuracy of +/-8% using a physiological wall motion movement with a peak displacement of 689 microm. The accuracy of the TDI method was found to decrease with decreasing wall displacement and increasing wall velocity.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1504-11
Number of pages8
JournalUltrasound in Medicine and Biology
Volume33
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2007

Keywords

  • Arteries
  • Humans
  • Image Processing, Computer-Assisted
  • Models, Cardiovascular
  • Movement
  • Phantoms, Imaging
  • Software
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler

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