Clutter-Generating Phantom Material. Part I: Development of a Tunable, Acoustic Clutter-Generating Layer for Use With Ultrasound Tissue-Mimicking Phantoms

Abstract

Objective

Acoustic clutter is a major source of image degradation for in vivo ultrasound imaging. However, clutter is often not represented in laboratory testing of ultrasound equipment. A phantom material is proposed that can be used to add calibrated amounts of clutter in the laboratory environment.

Methods

Previously, the speed of sound in agar has been adjusted by varying the concentration of propanol to which the agar is exposed. That property was leveraged in this work to create a phantom with an adjustable amount of clutter. Agar spheres were soaked in propanol solution, then strained and placed in mineral oil.

Results

Image quality measurements showed an approximate range of achievable contrast degradation levels of 15 dB. Stability studies with the phantom material showed that it can be stored for at least 21 d after the speed of sound tuning in propanol, but once introduced to mineral oil the clutter will change over time.

Conclusion

This work demonstrates a clutter-generating phantom material that can be used in conjunction with standard ultrasound imaging phantoms.