Stable and Lifelong Head Phantoms Using Polymer Composition Mimicking Materials to Test Electromagnetic Medical Imaging Systems

Phantoms are critical items for testing and evaluating new prototypes of electromagnetic medical imaging systems. Realistic tissues distribution, size, shape, and dielectric properties of tissue-mimicking materials across the desired frequency band; in addition, long-term stability is required. In this study, a polymer composition that use to develop head tissues-mimicking materials that satisfy the aforementioned requirements. Polyepoxides (Epoxy), and assorted types of micro scale additive, including graphite, aluminium oxide, carbon black, and brass powders, are used to fabricate the phantom. Different mixing ratios are used to mimic four healthy head tissues; white matter, grey matter, skull, and skin. Blood-mimicking material is also included in the unhealthy phantom to represent stroke (hemorrhagic) at different locations and sizes. Also, water-based mimicking material is used to emulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tissue. The measurements confirm close agreement to properties of actual head tissues across the frequency band 0.5-5 GHz, which has been used in the ongoing research activities of electromagnetic head imaging systems. Stability over time is investigated and compared with the widely used gelatin-in water-based mimicking materials. The results show the superiority of the developed phantom compared to currently using gelatin-based phantoms.