# US 10,481,234 B2 · Three-dimensional printing of phantoms for medical imaging

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,481,234 B2
- Document ID: US10481234B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/532,615
- Filed: 2015-02-23
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2015-02-23
- Assignees: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Applicants: Siemens Healthcare GmbH
- Inventors: Bernhard Geiger; Shaohua Kevin Zhou
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10481234B2

## CPC

- G01R 33/58: Calibration of imaging systems, e.g. using test probes {, Phantoms; Calibration objects or fiducial markers such as active or passive RF coils surrounding an MR active material}
- A61B 6/582: {Calibration}
- A61B 6/583: {using calibration phantoms}
- A61B 6/584: {determining position of components of the apparatus or device using images of the phantom}
- A61B 6/585: {Calibration of detector units}
- A61B 8/587: {Calibration phantoms}
- B29C 64/112: using individual droplets, e.g. from jetting heads
- B29C 64/393: for controlling or regulating additive manufacturing processes
- B33Y 10/00: Processes of additive manufacturing
- B33Y 80/00: Products made by additive manufacturing
- G09B 23/286: {for scanning or photography techniques, e.g. X-rays, ultrasonics}
- G09B 23/30: Anatomical models {(G09B23/281 - G09B23/288 take precedence)}
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B33Y: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING, i.e. MANUFACTURING OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL [3D] OBJECTS BY ADDITIVE DEPOSITION, ADDITIVE AGGLOMERATION OR ADDITIVE LAYERING, e.g. BY 3D PRINTING, STEREOLITHOGRAPHY OR SELECTIVE LASER SINTERING
- G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B)

## Abstract

A medical imaging phantom (18) is three-dimensionally printed (36). In one specific approach, three-dimensional printing (36) allows for any number of variations in phantoms (18). A library of different phantoms (18), different inserts, different textures, different densities, different organs, different pathologies, different sizes, different shapes, and/or other differences allows for defining a specific phantom (18) as needed. The defined phantom (18) is then printed (36) for calibration or other use in medical imaging.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for three-dimensional printing of a medical imaging phantom, the method comprising:
receiving, using a database, a selection of an organ phantom from a library of organ phantoms;
three-dimensionally printing, with a three-dimensional printer, the selected organ phantom; and
calibrating a medical imaging system with the three-dimensionally printed organ phantom.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as a type of organ where the library includes a plurality of the types of organs represented in a three-dimensional printing format.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as a first organ where the library includes a plurality of organs of a same type as the first organ, each of the organs of the plurality, including the first organ, having different pathology.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as the organ phantom with a first insert, the library including a plurality of selectable inserts including the first insert.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving the selection with the plurality of inserts comprising an unnatural shape for an organ represented by the organ phantom.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4 wherein receiving the selection comprises receiving the selection with the plurality of inserts comprising natural pathologies for an organ represented by the organ phantom.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as of the organ phantom with selected size, thickness, texture, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the selected organ phantom is defined with layers of anatomic structure, and wherein three-dimensionally printing comprises printing the layers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein the selected organ phantom is defined with one or more densities, and wherein three-dimensionally printing comprises printing the printed organ phantom as having the one or more densities.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 further comprising:
scanning the organ phantom with the medical imaging system;
altering a print file defining the organ phantom in response to scan data from the scanning; and
re-printing the organ phantom with the altered print file.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as the organ phantom based on a segmentation from a medical scan.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein calibrating comprises scanning the printed organ phantom and altering a setting of the medical imaging system based on results of the scanning.

### Claim 13

A method for three-dimensional printing of a medical imaging phantom, the method comprising:
receiving, using a database, a selection of an organ phantom from a library of organ phantoms;
three-dimensionally printing, with a three-dimensional printer, the selected organ phantom; and
calibrating a medical imaging system with the three-dimensionally printed organ phantom, wherein calibrating comprises determining a resolution using the printed organ phantom, identifying a characteristic of an imaging artifact using the printed organ phantom, configuring the medical imaging system for quantitative measurements using the printed organ phantom, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as a type of organ where the library includes a plurality of the types of organs represented in a three-dimensional printing format.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as a first organ where the library includes a plurality of organs of a same type as the first organ, each of the organs of the plurality, including the first organ, having different pathology.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as the organ phantom with a first insert, the library including a plurality of selectable inserts including the first insert, the plurality of inserts comprising an unnatural shape for an organ represented by the organ phantom.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein receiving comprises receiving the selection as of the organ phantom with selected size, thickness, texture, or combinations thereof.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 wherein the selected organ phantom is defined with layers of anatomic structure and/or one or more densities, and wherein three-dimensionally printing comprises printing the layers and/or having the one or more densities.

### Claim 19 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising:
scanning the organ phantom with the medical imaging system;
altering a print file defining the organ phantom in response to scan data from the scanning; and
re-printing the organ phantom with the altered print file.