Cardiac phantom

An apparatus for simulating a dynamic cardiac ventricle, comprising:

• two concentrically-disposed, fluid-tight, flexible membranes, a closed space defined between the walls of the membranes;
• a pump operatively connected to the inner membrane for reciprocally delivering a volume of fluid to the inner membrane to inflate and deflate both membranes in simulating systole and diastole of a heart;
• a medium disposed within the closed space defined between the walls of the membranes for maintaining a uniform distance between the walls of the membranes during inflation and deflation, the membranes being cylinders having different diameters and closed at one end;
• a rigid fluid tube operatively connecting the pump and the inner membrane, the inner membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over an end of the tube,
• a collar for mounting around the joined ends of the tube and inner membrane, the outer membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over the collar,
• an o-ring for mounting around the joined collar and outer membrane, the collar having a circumferential groove for receiving the o-ring, and
• a clamp for mounting around the joined ends of the collar and outer membrane.

A phantom for evaluation of a medical imaging system, the phantom comprising:

• a closed container of fluid;
• a simulated dynamic cardiac ventricle disposed within the container, the cardiac ventricle including
• two concentrically-disposed, fluid-tight, flexible membranes, a closed space defined between the walls of the membranes, and
• a medium disposed within the closed space defined between the walls of the membranes for maintaining a uniform distance between the walls of the membranes during inflation and deflation;
• and
• a fluid delivery system including a pump between the container of fluid and the inner membrane for reciprocating the same volume of fluid between the container and the inner membrane to inflate and to deflate both membranes in simulating systole and diastole of a heart, so that there is no net displacement of fluid in the phantom during contraction and expansion of the ventricle and there is no pressure change.

A phantom for evaluation of a medical imaging system, the phantom comprising:

• a closed container of fluid;
• a simulated dynamic cardiac ventricle disposed within the container, the cardiac ventricle including
• two concentrically-disposed, fluid-tight, flexible membranes, a closed space defined between the walls of the membranes, and
• a medium disposed within the closed space defined between the walls of the membranes for maintaining a uniform distance between the walls of the membranes during inflation and deflation;
• a fluid delivery system including a pump between the container of fluid and the inner membrane for reciprocating a volume of fluid between the container and the inner membrane to inflate and deflate both membranes in simulating systole and diastole of a heart, the membranes being open-ended ellipsoids of different diameters;
• a rigid fluid tube for connecting one port of the pump and the inner membrane, the inner membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over an end of the tube;
• a collar for mounting around the joined ends of the tube and inner membrane, the outer membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over the collar;
• an o-ring for mounting around the joined collar and outer membrane, the collar having a circumferential groove for receiving the o-ring:
• and
• a clamp for mounting around the joined ends of the collar and outer membrane.

A phantom for evaluation of a medical imaging system, the phantom comprising:

• a closed container of fluid;
• a simulated dynamic cardiac ventricle disposed within the container, the cardiac ventricle including
• two concentrically-disposed, fluid-tight, flexible membranes, a closed space defined between the walls of the membranes, and
• a medium disposed within the closed space defined between the walls of the membranes for maintaining a uniform distance between the walls of the membranes during inflation and deflation;
• a fluid delivery system including a pump between the container of fluid and the inner membrane for reciprocating a volume of fluid between the container and the inner membrane to inflate and deflate both membranes in simulating systole and diastole of a heart, the membranes being cylinders having different diameters and closed at one end;
• a rigid fluid tube for connecting one port of the pump and the inner membrane, the inner membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over an end of the tube;
• a collar for mounting around the joined ends of the tube and inner membrane, the outer membrane having sufficient diameter to fit over the collar;
• an o-ring for mounting around the joined collar and outer membrane, the collar having a circumferential groove for receiving the o-ring;
• and
• a clamp for mounting around the joined ends of the collar and outer membrane.