Design of a kidney phantom for ultrasound imaging

Ultrasound imaging is routinely used to diagnose and monitor the progression of kidney disease. It supports evaluation of the presence of abnormal formations such as stones, cysts, and tumors, and also the performance of various manipulations under ultrasound guidance. However, the effectiveness of an investigation depends largely on the qualifications of the sonologist. Training using phantoms increases qualifications. This article discusses the creation of a kidney phantom which can be used as a standalone training tool or as part of a more complex phantom, such as a torso model. This phantom is made of a durable material which is not susceptible to drying out or bacteria. It consists of models of the pelvis with Malpighian pyramids and cortex and contains kidney stones and focal formations. The acoustic characteristics of the phantom tissue are in the range of values characteristic of human tissues, namely, the speed of sound and the attenuation coefficient in the cortical layer model are 1530 m/sec and 0.35 dB/cm/MHz. The phantom supports development of skills in assessing the size, shape, and structure of the kidney and those of diagnosing stones and focal formations, and will be useful in advanced training courses for ultrasound diagnostic doctors.