Multi-Energy CT Phantom

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Multi-Energy CT Phantom

Ensure the performance and consistency of your multi-energy scans.

  • Features 19 inserts representing different dimensions and concentrations of iodine, calcium, blood, adipose and other materials of particular interest to Multi-Energy CT (MECT)
  • Enables comprehensive tests of Multi-Energy CT Scanner performance


In collaboration with The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Gammex has developed a phantom to enable robust evaluation of Multi-Energy CT Scanner performance.

Multi-Energy CT Scanners have enabled improved clinical differentiations, such as distinguishing blood from calcification and calcification from iodinated contrast.1,2 They can also create virtual mono-energetic images for clinical evaluation. However, the ability to achieve these benefits can greatly depend not only on one’s equipment, but also on the protocols used.

The Multi-Energy CT Phantom will enable robust evaluation of scanner performance.

  • Test material discrimination using solid rods representing iodine, calcium, blood, adipose, and more
  • Ensure the efficacy of clinical protocols for multi-energy analysis
  • Verify the quantitative accuracy of multi-energy scans
  • Compare the consistency and stability across different scanners
  • Check for artifacts in an extended field-of-view
  • Test in both head (20 cm) and body (40 cm x 30 cm) configurations

Ensure the accuracy you need

Accuracy can vary based upon scanner hardware, the dual energy post-processing, and the mAs used. Without an appropriate phantom, neither scanner accuracy nor variability are well known. Use of the calibrated high-Z inserts enables such quantification. Additionally, protocols that appropriately balance patient dose with system performance can be identified.

S2 Graph 1

2mg/mL iodine rod quantification accuracy by mAs for 10 fast-kVp switching Multi-Energy CT scanners. Accuracy averaged over a 1 year period.

Enhance confidence in your virtual mono-energetic images.

Monochromatic HU numbers have been shown to vary between scanners.3 Moreover, the performance of multi-energy algorithms can be compromised by insufficient mAs. By utilizing a tissue-mimicking material that replicates expected HU dependencies from 40-200 keV, the Multi-Energy CT Phantom lets you quantify these effects and define effective operating parameters.

Evaluate an extended field-of-view

The ACR Quality Control Manual recommends checking for artifacts in a larger phantom on a weekly or monthly basis. The 40 cm extended field size of the Multi-Energy CT phantom enables this artifact check to be performed concurrently with other evaluations, efficiently fitting into your workflow.

S3 Graph 1

Average soft tissue monoenergetic HU for 50, 70, 110, and 140 keV reconstructions versus mAs, averaged over a 1 year period. Protocols left of the red dashed line were insufficient to provide reliable HU values.

S3 Graph 2

HU values of iodinated rod for mono-energetic reconstructions. Calculated values based on material compositions and NIST values (blue curve) vs HU values from mono-energetic reconstructions (red circles).

Specifications

In-plane Dimensions: 40.0 cm (15.7 in) x 30.0 cm (11.8 in)
Depth: 16.5 cm (6.3 in), up to 26.5 cm (10.2 in) with extension plates
Diameter of Removable Head Section: 20.0 cm (7.87 in)
Material: HE CT Solid Water®
Interchangeable Inserts: 18 solid inserts plus 1 true water container, each tagged with a CT-visible rod identification code
4 Iodine Inserts with Variable Concentrations: 4 inserts with concentrations of 2.0, 5.0, 10.0, and 15.0 mg/mL
3 Iodine Inserts with Variable Diameters: 5.0 mg/mL concentration at diameters of 2.0, 5.0, and 10.0 mm
3 Calcium Inserts: Calcium concentrations of 50, 100, and 300 mg/mL
3 Blood [iron] Inserts: Blood-mimicking material at relative electron densities of 1.03, 1.07, and 1.10
2 Blood [iron] with Iodine Inserts: Blood-mimicking material plus iodine at 2.0 and 4.0 mg/mL
3 Tissue-Mimicking Inserts: High-Equivalency Brain, High-Equivalency Adipose, High-Equivalency CT Solid Water
Weight: 15.5 kg (34.1 lbs)
Case: Wheeled case is included
Stand: Stand is included

Accessories

S5 Case Stand

A wheeled case and stand are included with your Multi-Energy CT Phantom.

DATA PROVIDED BY UT MD ANDERSON

  • 1 Nute JL, Jacobsen MC, Chandler A, Cody DD, Schellinghout D, Dual-Energy Computed Tomography for the Characterization of Intracranial Hemorrhage and Calcification: A Systematic Approach in a Phantom System. Invest Radiol. 2016; Jul 1
  • 2 Knoss N, Hoffman B, Krauss B, et al. Dual energy computed tomography of lung nodules: Differentiation of iodine and calcium in artificial pulmonary nodules in vitro. Eur J Radiology. 2011; 80(3): E516-519
  • 3 Mileto A, Barina A, Marin D, Stinnett S, Choudhury K, Wilson J, Nelson R Virtual monochromatic images from dual-energy multidetector CT: Variance in CT numbers from the same lesion between single-source projection-based and dual-source image-based implementations Radiology 2016 (in press)

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