Dosimetric characterization of 3D printed phantoms at different infill percentages for diagnostic X-ray energy range

Villani, D.; Rodrigues, Orlando; Campos, L.L.

doi:10.1016/j.radphyschem.2020.108728

Cited by 11 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…To examine the best infill density for the imitation of lung tissue, an additional series of PLA samples was produced for five different infill factors (25%, 30%, 35%, 40%, and 45%) using a grid infill structure. PLA was used, since it has been proven as equivalent to skeletal muscle 12 , which in turn is comparable in its atomic composition to lung tissue 19 . However, the boundary of the samples with reduced densities must inevitably be printed in full density (as shown in Figure 1b).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In previous studies, various FDM materials were characterized primarily with respect to their attenuation behavior only, either by an analysis of CT densities given in Hounsfield units (HU) [4][5][6][7][8][9] or direct measurements of attenuation coefficients. [10][11][12][13] It was found that many thermoplastic FDM materials have HU values between −80 and 340 HU, which make them interesting as tissue substitutes. 7 By decreasing the infill density of printed objects, this range could be expanded down to −800 HU 5 offering the possibility to approximate the CT density of lung tissue.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, the characterization of materials regarding their attenuation and absorption properties is of great importance. In previous studies, various FDM materials were characterized primarily with respect to their attenuation behavior only, either by an analysis of CT densities given in Hounsfield units (HU) 4‐9 or direct measurements of attenuation coefficients 10–13 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…8 The direct comparison of attenuation coefficients of printed materials with reference values for body tissues, like the ones given in the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) xcom database 15 , indicated that PLA and chlorinated polyethylene (PE) are suitable muscle equivalents.Furthermore,acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), Nylon, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) can be used as adipose tissue substitutes in the diagnostic energy range. 11,12 Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and a wooden composite material proved suitable as substitute for some soft tissue organs. 10 A core problem of all mentioned studies was that no suitable equivalent for cortical bone was found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Tissue equivalence of 3D printing materials with respect to attenuation and absorption of X‐rays used for diagnostic and interventional imaging

et al. 2022

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Introduction Three‐dimensional printing is a promising technology to produce phantoms for quality assurance and dosimetry in X‐ray imaging. Crucial to this, however, is the use of tissue equivalent printing materials. It was thus the aim of this study to evaluate the properties of a larger number of commercially available printing filaments with respect to their attenuation and absorption of X‐rays. Materials and methods Apparent kerma attenuation coefficients (AKACs) and absorbed doses for different X‐ray spectra (tube voltages, 70–140 kV) were measured and simulated by Monte‐Carlo computations for a larger number of fused‐deposition‐modeling (FDM) materials. The results were compared with the respective values simulated for reference body tissues. In addition, the properties of polylactide acid samples printed with reduced infill densities were investigated. Results Measured and simulated AKACs and absorbed doses agreed well with each other and in case of AKACs also with attenuation coefficients derived from the reference database of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). For lung, adipose, muscle, and bulk soft tissue as well as for spongiosa (cancellous bone), printed materials with equivalent attenuation as well as absorption properties could be identified. In contrast, none of the considered printed materials was equivalent to cortical bone. Conclusion Several FDM materials have been identified as well‐suited substitutes for body tissues in terms of the investigated material characteristics. They can therefore be used for in‐house production of individualized and task‐specific phantoms for image quality assessment and dose measurements in X‐ray imaging.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Tissue equivalence of 3D printing materials with respect to attenuation and absorption of X‐rays used for diagnostic and interventional imaging

et al. 2022

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“…3D printing has provided many research opportunities related to the development of radiographic QC devices [10][11][12][13] (e.g., radiochromic filmstrip holder set tools, X-ray beam alignment and collimation tools), phantoms for positron emission tomography [14,15], single photon emission tomography imaging [16] and radiotherapy [17]. In addition, the diverse infill percentages are known to change the behavior of 3D printed materials for X-ray attenuation [18][19][20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attenuation properties of common 3D printed FFF plastics for mammographic applications

Oliveira

Savi²,

Andrade³

et al. 2022

Braz. J. Rad. Sci.

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The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polylactic acid (PLA) 3D printing filaments as materials for mammography phantom construction, comparing their attenuation properties at two different set-ups: at a Calibration Laboratory and directly to a mammography unit. The attenuation of 3D printed test phantoms of two types of common 3D printing Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) filaments (ABS and PLA) were characterized in comparison with polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA). The measurements were carried out with standard IEC 61267 X-rays, using RQR 2-M and RQR 4-M beam qualities at the Instruments Calibration Laboratory, and then applied to a mammography unit, with measurements with 28 kVp and 35 kVp. Attenuation characteristics evaluated indicates the suitable equivalence of PLA to PMMA for 3D printing breast tissue equivalent complex phantoms. The plastic materials used in this study suggest that the FFF technique may be suitable for mammography phantom development.

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Methodology for computed tomography characterization of commercially available 3D printing materials for use in radiology/radiation oncology

Kozee

Weygand

Andreozzi

et al. 2023

J Applied Clin Med Phys

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3D printing in medical physics provides opportunities for creating patientspecific treatment devices and in-house fabrication of imaging/dosimetry phantoms. This study characterizes several commercial fused deposition 3D printing materials with some containing nonstandard compositions. It is important to explore their similarities to human tissues and other materials encountered in patients. Uniform cylinders with infill from 50 to 100% at six evenly distributed intervals were printed using 13 different filaments. A novel approach rotating infill angle 10 o between each layer avoids unwanted patterns. Five materials contained high-Z/metallic components. A clinical CT scanner with a range of tube potentials (70, 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp) was used. Density and average Hounsfield unit (HU) were measured.A commercial GAMMEX phantom mimicking various human tissues provides a comparison. Utility of the lookup tables produced is demonstrated. A methodology for calibrating print materials/parameters for a desired HU is presented. Density and HU were determined for all materials as a function of tube voltage (kVp) and infill percentage. The range of HU (−732.0-10047.4 HU) and physical densities (0.36-3.52 g/cm 3 ) encompassed most tissues/materials encountered in radiology/radiotherapy applications with many overlapping those of human tissues. Printing filaments doped with high-Z materials demonstrated increased attenuation due to the photoelectric effect with decreased kVp, as found in certain endogenous materials (e.g., bone). HU was faithfully reproduced (within one standard deviation) in a 3D-printed mimic of a commercial anthropomorphic phantom section. Characterization of commercially available 3D print materials facilitates custom object fabrication for use in radiology and radiation oncology, including human tissue and common exogenous implant mimics. This allows for cost reduction and increased flexibility to fabricate novel phantoms or patient-specific devices imaging and dosimetry purposes. A formalism for calibrating to specific CT scanner, printer, and filament type/batch is presented. Utility is demonstrated by printing a commercial anthropomorphic phantom copy. Jasmine A. Graham and Gage Redler contributed equally to this work.

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Dosimetric characterization of 3D printed phantoms at different infill percentages for diagnostic X-ray energy range

Cited by 11 publications

References 8 publications

Tissue equivalence of 3D printing materials with respect to attenuation and absorption of X‐rays used for diagnostic and interventional imaging

Tissue equivalence of 3D printing materials with respect to attenuation and absorption of X‐rays used for diagnostic and interventional imaging

Attenuation properties of common 3D printed FFF plastics for mammographic applications

Methodology for computed tomography characterization of commercially available 3D printing materials for use in radiology/radiation oncology

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