A new imaging science phantom for performance evaluation of ultrasonic imaging systems

We have developed a phantom manufactured with thin film techniques that enables precise placement of sub-resolvable "digital scatterers" on an acoustically transparent supporting medium within the scan plane of an ultrasound system. This technique permits formation of sophisticated test targets commonly used in imaging science. These phantoms can reveal the combined influence of all the stages in the imaging chain, as well as demonstrate imaging phenomenon that are difficult or not feasible to evaluate with conventional ultrasound phantoms. Use of half-tone mask techniques permit the specification of placement, pattern and statistical distribution of these "digital scatterers" necessary to produce images with definable gray scale characteristics. We have also been able to produce controlled stimulus sources for Doppler and color flow Doppler evaluation.