A multimodal complex flow phantom for diagnostic imaging

This work builds on U/S flow phantom expertise being developed by the Medical Physics group at Sheffield [1,2]. The project will consist of the following tasks with effort estimated by project month.
Background and literature review (M1-M4) Review of the literature pertaining to calibration of quantitative diagnostic imaging technologies for measurement of physiological flows. This will cover flow theory, phantom design and construction, compliance with recognised standards, application in a clinical context, issues of IPR etc.
Clinical imaging techniques, computational and experimental flow field assessment (M5-M12) A fundamental understanding of flow imaging methods using X-ray, U/S, MRI and the current state-of-the-art in phantoms for clinical assessment will underpin early work strengthened by visits to clinical units. The student will also be introduced to fluid dynamics (and CFD in particular) for theoretical description of the ring vortex flows that are implicit to the phantom design. This will be complemented by initial development of idealised experimental systems that provide familiarity with ring vortex production and behaviour, leading to an initial design concept for the phantom by the end of Year 1.
Prototype phantom construction and testing (M13-M24) This activity will benefit from the design and manufacturing expertise of Leeds Test Objects (LTO, phantom manufacturer with X years expertise in the field, who provide phantoms to over Y healthcare clients). LTO will provide guidance in the design constraints associated with operation in X-ray, MRI and U/S environments and adherence to appropriate standards (e.g. BS EN 61685:2002, IEC 61685:2001). Limitations imposed by the MRI environment in particular, suggest a hydraulically driven mechanism for generating reproducible complex flows. For calibration purposes reproducibility of the dynamic full flow field must be extremely well characterised and the tolerances within which this can be achieved will be established (using a combination of CFD and experimental flow visualization). Successful construction and characterisation of the flow phantom prototype is anticipated by the end of Year 2, so that its application to clinical technology can be investigated during Year 3.
Phantom deployment for benchmarking of clinical imaging systems (M15-M36) The phantom delivered at M24 will be used to evaluate imaging systems in the NHS alongside established methods. A critical comparison of these varied approaches and their implications for reliably imaging physiological/pathological complex flows for diagnostic purposes will provide high quality data to support a high-impact publication. In addition to these scientific outputs this phase of the project will deliver, in partnership with LTO, materials suitable for marketing the unique features of the complex flow phantom as a general, clinically relevant, flow test object.
Exploitation plan and thesis finalisation (M37-M42) The final period of the project will focus on finalisation of the PhD thesis, but will also deliver any recommendations for improved design based on the outcomes of the clinical benchmarking exercise and a strategy for exploitation (IPR, patenting). Due to the translational nature of the project these latter aspects are expected to contribute to the last chapter of the thesis.