Design and manufacturing of a dynamically deformable liver phantom for radiotherapy

Sahin S., Ozen S. K., Ertan F., Şahiner E.

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, vol.215, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 215
  • Publication Date: 2025
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2024.111561
  • Journal Name: Applied Radiation and Isotopes
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, INSPEC, MEDLINE, Pollution Abstracts
  • Keywords: Deformation, Liver phantom, Motion, Radiotherapy, Respiration
  • Ankara University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Phantoms representing anatomical deformations are necessary to investigate and improve dynamic treatments. In this study, we aimed to produce a deformable liver phantom by simulating respiratory motion. The dynamically DEformable Liver Phantom (DELP) is designed to create a human-specific respiratory model and to produce synchronised, repeatable motion with this model. For the deformation effect of this movement, an artificial liver was created using silicone material and mold. A stepper motor was used to compress the liver in the inferior direction according to an adjustable respiratory motion. Reference markers (fiducial) placed on the DELP helped to verify the movement and calculate the deformation. In dynamic deformation tests, the greatest amount of deformation was found in the edge region of the silicone liver. The average deformation was 3.45 ± 0.93 mm when 5 mm amplitude movement was applied and 5.98 ± 0.01 mm when 10 mm amplitude movement was applied. DELP is a deformable liver phantom with motion reproducibility. Its performance in radiotherapy application was evaluated using dosimetric equipment.