Development of an anatomically realistic renal flow phantom

Objectives: Ultrasound flow phantoms are used to test both the accuracy of the ultrasound scanners (maximum velocity estimation) and the physical assumptions (mean tissue speed of sound, flow profile of blood). They contain vessel, tissue and blood mimicking structures and a computer controlled pump system. Despite the availability of a variety of flow phantoms none currently exists which mimics the renal vasculature. The novel aspect of this study is the development of an anatomically realistic renal flow phantom with the ability to mimic the geometry of a stenosis in the renal artery. Methods: Computer-aided m…