Anthropomorphic mammography and lung phantoms

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention comprises anthropomorphic phantoms for use in conjunction with mammography and lung x-ray applications.
The anthropomorphic phantoms of the present invention address the above described problems and solve other limitations in the current state of the art of ancillary tools employed in mammography and lung x-ray applications.
The present phantoms enhance training and practice of proper patient positioning and patient x-ray exposure.
They also can be used to hone a radiologist's ability to detect irregularities in breast tissue and lung tissue.
They further provide better phantoms for use in calibrating mammography and x-ray equipment.
With the aid of the present phantoms reliability and sensitivity of breast and lung screening examinations may be improved.
The preferred embodiment of the anthropomorphic mammography phantom of the present invention has the shape of an upper torso of a woman including a phantom breast simulator preferably comprising a pair of simulated breasts (which can be substantially similar to or very different from each other) and which can be varied in size and stiffness (from small to large and from stiff to pendulous), density and firmness, compressibility and stretchiness.
The phantom breast simulators are preferably made of materials which mimic the x-ray opacity and density of breast tissue or which have x-ray opacity similar to the x-ray opacity of tissue.
Optionally, density variations representing tissue irregularities can be added to the breast simulators.
Further, the mammography phantom may include a selective attachment mechanism enabling various breast simulators to be attached to and detached from the phantom.
The presently described preferred embodiment lung phantom includes a lung simulator plug which is preferably made of materials which mimic the x-ray opacity of lung tissue or which have x-ray opacity similar to the x-ray opacity of tissue.
Optionally, density variations representing tissue irregularities may be added to the lung simulator plug