Tunable blood oxygenation in the vascular anatomy of a semi-anthropomorphic photoacoustic breast phantom

Significance: Recovering accurate oxygenation estimations in the breast with quantitative photoacoustic tomography (QPAT) is not straightforward. Accurate light fluence models are required, but unknown ground truth of makes it difficult to validate them. Phantoms often used for validation, most reported phantoms have a simple architecture. Fluence developed these simplistic objects application on complex tissues breast. Aim: We present sophisticated phantom platform (PA) and ultrasound (US) imaging general, specifically QPAT. The semi-anthropomorphic distribution optical acoustic properties contains wall-less channels blood. Approach: 3D printing approaches develop solid from custom polyvinyl chloride plastisol formulations additives replicating tissue properties. A flow circuit was flush bovine blood controlled oxygen saturation level. To showcase phantom’s functionality, PA measurements were performed two levels. Image reconstructions without compensation Monte Carlo simulations analyzed accuracy estimations. Results: design aspects phantom, demonstrate how developed, its breast-like appearance US imaging. saturations estimated regions interest using models. positively influenced SO2 all cases confirmed that highly required minimize estimation errors. Conclusions: This allows studies be carefully laboratory settings recover both qualitative features sought after in-vivo studies. believe testing this complexity can streamline transition new technologies clinic.