Phantom system for intraluminal x-ray imaging of the human colon

The Check-Cap capsule, C-Scan Cap, performs intraluminal imaging of the human colon based on X-Ray scatter processes. Basic performance of such a system can be demonstrated using various tube-like phantom objects. Also, from a perspective of capsule dynamics, actuators can and have been used for capsule manipulation. Nevertheless the actual situation of a capsule in use is extremely complex, both in terms of the imaging-target object itself and the capsule dynamics within the same. In order to allow study of imaging system performance in a pseudo-clinical environment, a specialized phantom system has been developed. A tissue-equivalent material has been developed in-house, so as to allow simple usage and flexibility for making a wide variety of phantoms, simple tubes as well as extremely complex segments of the human colon which can possibly demonstrate adenomas. The material itself is durable, flexible, and very similar to water in terms of X-Ray scattering. Based on real abdominal CT images, real colon segments have been extracted to become 3D molds, which were used for producing a set of pseudo-clinical human colon segments. In the aspect of capsule and colon dynamics, capsule propulsion within these phantoms is based on the contents, i.e. capsule is hydro-dynamically propelled by surrounding medium rather than actuators. In addition, a system for generating peristaltic contractions along these colon segments has been developed; this system allows stimulation of the colon and the capsule within using arbitrary programmable contraction waves. This phantom system allows demonstration of pseudoclinical imaging scenarios in the lab.