A perfusion phantom for quantitative medical imaging

A perfusion phantom with unique features and a wide variety of applications in MR and other imaging modalities is presented. The phantom is especially suited for tissue perfusion simulation with diffusible and non-diffusible MR tracers. A network of micro-channels in the scale of actual capillaries replicates the blood flow in tissues. Using microfabrication techniques, networks with any desired pattern can be generated. Since the geometry of networks is known, flow rate, delay, dispersion and other fluid parameters can be exactly calculated using finite elements numerical methods. These calculated results can be used to investigate the accuracy of experimental measurements and the precision of mathematical models.