Patent ID: 6675035
Filing Date: 2004-01-06
Classification: G01R,G09B

Abstract:
A breast-shaped phantom for imaging by both a standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device and an optical imaging device, which is evaluated using images of the phantom made by the MRI device and the optical imaging device, comprising:a) a cup in the shape of a female breast in its natural pendant position when the female is positioned prone face down with her breast hanging freely, said cup for forming an outer skin of said phantom having a thickness similar to human skin and having optical transparency at selected optical wavelengths similar to human skin, said cup having an internal volume; b) a filler material occupying the volume of said cup, said filler material having an optical scattering and absorption characteristics to simulate a human breast tissue when imaged by the optical imaging device; and c) said filler material being detectable by magnetic resonance imaging thereby to create a MRI image as a standard for comparison with an image generated by the optical imaging device under evaluation.