Agar-based Phantom for Evaluating Targeting of High-intensity Focused Ultrasound Systems for Breast Ablation

Phantoms are often utilized for the preclinical evaluation of novel high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) systems, serving as valuable tools for validating efficacy. In the present study, the feasibility of a homogeneous agar-based breast-shaped phantom as a tool for the preclinical evaluation of HIFU systems dedicated to breast cancer was assessed. Specifically, the effect of the increased phantom curvature on temperature increase was examined through sonications executed on two sides having varied curvatures.

Assessment was performed utilizing a 1.1 MHz focused transducer. Sonications on the two phantom sides were executed at varied acoustical power in both a laboratory setting and inside a 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging scanner. Sonications were independently performed on two identical phantoms for repeatability purposes.

Temperature changes between 7.1°C-34.3°C and 5.1°C-21.5°C were recorded within the decreased and increased curvature sides, respectively, for acoustical power of 3.75-10 W. High-power sonications created lesions which were approximately symmetrically formed around the focal point at the decreased curvature side, while they were shifted away from the focal point at the increased curvature side.

The present findings indicate that increased curvature of the breast phantom results in deformed focal shapes and decreased temperatures induced at the focal area, thus suggesting treatment correction requirements in the form of focus control or accurate robotic movement. The developed breast-shaped phantom can be utilized as an evaluation tool of HIFU systems dedicated to breast cancer since it can visually verify the efficacy of any system.