(1) US Patent #5196343
USE OF THE PHANTOM (CONTINUED)
1. Remove phantom from the case.
2. Scan using normal abdominal scan protocol for Ultrasound, MRI, or CT.
3. Phantom can be biopsied.
4. For best results under ultrasound, scan under a low gain setting. Due to the low
attenuation coefficient of the gel, microbubbles may be present in the background,
especially around the lesion cluster, that are highly visible under high gain. Our
pass/fail criteria allow the presence of these microbubbles so long as they do not
interfere with the ability to detect the lesions inside the gel.
CARE AND HANDLING
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Clean phantom with provided wipes. Mild soap and water may also be used, but
avoid solvent or abrasive cleaning agents.
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Some permanent tracking may be evident if debris and air bubbles are entrained in
the gel during the biopsy procedure, so the use of higher gauge needles that have
been wetted and de-aired prior to insertion is recommended to extend the lifetime
of the phantom.
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For maximum product lifetime, store the phantom in the provided carry case.
Standard room temperature and humidity is acceptable for storage. Sub-freezing
temperatures should be avoided during shipping, as the freeze-thaw cycle may
damage housing integrity and displace the targets. High temperatures may ac-
celerate desiccation. If signs of weight loss are seen (such as a sunken scanning
surface), contact CIRS for assistance.
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Each lesion can be punctured multiple times. To maximize use of the phantom for
interventional procedures, it is best not to follow the same needle track repeatedly.
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Technical questions should be referred to CIRS customer service at
(800) 617-1177.
Note: Each phantom is individually hand crafted and as such will have minor variations
and anomalies. Our QA system has established processes to review these various
anomalies to ensure they do not jeopardize the utility of the phantom. Minor surface
blemishes will not adversely affect ultrasonic scans.