Customer
Phantech, LLC
Headquarters
Madison, WI
Industry
Medical Equipment Manufacturing
Employees
2-10 employees
Phantech, based in Madison, WI, is at the forefront of precision in medical imaging with its innovative phantom technology. Their mission is to advance imaging standards with innovative phantom technology, offering enhanced accuracy and consistency in medical imaging. One of Phantech’s achievements is the BioMouse™, a fillable biomimetic mouse phantom, developed with Computed Tomography Hounsfield Unit (CT HU) density-equivalent materials. This versatile model is used to test and calibrate multiple imaging modalities, ensuring standardized quality and efficiency across research settings. Phantech’s collaboration with Stratasys Direct leveraged advanced PolyJet technology and Radiomatrix™ materials to meet the BioMouse’s precise density and anatomical specifications. This partnership also accelerated production to meet the growing demand.
Creating the BioMouseTM posed some challenges, such as balancing anatomical accuracy, material density control, and model versatility. The phantom needed to replicate real biological tissue and bone densities accurately while incorporating customizable voids for organs and tumors. These voids are designed to be filled with imaging agents for different modalities, including PET, SPECT, CT, and MRI. Phantech’s goal was to create a repeatable, anatomically precise model that could be used in diverse imaging environments while reliably representing biological responses.
However, achieving this level of customization and accuracy with traditional manufacturing methods would have been complex and costly. Phantech cofounder Benjamin Cox, PhD, needed a solution that would accurately mimic organic tissue density while providing the flexibility to iterate designs rapidly during development. Based on a longstanding familiarity with Stratasys, Cox sought Stratasys’ contract manufacturing division -- Stratasys Direct – and their expertise in advanced materials and highresolution 3D printing.
Stratasys Direct’s solution centered on two essential components: PolyJet technology and Radiomatrix material.
PolyJet’s high-resolution capabilities allowed the BioMouse to achieve unparalleled anatomical detail, making it ideal for the organic and complex shapes required by Phantech’s application.
Radiomatrix, a unique material specifically developed for applications requiring density tuning, provided the precise CT HU values essential to accurately simulate bone and tissue densities.
This combination allowed the BioMouse to be used not only in CT imaging but also in nuclear medicine modalities, extending its versatility across multiple imaging types. With Stratasys Direct’s manufacturing capabilities, Phantech could produce BioMouseTM models with distinct voids for organs like the brain, heart, liver, and kidneys. Each model could then be filled with imaging agents tailored to the modality, providing the adaptability needed for cutting-edge calibration and imaging tests.
Stratasys Direct utilized two key elements in their solution for Phantech—PolyJet technology and Radiomatrix material. The high-resolution capabilities of PolyJet allowed for unparalleled anatomical detail in the BioMouseTM, perfectly suited to the intricate shapes needed for Phantech’s application. Radiomatrix, tailored for density tuning applications, delivered the precise CT HU values necessary to accurately simulate bone and tissue densities. This combination extended the BioMouse’s versatility across multiple imaging types, beyond just CT imaging. After the part build, the BioMouseTM model’s exterior was lightly sanded, and a clear coat was applied. To date, Stratasys Direct has manufactured >30 phantoms of the BioMouse model.
With help from Stratasys Direct, Phantech ramped up production of the BioMouse to meet growing demand, delivering a model known for its anatomical accuracy and versatility in medical imaging calibration. This benchmark device empowers researchers and imaging scientists to perform consistent, high-quality tests without relying on live specimens. The BioMouse is instrumental in optimizing imaging algorithms, validating radio-pharmaceuticals, and advancing important research.
The collaboration between Phantech and Stratasys Direct highlights the value of 3D printing in advancing medical innovation.
Combining Phantech’s expertise in phantom technology with Stratasys Direct’s advanced manufacturing capabilities, the BioMouse has emerged as an essential tool in biomedical imaging, delivering reliability and precision to this critical field. Moreover, this collaboration has provided the groundwork for future clinical-use biomedical imaging phantoms that are being developed by Phantech and manufactured by Stratasys Direct.
Visit Phantech for more information about phantom technology
