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Silicone-Based Tissue-Mimicking
Silicone-Based Tissue-Mimicking
Bruce L. Tai
Tissue-Mimicking Phantom
Department of Mechanical Engineering,
University of Michigan,
for Needle Insertion Simulation
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: ljtai@umich.edu Silicone-based tissue-mimicking phantom is widely used as a surrogate of tissue for clini-
cal simulators, allowing clinicians to practice medical procedures and researchers to
Hongwei Yu study the performance of medical devices. This study investigates using the mineral oil in
Department of Mechanical Engineering, room-temperature vulcanizing silicone to create the desired mechanical properties and
University of Michigan, needle insertion characteristics of a tissue-mimicking phantom. Silicone samples mixed
Ann Arbor, MI 48109 with 0, 20, 30, and 40 wt. % mineral oil were fabricated for indentation and needle inser-
e-mail: yhongwei@umich.edu tion tests and compared to four types of porcine tissues (liver, muscle with the fiber per-
pendicular or parallel to the needle, and fat). The results demonstrated that the elastic
Albert J. Shih modulus and needle insertion force of the phantom both decrease with an increasing con-
Department of Mechanical Engineering, centration of mineral oil. Use of the mineral oil in silicone could effectively tailor the
University of Michigan, elastic modulus and needle insertion force to mimic the soft tissue. The silicone mixed
Ann Arbor, MI 48109; with 40 wt. % mineral oil was found to be the best tissue-mimicking phantom and can be
Department of Biomedical Engineering, utilized for needle-based medical procedures. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4026508]
University of Michigan,
Keywords: needle insertion, tissue-mimicking, silicone phantom, force, indentation
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
e-mail: shiha@umich.edu
1 Introduction similar to soft tissue [10] and is durable for needle insertion, was
utilized as the base material to fabricate the TM phantom.
Clinical simulators are commonly used for clinicians’ training
The mechanical properties of TM phantoms and soft tissues are
and the calibration or testing of medical devices since they can
usually measured by compression [11] or indentation [12] tests.
provide a similar environment to that of real medical procedures
The elastic modulus can be derived from the hardness reading of
[1]. Medical simulators are particularly important for training on
the indentation test. To use silicone as a TM phantom, it is impor-
needle-based procedures, which use needles, catheters, guide-
tant to have an elastic modulus similar to soft tissue. It is known
wires, and other small-bore instruments. It is a mandate that
that adding mineral oil into silicone can change the ultrasound
nurses and clinicians for all needle-based procedures need to be
image properties [13], while its effect on the mechanical proper-
trained using medical simulators [2]. To further advance the clini-
ties has not been studied. A goal of this research is using the in-
cal education using medical simulators, there is a great need to de-
dentation test to measure the elastic modulus of the RTV silicone
velop tissue-mimicking (TM) phantoms with needle insertion
with different concentrations of mineral oil and match it to that of
characteristics and mechanical properties similar to those of soft
various soft tissues.
tissues.
The needle insertion characteristics are determined by the nee-
Tissue-mimicking phantoms, which act as the surrogates of soft
dle insertion force. Abolhassani et al. [14] developed models for
tissue, are critical components of clinical simulators. They are
the needle insertion force and needle deflection. Gerwen et al.
usually made from either chemically synthesized polymer (CSP)
[15] reviewed the research on needle insertion into soft-tissue,
or biopolymer. Silicone [3] and polyvinyl chloride [4] are two
including the needle insertion force, effects of the insertion
major types of CSPs. Biopolymers, such as gelatin [5], agar [6],
method, needle tip geometry, and tissue properties. Okamura [16]
and gellan gum [7,8] typically include over 80% of water and
decomposed the needle insertion force into the stiffness (tissue
have a stiffness similar to that of soft tissue. However, biopoly-
elasticity), cutting (tissue toughness), and friction forces. The
mers have limited durability for needle insertion applications. In
stiffness force occurs prior to the puncture of the tissue; the cut-
comparison, a CSP is more durable, withstanding repeated needle
ting and friction forces take place after the needle breaks into the
insertions. Its wide range of mechanical properties and long-term
tissue. The force at the puncture point has been defined as the ini-
stability provide additional advantages over biopolymers [9]. Fur-
tial peak needle insertion force [17]. Using the elemental cutting
thermore, CSPs do not contain water and thus do not have the
tool concept, a model to predict the needle insertion force has
problems of evaporation or bacterial growth. A major drawback
been developed [17–19] and applied for optimal needle tip design
of CSPs is the lack of water as the lubricant during needle inser-
[20]. With the knowledge gained in the mechanics of soft tissue
tion. As a result, the resistive force for needle insertion into a CSP
needle cutting, this paper also uses the needle insertion force to
is usually higher than that of soft tissue. In this study, mineral oil
study the effect of the mineral oil concentration in the silicone.
was adopted as the lubricant to mix into the CSP to improve the
In this study, the RTV silicone-based TM phantom specimens
needle insertion characteristics. Room temperature vulcanizing
are fabricated with 0, 20, 30, and 40 wt. % mineral oil. The experi-
(RTV) silicone, which can be easily molded with a stiffness
mental setup and procedures to determine the elastic modulus and
needle insertion forces are first introduced. It is followed by the
Manuscript received February 27, 2013; final manuscript received January 6, analyses and comparisons between the TM phantoms and four
2014; published online March 7, 2014. Assoc. Editor: Carl A. Nelson. ex vivo porcine tissues: liver, muscle with the fiber perpendicular
Fig. 2 Indentation test for elastic modulus measurements: (a) before indenter compression, (b)
close up view of the indenter of the durometer, and (c) after indenter compression
Fig. 4 Test specimens in the holder (a) muscle perpendicular to the fiber, (b) silicone speci-
men, and (c) schematic view of the six needle insertion positions in the specimen holder
Hardness Standard
reading Average deviation
Fig. 7 Needle insertion force versus time for four types of porcine soft tissue: (a)
fat, (b) muscle perpendicular to the fiber, (c) muscle parallel to the fiber, and (d) liver