# Development and Characteristics of a Dual-Layered Vascular Phantom

## TL;DR

This paper presents a new dual-layer cardiovascular phantom that mimics human tissue properties and is suitable for biomedical research.

## Contribution

The novel dual-layer phantom combines 3D-printed elastic resin with tissue-mimicking gel for realistic tissue simulation.

## Key findings

- The phantom is reproducible, semi-transparent, and suitable for microCT scanning.
- The 3D-printed material's mechanical properties fall within physiological human tissue ranges.
- Sample thickness moderately correlates with stiffness, affecting model application.

## Abstract

Cardiovascular phantoms are used in biomedical research and development applications, allowing for complex geometries to be studied in a controlled environment. The various layers of human tissue have been difficult to mimic in these phantoms. In this study, a novel dual-layer cardiovascular phantom is created.

The interior lumen is 3D printed using an elastic vat-photopolymerization resin and cast within an industry standard tissue-mimicking ballistics gel. Strips of the 3D-printed resin were prepared and tested to determine Young’s modulus, Ultimate tensile strength, and elongation at break.

The final phantoms were reproducible, semi-transparent, and suitable for microCT scanning. Additionally, the 3D-printed elastic materials had: Young’s Modulus of 12 +/- 3.2 MPa, UTS of 1.27 +/- 0.44 MPa, and elongation at break of 29 +/- 9%. These results are within the physiological ranges of human tissues. There was a moderate correlation between the thickness of the sample and stiffness, which may be important depending on the application of the models.

The methods for producing a dual-layered phantom are reproducible and appropriate for a variety of biomedical applications.