SP 5.02 Development and Evaluation of Ultrasound-Compatible Vascular Phantoms for Simulation of High-Flow Arteriovenous Fistulas
Premjithlal Bhaskaran, India Premjithlal Bhaskaran, Mathew Shun-Shin, Mohammed Farid AslamAbstract
Introduction
High-flow arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) in hemodialysis patients can cause high-output cardiac failure and cerebral perfusion deficits. Investigating these hemodynamics in vivo is limited by variability, ethics, and operator dependence. Realistic vascular phantoms offer controlled platforms for research, training, and procedural planning.
Methods
Silicone (Platsil Gel-10, Transil 40-1) and urethane elastomers were evaluated for mechanical, optical, and acoustic properties and used to fabricate compliant vessel phantoms with integrated lumina. A Digitally Controlled Doppler Flow Pump Ultrasound (DFPU) phantom was constructed, combining a programmable pulsatile pump, compliant vessels, and anatomically realistic AVFs. Doppler ultrasound (10 MHz) assessed flow rates of 400–3000 mL/min, compared with clinical data from 50 hemodialysis patients. Interventions including simulated fistula banding were performed.
Results
Silicone offered tunable elasticity and optical clarity; urethane provided superior durability and puncture resistance. Both materials enabled high-fidelity vessel imaging, with urethane showing lower attenuation and stable Doppler signals under pulsatile flow. The DFPU phantom demonstrated reproducible waveforms (CV < 3%) closely matching clinical Doppler (r = 0.93, p < 0.001). Simulated banding produced predictable reductions in peak systolic velocity and flow, validating its use for preoperative planning.
Conclusion
Silicone and urethane can both create ultrasound-compatible vascular phantoms; material choice depends on research flexibility versus training durability. The DFPU phantom provides a patient-specific, reproducible platform for simulating high-flow AVFs, supporting ultrasound research, procedural training, and interventional planning.