Tissue mimicking phantom
A tissue mimicking phantom is disclosed, in which the tissue-mimicking phantom comprises: at least an upper gelatin layer, each configured with at least a sunken area; at least a lower gelatin layer, each disposed beneath the at least one upper gelatin layer while being configured with at least a microchannel network having blood-mimicking fluid flowing therein; and at least a micro-heater. By the use of the sunken area of the at least one upper gelatin layer to simulate shapes and depths of different trauma wounds, the healing of anyone of the trauma wounds can be accessed clinically through a physical properties test while subjecting the trauma wound under different negative pressures and different dressings.
1. A tissue mimicking phantom, comprising:
at least an upper gelatin layer, each configured with at least a sunken area, wherein each sunken area is a round void of gelatin positioned exclusively in the upper gelatin layer;
at least a lower gelatin layer, each disposed beneath the at least one upper gelatin layer while being configured with at least a microchannel network having a blood-mimicking fluid flowing therein, wherein each lower gelatin layer has a distinct microchannel network, and each distinct microchannel network has differing microchannel diameters proportional to the distance of the corresponding lower gelatin layer from the closest upper gelatin layer; and
at least a micro-heater.
2. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein each sunken area is shaped like a cup tapering from mouth to bottom.
3. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the upper gelatin layer is configured with a plurality of sunken areas and the plural sunken areas are different in shape, size and depth.
4. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the microchannel network is connected with a reservoir storing the blood-mimicking fluid for enabling the blood-mimicking fluid to be fed into the microchannel network.
5. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 4 , wherein the microchannel network is further comprises:
at least an inlet, provided for the blood-mimicking fluid to flow into the microchannel network therefrom; and
at least an outlet, provided for the blood-mimicking fluid to flow out the microchannel network therefrom.
6. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the upper gelatin layer further comprises a top skin layer, arranged at the top portion of the upper gelatin layer while being configured with a hollow area.
7. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein when there are a plurality of the lower gelatin layers configured in the tissue mimicking phantom, the micro-heater is embedded inside one lower gelatin layer selected from the plural lower gelatin layers.
8. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 7 , wherein there are a plurality of such microchannel networks configured respectively in each of the plural lower gelatin layers in a manner that the closer the lower gelatin layer is arranged to the upper gelatin layer, the smaller the diameter of its microchannel network will be.
9. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the hardness of the plural lower gelatin layers are different from each other in a manner that the closer the lower gelatin layer is arranged to the upper gelatin layer, the smaller the hardness will be.
10. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the microchannel network configured in the lower gelatin layer is positioned at a location corresponding to the sunken area of the upper gelatin layer.
11. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the upper and the lower gelatin layers are made of an organic polymer selected from the group consisting of gelatin, algin, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).
12. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 11 , wherein both of the upper and the lower gelatin layer are formed by cast molding.
13. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 11 , wherein the micro-heater is integrally formed with the formation of the lower gelatin layer.
14. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the micro-heater is a chip having a temperature sensor integrated therein.
15. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , wherein the upper gelatin later is configured with a tube boring through the upper gelatin layer and channeling with the sunken area so as to be used for feeding a culture medium, oxygen and carbon dioxide therethrough from the outside of the tissue mimicking phantom into the sunken area.
16. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , further comprising:
a temperature sensor, for measuring temperature variation inside the tissue mimicking phantom;
a pressure sensor, for measuring a negative pressure applying on the tissue mimicking phantom; and
a flow sensor, for measuring a flow velocity of the blood-mimicking fluid flowing in the microchannel network.
17. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 1 , further comprising:
an imaging device, for monitoring in real time the status of the tissue mimicking phantom as the tissue mimicking phantom is subjected to a performance test, and thus capturing, processing and outputting images accordingly.
18. The tissue mimicking phantom of claim 17 , wherein the imaging device is a device selected from the group consisting of a CCD (charged coupled device) imaging device and a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) imaging device.