Standardized Phantom for Consistent Brain Imaging Protocols for a Low-Field MRI (48mT) System in LMICs

Motivation: High, dual & low-field MRI system phantoms, are expensive($5,000 - $20,000), complex to produce, maintenance-intensive, & prone to magnetic field inhomogeneities, restricting their usability and imaging applications in LMICs. Goal(s): To design a standardized low-cost phantom that accurately mimics T2 brain relaxation properties for Low-Field MRI system calibration. Approach: Solutions mimicking white matter, gray matter and CSF, were packaged in soda-lime bottles positioned in the isocenter of the scanner using 3D printed holders. Employed MSE sequence to enable T2 relaxation mapping of the solutions. Results: Experimental values show 94% accuracy for white matter, 95.7% for gray matter, 80% for CSF compared to established brain values Impact: The developed phantom enhances accessibility and improves calibration consistency reducing lengthy scan preparation times. It promotes local resource utilization & collaborative research initiatives to advance healthcare technology in LMICS.