Design and Validation of an Anthropomorphic Fetal-Placental MRI Motion Phantom for Artifact Research

Motivation: Motion remains a challenge in fetal MRI. Testing of motion correction approaches requires pregnant volunteers. Recruitment is challenging, costly and slow, but can be addressed by using an imaging phantom. Goal(s): We aim to develop an anatomically-accurate fetal-placental motion phantom with the goal of advancing and expediting MR fetal motion artifact research. Approach: Tissue-mimicking materials were cast into models of the fetal body, brain, ventricles, and placenta. Our robotic actuator was used to generate motion during imaging. Results: The phantom successfully replicated fetal anatomy while producing visible motion artifacts, demonstrating its utility as a proxy for pregnant participants. Impact: The phantom possesses accurate anatomy and can be moved during imaging to simulate fetal body and maternal respiratory motion. This phantom can be used by researchers for the development and validation of fetal MRI sequences and motion artifact reduction techniques.