Investigation of the most suitable 3D printing method and tissue equivalent materials for mimicking glandular-adipose tissues for production of breast phantom.

Abstract

In this study, the usability of masked stereolithography (MSLA) and fused filament fabrication (FFF) type printers to produce breast phantom is investigated. ABS, PET, PLA+, PVA and TPU-95 A filaments are used on FFF type printer with infill ratios between 70 and 100%; ABS-like, PLA and PMMA-like resins are used on SLA type printer with infill ratio 100% to tissue equivalent materials. The materials' CT scans are taken at 80, 100 and 120 kVp and the Hounsfield Units (HU) dependency on the infill ratio for each filament and resin is investigated. The materials' physical densities are measured; electron densities and effective atomic numbers are calculated. The suitability of the materials for mimicking adipose, glandular and skin tissue investigated in terms of HU value, physical density, electron density and effective atomic number. It is found that MSLA type printer is not eligible for printing breast tissue equivalent materials as the common resins have higher physical density and it is not possible to lower physical density by infill ratio. However, FFF type printer technology is more eligible for mimicking breast tissue. While ABS is suitable only for mimicking adipose tissue, PET, PLA+, PVA and TPU-95 A filaments can be used to produce adipose, glandular and skin tissues by just changing infill ratio. For production of a breast phantom via FFF printing, PET and PVA among the tested filament materials are preferable over the properties of PLA + and TPU-95 A due to their proper hydrogen(H) and carbon contents (C), and other physical and radiological properties.