Super phantoms: advanced models for testing medical imaging technologies

Phantoms are test objects used for initial testing and optimization of medical imaging techniques, but these rarely capture the complex properties of the tissue. Here we introduce super phantoms, that surpass standard phantoms being able to replicate complex anatomic and functional imaging properties of tissues and organs. These super phantoms can be computer models, inanimate physical objects, or ex-vivo organs. Testing on these super phantoms, will enable iterative improvements well before in-vivo studies, fostering innovation. We illustrate super phantom examples, address development challenges, and envision centralized facilities supporting multiple institutions in applying these models for medical advancements. In this Perspective, Manohar and colleagues introduce super phantoms as digital or physical models capable of mimicking complex tissue characteristics for imaging methods. They discuss phantoms as crucial for testing of new imaging technologies, and address critical issues surrounding their development and implementation.