Significance: The polymer, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), has been increasingly used to make tissue simulating phantoms due to its excellent processability, durability, flexibility, and limited tunability of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties. We report on a robust technique to fabricate PDMS-based tissue-mimicking phantoms where the broad range of scattering and absorption properties are independently adjustable in the visible- to near-infrared wavelength range from 500 to 850 nm. We also report on an analysis method to concisely quantify the phantoms’ broadband characteristics with four parameters. Aim: We report on techniques to manufacture and characterize solid tissue-mimicking phantoms of PDMS polymers. Tunability of the absorption (μa ( λ ) ) and reduced scattering coefficient spectra (μs′(λ)) in the wavelength range of 500 to 850 nm is demonstrated by adjusting the concentrations of light absorbing carbon black powder (CBP) and light scattering titanium dioxide powder (TDP) added into the PDMS base material. Approach: The μa ( λ ) and μs′(λ) of the phantoms were obtained through measurements with a broadband integrating sphere system and by applying an inverse adding doubling algorithm. Analyses of μa ( λ ) and μs′(λ) of the phantoms, by fitting them to linear and power law functions, respectively, demonstrate that independent control of μa ( λ ) and μs′(λ) is possible by systematically varying the concentrations of CBP and TDP. Results: Our technique quantifies the phantoms with four simple fitting parameters enabling a concise tabulation of their broadband optical properties as well as comparisons to the optical properties of biological tissues. We demonstrate that, to a limited extent, the scattering properties of our phantoms mimic those of human tissues of various types. A possible way to overcome this limitation is demonstrated with phantoms that incorporate polystyrene microbead scatterers. Conclusions: Our manufacturing and analysis techniques may further promote the application of PDMS-based tissue-mimicking phantoms and may enable robust quality control and quality checks of the phantoms.

中文翻译：

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具有可调光学特性的聚二甲基硅氧烷组织模拟模型

意义：聚合物聚二甲基硅氧烷 (PDMS) 因其出色的可加工性、耐用性、柔韧性和有限的光学、机械和热性能可调性而越来越多地用于制造组织模拟体模。我们报告了一种强大的技术来制造基于 PDMS 的组织模拟体模，其中广泛的散射和吸收特性在 500 到 850 nm 的可见光到近红外波长范围内可独立调节。我们还报告了一种分析方法，可以用四个参数简明地量化幻影的宽带特性。目的：我们报告制造和表征 PDMS 聚合物实体组织模拟体模的技术。通过调整吸光炭黑粉 (CBP) 和光散射钛的浓度，证明了在 500 至 850 nm 波长范围内的吸收 (μa ( λ ) ) 和降低散射系数光谱 (μs'(λ)) 的可调性添加到 PDMS 基材中的二氧化钛粉末 (TDP)。方法：模型的 μa ( λ ) 和 μs'(λ) 是通过使用宽带积分球系统测量并应用逆加倍倍增算法获得的。对模型的 μa ( λ ) 和 μs'(λ) 的分析，通过将它们分别拟合到线性和幂律函数，表明通过系统地改变浓度来独立控制 μa ( λ ) 和 μs'(λ) 是可能的CBP 和 TDP。结果：我们的技术使用四个简单的拟合参数对模型进行量化，从而能够对其宽带光学特性进行简明表格，并与生物组织的光学特性进行比较。我们证明，在有限的程度上，我们的模型的散射特性模仿了各种类型的人体组织。使用包含聚苯乙烯微珠散射体的模型演示了克服此限制的一种可能方法。结论：我们的制造和分析技术可能会进一步促进基于 PDMS 的组织模拟体模的应用，并可能实现对体模的稳健质量控制和质量检查。我们的模型的散射特性模仿了各种类型的人体组织。使用包含聚苯乙烯微珠散射体的模型演示了克服此限制的一种可能方法。结论：我们的制造和分析技术可能会进一步促进基于 PDMS 的组织模拟体模的应用，并可能实现对体模的稳健质量控制和质量检查。我们的模型的散射特性模仿了各种类型的人体组织。使用包含聚苯乙烯微珠散射体的模型演示了克服此限制的一种可能方法。结论：我们的制造和分析技术可能会进一步促进基于 PDMS 的组织模拟体模的应用，并可能实现对体模的稳健质量控制和质量检查。