TEMPy: a toolkit for the modeling of weighted tissue equivalent material in diagnostic imaging

Abstract

Abstract Objective. Accurate simulation of human tissues is imperative for advancements in diagnostic imaging, particularly in the fields of dosimetry and image quality evaluation. Developing Tissue Equivalent Materials (TEMs) with radiological characteristics akin to those of human tissues is essential for ensuring the reliability and relevance of imaging studies. This study presents the development of a mathematical model and a new toolkit (TEMPy) for obtaining the best composition of materials that mimic the radiological characteristics of human tissues. The model and the toolkit are described, along with an example showcasing its application to obtain desired TEMs. Approach. The methodology consisted of fitting volume fractions of the components of TEM in order to determine its linear attenuation coefficient as close as possible to the linear attenuation coefficient of the reference material. The fitting procedure adopted a modified Least Square Method including a weight function. This function reflects the contribution of the x-ray spectra in the suitable energy range of interest. TEMPy can also be used to estimate the effective atomic number and electron density of the resulting TEM. Main results. TEMPy was used to obtain the chemical composition of materials equivalent to water and soft tissue, in the energy range used in x-ray imaging (10 −150 keV) and for breast tissue using the energy range (5–40 keV). The maximum relative difference between the linear attenuation coefficients of the developed and reference materials was ±5% in the considered energy ranges. Significance. TEMPy facilitates the formulation of TEMs with radiological properties closely mimicking those of real tissues, aiding in the preparation of physical anthropomorphic or geometric phantoms for various applications. The toolkit is freely available to interested readers.