Scientists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine have developed MosMedMaterial, a comprehensive database consolidating information on 23 solid and 19 liquid materials designed for creating medical phantoms. The database will be continuously updated as new materials are developed or additional data become available. The project aims to facilitate the advancement of medical training simulators in Moscow and across Russia, according to Yuri Vasilev, Chief Consultant for Diagnostic Imaging of the Moscow Health Care Department.

 “The tissue- mimicking materials database created at the Center is a valuable practical tool for doctors and researchers. It compiles data on materials suitable for medical phantom production, enabling Russian specialists to produce realistic phantom models independently, without relying on foreign suppliers. This marks a significant step toward technological independence, enhancing medical education quality and advancing medical science,” Vasiliev stated.

Moscow scientists assessed the capacity of each material to mimic specific organs or tissues across imaging modalities including CT, MRI, and ultrasound. For solid materials, mechanical properties were also evaluated and incorporated into the database. To facilitate user access, the team developed software featuring a search system by organ type or material parameters. An interactive atlas is currently in progress, which will organize data on materials alongside their biological counterparts, allowing visual searches via a 3D human model.

“Phantom developers in Russia and abroad typically select materials through time-consuming experimental trials. Not all research teams have the resources to evaluate material performance across multiple imaging modalities. Our laboratory has conducted these comprehensive studies, including mechanical testing, to ensure that the materials not only provide accurate visualization but also possess physical properties that closely replicate real organ tissues. This is critically important for the effective training of future doctors,” said Anton Vladzymyrskyy, Ph.D. in Medicine, D.Sc., Deputy Director for R&D at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Health Department. 

The data compiled in MosMedMaterial will enable a more technologically advanced approach to developing medical phantoms. The focus is on accurately replicating various human tissue types, allowing for the simulation of multiple organs and systems through their combination.

The scientists at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine have demonstrated that some materials exhibit multimodal properties, which holds significant promise for the creation of multimodal phantoms. These phantoms are especially valuable for training physicians in performing complex diagnostics across various pathologies.

Founded in 1996, the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine is a leading scientific and practical institution within Moscow’s social development complex. It specializes in integrating artificial intelligence in medicine, advancing diagnostic imaging, managing medical departments, conducting research, educating healthcare professionals, and creating organ-mimicking models. To date, the Center has developed 12 medical phantoms, including its latest innovation—a liver phantom embedded in soft tissue.