Moscow Develops Advanced Medical Phantoms for Doctor Training

Moscow continues to advance medical training and diagnostic precision with the creation of two groundbreaking realistic phantoms: a stomach and a pulsating arterial vessel. These models, designed with exceptional anatomical and physiological accuracy, provide doctors with advanced tools to refine complex procedures, practice ultrasound diagnostics, and calibrate CT and MRI imaging systems. With these additions, Moscow scientists have now developed a total of 14 highly realistic anatomical phantoms, a milestone confirmed by Anastasia Rakova, Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Social Development.

The city’s ongoing commitment to innovation extends beyond improving diagnostics and treatments, focusing also on modernizing physician training. These phantoms simulate the unique characteristics of human tissues, allowing clinicians to develop their skills in a controlled, risk-free environment.

Stomach Phantom

The newly developed stomach phantom is a hollow organ model composed of five distinct wall layers, each with unique ultrasonic reflectance properties. This design produces imaging results that closely mimic those of a real human stomach. The innermost layer replicates the gastric mucosa, featuring realistic folds, while embedded neoplasm models at varying depths allow doctors to practice endoscopy, ultrasound-guided biopsy, and other intricate procedures.

During a simulated gastric biopsy, clinicians must accurately guide the needle into the targeted layer to reach the tumor. With wall layers measuring just one to three millimeters, precision is critical to avoid errors such as penetrating the wrong layer or perforating the organ.

Pulsating Arterial Vessel Phantom

The pulsating arterial vessel phantom replicates the dynamic pulse wave within a section of the abdominal aorta. Comprising a vessel model and a specialized pulse-generating device, this phantom enables doctors to observe normal versus pathological pulsations through tactile, visual, and CT-based methods. It provides an essential platform for refining CT angiography protocols and practicing vascular surgery, helping prevent potential complications during complex abdominal or spinal procedures.

Anton Vladzimirsky, Ph.D., D.Sc., Deputy Director for R&D at the Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine of the Moscow Healthcare Department, emphasized, “These phantoms exemplify how scientific innovation directly improves clinical training and patient care. The stomach phantom enhances multiple skills, while the pulsating vessel phantom allows precise recognition of life-threatening conditions like aneurysms.”

Center for Diagnostics and Telemedicine

The Center is a leading research and practical institution under the Moscow Healthcare Department. It oversees radiation and instrumental diagnostics, drives digital healthcare transformation, integrates AI into clinical practice, conducts scientific research, and provides specialized training for medical professionals.

For over seven years, its laboratory has pioneered the development of medical phantoms, establishing MosMedMaterial, Russia’s first comprehensive database of tissue-mimicking materials for radiation diagnostics. This repository includes 23 solid and 19 liquid materials, enabling the creation of phantoms optimized for ultrasound, CT, and MRI applications.

Through these innovations, Moscow is setting new global standards in medical training, diagnostic accuracy, and patient safety.