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Fig. 1 —Photograph (left) shows cardiac phantom, and graphic (right)
shows balloon. Phantom consisted of five components: driver, control, support,
rubber balloon, and ECG. A controller with an ECG-synchronizer drove the
balloon. The motion was achieved by setting four driver sequences—that
is, two speeds of fast emptying for the systolic phase and fast and slow
filling for the diastolic phase. The balloon was filled with a mixture of
water and contrast medium (58 H) to simulate noncontrast blood and was
submerged in corn oil (-118 H), simulating epicardial and pericardial fat.
Coronary artery calcium models were packed inside rubber tubes (mimicking
coronary arteries) attached to the balloon surface. The ends of the balloon
were stabilized to a fixed support at a distance of 10 cm. There was therefore
neither through-plane motion (along z-axis) nor twist motion of the
balloon. The volumes of the balloon phantom were approximately 100 and 200 mL
at the systolic and diastolic phases, respectively. The time-balloon volume
curve was similar to sinusoidal in heart rate shift sequences. The balloon was
barrel-shaped at the diastolic phase and nearly, but not exactly, cylindrical
at the systolic phase. Deformity of the balloon was seen in some images in
high heart rate and arrhythmia sequences. This movement of the balloon
resulted in some through-plane motion of calcium models.
