Table 2.

Summary of Selected Homemade Phantom Recipes

Phantom type	Abbreviated recipe*	Advantages	Disadvantages
Gelatin	Mix 1 g gelatin per 8 or 10ml boiling water (23.6 or 29.5g gelatin per 1 cup water); add food coloring until opaque (optional); add targets; refrigerate until set (approximately 4 hours)	• Low cost • Easy and simple to construct • Excellent echogenicity • Good haptic quality	• Requires refrigeration to construct and to extend shelf life • Moderate durability • Moderate shelf life
Gelatin7	Mix 20 g gelatin 40 g glycerin, 40 g sorbitol, and 20 g psyllium fiber per 1 cup boiling water; add targets; refrigerate until set (minimum 6 hours)	• Low cost • Easy and simple to construct • Excellent echogenicity • Good haptic quality • Psyllium fiber adds echogenicity. Amount of psyllium can be adjusted based on preference • Sorbitol and glycerin increase flexibility and tear-resistance	• Requires refrigeration to construct and to extend shelf life • Moderate durability • Moderate shelf life • Sorbitol and glycerin are not readily available at grocery stores
Gelatin21	Add targets to mold; mix 40g gelatin, 20 grams psyllium fiber, 1 tablespoon citric acid, and 1 teaspoon blue food coloring per 500 ml boiling water; add targets; refrigerate overnight	• Low cost • Easy and simple to construct • Excellent echogenicity • Good haptic quality • Citric acid is a preserving agent (optional)	• Requires refrigeration to construct and to extend shelf life • Moderate durability • Moderate shelf life
Gelatin20	Add 28g gelatin to 250 ml warm water; microwave for 20 seconds; add 10 g cornstarch dissolved in 50ml warm water; add targets	• Low cost • Easy and simple to construct • Excellent echogenicity • Good haptic quality • Cornstarch adds echogenicity. Amount of cornstarch can be adjusted based on preference.	• Requires refrigeration to construct and to extend shelf life • Moderate durability • Moderate shelf life
Gelatin5	Prepare 2 layers. Layer 1: Mix 21 g gelatin, 2 tablespoons psyllium fiber, and 10 drops of food coloring per 1 cup water; add targets; refrigerate for 2 hours. Layer 2: Mix 21 g gelatin, 1 tablespoon psyllium fiber, and 10 drops of food coloring per 1 cup water; let mixture cool for 15 minutes; pour mixture on top of layer 1; refrigerate overnight	• Low cost • Easy and simple to construct • Excellent echogenicity • Good haptic quality • Allows for 2 separate layers with different degrees of echogenicity • Can also ensure targets are in center of mold if targets are added after layer 1 is set	• Requires refrigeration to construct and to extend shelf life • Moderate durability • Moderate shelf life
Silicone7	Mix 400 g Part A and 400g Part B of PlatSil Gel, 1200g Smith’s Theatrical Prosthetic Deadener, and a sprinkle of psyllim fiber; add targets; allow to set for minimum 4 hours	• Indefinite shelf life at room temperature • Highly durable	• More expensive than ballistics gel and food-based phantoms • Materials must be purchased at specialty stores or websites
Ballistics gel9	Cut ballistics gel block into 1-inch by 1-inch cubes; heat in oven set at 260°F (127°C) in oven-safe mold until melted completely; add targets; heat for another 30 minutes; allow gel to cool at room temperature for 2 hours	• Indefinite shelf life at room temperature • Highly durable • Good echogenicity • Can be re-heated for re-use	• Relatively more expensive than food-based phantoms • More difficult to construct (easy to introduce bubbles) • Moderate haptic quality
Ballistics gel24	Break ballistics gel block into pieces; heat gel on stovetop over low heat until melted (approximately 200°F/93.3°C); add targets; heat additional gel to pour over targets	• Indefinite shelf life at room temperature • Highly durable • Good echogenicity • Can be re-heated for re-use • Stovetop melts gel faster than oven	• Relatively more expensive than food-based phantoms • More difficult to construct (easy to introduce bubbles) • Moderate haptic quality Requires increased manipulation of hot gel
Agar22	Mix 38 g of 900 g/cm2 agar to 750 ml water and bring to boil; add 1 teaspoon flour; pour half of mixture into mold and let set at room temperature for 20 minutes; add targets; add remainder of mixture as cap later; let set at room temperature for 20 minutes	• Low cost • Simple and quick to construct • Does not require refrigeration • Highly durable • Can be re-heated for re-use • Flour adds echogenicity. Amount of flour can be adjusted based on preference	• Moderate shelf life • Materials may only be available in specialty stores or websites
Premisorb23	Insert foam targets into an empty 500ml IV fluid bag; fill with 500ml tap water and 15g of Premisorb; add food coloring (optional); seal IV fluid bag	• Low cost • Simple and quick to construct • Semisolid material seals needle tracks. • Target able to be moved to different positions • Nonperishable	• Materials not readily available outside operating room
Chicken breast	Use a knife to make a small incision into side of chicken breast; add targets into incision sites; wrap tightly in plastic wrap	• Low cost • Simple and quick to construct • Good haptic quality • Good echogenic quality • Good structural integrity	• Short shelf life • Requires special handling/risk of foodborne pathogens
Chicken breast10	Add targets to surface of the chicken breast; either sandwich targets between another chicken breast or roll up chicken breast; wrap tightly in plastic wrap	• Low cost • Simple and quick to construct • Good haptic quality • Good echogenic quality • Good structural integrity	• Short shelf life • Requires special handling/risk of foodborne pathogens
Canned cooked pork11		Low cost Simple and quick to construct	• Poor haptic quality • Poor echogenicity • Short shelf life • Poor durability
Tofu6–12,19		• Low cost • Simple and quick to construct • Good echogenic quality	• Moderate haptic quality • Short shelf life • Moderate durability

^*Reported target options include: Craft pom poms, sponge, foam, balloons and gloves filled with water or gelatin, latex tubing or drinking straws filled with water, wooden dowels, needles, and food items such as pitted olives, various cooked beans, lentils, raisins, gummy bears, raisins, grapes, cherry tomatoes, hot dogs, blueberries.