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Training Phantoms for Neonatal POCUS
- Program: Center for Leadership Education
- Course: EN.660.346 Multidisciplinary Engineering Design 2
- Year: 2026
Project Description:
Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) is a method of bedside ultrasonography that allows neonatologists to quickly and accurately assess life-threatening conditions in premature babies and newborns. Most training phantoms for POCUS are adult-sized, and neonate-sized ones are often extremely expensive and only provide virtual simulations. Our phantoms provide accessible, durable, and realistic training for neonatologists to master translational procedures. The phantoms are developed using 3D printed materials and elastic polymer solutions that create realistic images under ultrasound to best expose and prepare neonatologists. We currently have three phantoms to provide training in different areas: 1) a forearm model to simulate vascular access and needle poking, 2) a chest model to simulate pericardial effusions, and 3) a spine model to simulate lumbar punctures.
Project Photo:
3D renderings of our point-of-care ultrasound training phantoms, including a chest model for pericardial effusions (top left), a spine model for lumbar punctures (top right), and forearm model for vascular access (bottom).
