Guidance for Optimal Phantom Performance
Understanding the behaviour of the prostate phantom during needle insertion is essential for correct interpretation of ultrasound images during training.
The phantom replicates the natural dynamic behaviour of the prostate gland when punctured by a needle — including realistic deformation and recovery — providing an authentic simulation of in-vivo tissue response.
Needle reverberation occurs when ultrasound waves travel along the hollow needle's long axis. This causes multiple needle images to appear due to sound reflection within the needle's core.
When multiple needle images appear due to reverberation, always identify the true needle as the lowermost one — the one closest to the probe. This is standard behavior for all needle-based ultrasound procedures.
The actively penetrating needle appears very bright and highly visible in the ultrasound image, making it easy to track in real time.
Previous needle tracks appear as partial, faint echoes in the tissue. These faint tracks are normal and expected — they represent the healing-like behavior of the phantom material after needle withdrawal.