A Bidirectional, Air-driven Rotational Phantom with Analytical Ground Truth for Comprehensive Phase-Contrast MRI Validation

Motivation: Phase-contrast MRI validation requires phantoms combining easy setup, high accuracy, and analytically describable velocities - a combination rarely achieved in single devices. Goal(s): Develop an enhanced rotational phantom for comprehensive evaluation of phase-contrast MRI sequences. Approach: Modified existing air-driven rotating cylinder design with laser-based speed monitoring and bidirectional operation capability. Tested using PC-MRI@3T with varying bandwidth and TE settings. Results: Quantified displacement artifacts (10% radial stretch), acceleration sensitivity (10% venc), and velocity encoding rotation (4.6°). System enables precise artifact evaluation and sequence optimization while offering potential for standardization across imaging centers. Impact: This novel phantom enables standardized quality assessment of phase-contrast MRI sequences across imaging centers. Its (soon to be) open-source design, analytical ground truth, and quantifiable artifacts advance sequence optimization and contribute to improved clinical flow measurements.