A Realistic and Inexpensive Ultrasound Phantom for Teaching M-Mode Measurement of Fetal Heart Rate

Background: M-mode ultrasound is frequently used to measure a fetal heart rate. Phantoms are used to simulate clinical conditions for teaching ultrasound-related skills. This is particularly important in the case of early pregnancy, when it is not ethical to use a live fetus in utero for teaching purposes. Objectives: To date, no phantom has been created to model the beating heart of an intrauterine pregnancy. Our goal was to create such a model for use in teaching M-mode ultrasound. Materials and Methods: The phantom is constructed using a toy fish, several balloons, and water-absorbing gel crystals. Results: We have created a novel phantom for use in teaching M-mode measurements. The cost per phantom is around $20 and the phantom can be constructed in about 20 min. Conclusion: This phantom is easily constructed and cost-effective. It gives learners the opportunity to practice measuring an intrauterine fetal heart rate in a learning environment without exposing a live fetus to unnecessary ultrasound. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.