Multi-Medix work with National Physics Laboratory on new phantom materials
Multi-Medix has been working on two funded projects with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL).
These grants from the NPL have allowed us to strengthen the measurement science underpinning the development and manufacture of our ultrasound quality assurance (QA) technology. The first stage of this venture helped Multi-Medix to establish our own in-house acoustic measurement capability, allowing us to conduct speed-of-sound testing. The second is supporting the development of a new ultrasound phantom material designed to more closely replicate the acoustic properties of human tissue.
‘Innovate UK’ Grant: Developing a tissue-equivalent phantom material
Building on the foundations of our first project, Multi-Medix has been awarded a further grant through NPL’s ‘Analysis for Innovators’ programme, as part of the ‘Innovate UK’ grant scheme. This longer six-month project is formally titled “Optimising the acoustic properties of an ultrasound phantom to enable tissue equivalent quality assurance measurements”. (To read about our earlier project click here)
Diagnostic ultrasound systems generally calculate and display measurements on the assumption that sound travels through human soft tissue at approximately 1,540 metres per second. Developing a phantom material with carefully controlled, tissue-equivalent acoustic properties therefore creates opportunities for more advanced and clinically representative quality assurance measurements. While phantom materials which mimic this speed are already available, with the support of NPL and the ‘Innovate UK’ grant program, our engineers and physicists at Multi-Medix are working on a new phantom material which combines the durability and longevity of our existing phantoms with this tissue-equivalent target.
Thus, our two projects with NPL lend support to one another; the first grant enabled us to enhance our testing capabilities, while this grant supports the development of a phantom material which is equivalent to human tissue without compromising on durability and longevity.
Within this project, we are examining how we might achieve this goal in a new, optimised phantom material. The specialist expertise from NPL supports our team at Multi-Medix to characterise and evaluate this material, and streamlines our process as we continue this exciting work.
Strengthening the science behind MULTI-Mode™
This also continues our work on the technology behind MULTI-Mode™, Multi-Medix’s digital solution for ultrasound quality assurance.
MULTI-Mode™ combines the compact MM-1010 Phantom with guided image capture and software-assisted analysis. It enables ultrasound users, clinical engineering teams and service organisations to undertake consistent QA tests, retain digital records and monitor changes in equipment performance over time.
The MM-1010’s acoustic properties allow it to assess probe penetration depth in a much smaller and more portable format than a conventional phantom. The support of Innovate UK and the NPL streamlines our work, supporting the development of new materials and more complex testing.
Through our collaboration with NPL, Multi-Medix is combining its specialist knowledge of diagnostic ultrasound QA with access to world-class measurement science. The result will be greater confidence in our current products, and a strong technical foundation for the next generation of accessible ultrasound QA technology.
We look forward to sharing continued updates as our projects progress. Members of the Multi-Medix team will be presenting some of our work at the upcoming BMUS conference in December 2026, where we are excited to share our findings.
Click here to learn more about Innovate UK.
Click here to learn more about the NPL.
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