{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T10:41:06Z","timestamp":1787568066530,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":14,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"17","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]],"date-time":"2026-08-23T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787443200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Sensors"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Conventional ultrasound phantoms typically lack anatomical surface geometry and procedural access constraints, limiting the transferability of acquired skills to clinical practice. The objective of the present work was to develop and describe such a platform for ultrasound-guided thyroid nodule puncture training, including its construction and initial ultrasound appearance. We present a modular, body-mimicking ultrasound phantom platform comprising three components: an anatomically shaped epoxy composite chassis cast from a healthy volunteer and covering the cervical and upper thoracic region, interchangeable gelatin-based inserts representing thyroid (including puncture target lesions) and surrounding tissue structures, and an integrated dual-camera optical feedback system for real-time and post-procedural needle trajectory visualization. Two chassis configurations reflecting different chin and shoulder positions allow deliberate modulation of procedural difficulty. Insert composition can be varied to simulate tissues of differing echogenicity and density, including liquid-filled targets. Under appropriate storage and disinfection conditions, inserts remained usable for up to four weeks in qualitative observation. The optical feedback system supports self-directed learning and structured debriefing. In combination with magnet-based ultrasound needle guidance technology, the platform is intended to support a longitudinal, competency-based training concept with quantifiable performance metrics, enabling systematic documentation of individual learning curves. The presented system is designed to more closely replicate the anatomical and procedural complexity of clinical ultrasound-guided interventions than conventional phantoms and represents a flexible simulation platform for interventional ultrasound education.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/s26175332","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,24]],"date-time":"2026-08-24T10:07:53Z","timestamp":1787566073000},"page":"5332","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Introduction of a Realistic Body-Mimicking Ultrasound Phantom with Integrated Optical Feedback for the Training of Ultrasound-Guided Thyroid Nodule Punctures"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3307-1772","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Christian","family":"K\u00fchnel","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Steffen","family":"Schrott","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6462-3851","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Martin","family":"Freesmeyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3447-4971","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Philipp","family":"Seifert","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,23]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Hohne, E., Recker, F., Dietrich, C.F., and Schafer, V.S. 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Otolaryngol."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70035","DOI":"10.1002\/mp.70035","article-title":"Development of a high-fidelity phantom for training ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation of thyroid nodules","volume":"52","author":"Yang","year":"2025","journal-title":"Med. Phys."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"245","DOI":"10.23919\/cje.2023.00.002","article-title":"Real-Time 3D Ultrasound Imaging System Based on a Hybrid Reconstruction Algorithm","volume":"33","author":"Lyu","year":"2024","journal-title":"Chin. J. Electron."},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"223","DOI":"10.1097\/AAP.0000000000000549","article-title":"Ultrasound-Guided Needle Technique Accuracy: Prospective Comparison of Passive Magnetic Tracking Versus Unassisted Echogenic Needle Localization","volume":"42","author":"Johnson","year":"2017","journal-title":"Reg. Anesth. Pain. 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