Bottle Manikin Absorption (BOMAB) Phantoms
The bottle manikin absorption (BOMAB) phantom consists of 10 high-density polyethylene containers that assemble to represent the ICRP 23 Reference Man human body (see Table 1 for representative container dimensions). It has been used as a standard calibration geometry for over 25 years. The 0.2 to 0.5-cm-thick containers contain a solid polyurethane tissue-substitute with radiation attenuation characteristics matching ICRU 44 average soft tissue. The solid tissue substitute has proven tissue-equivalence and none of the limitations found with water-filled BOMAB phantoms, such as radionuclide plate-out, the potential for leakage, biological growths, and shipment difficulties. The BOMAB polyethylene shells also do not have the large variation in wall thickness that is found with Roto-molded bottle phantoms.
Currently available BOMABs contain one or more of the following isotopes: 40K, 137Cs, 152Eu, 154Eu, 155Eu, 125Sb, 133Ba, and 60Co. Available BOMAB activities are indicated in the Tables BOMAB-nCi and BOMAB-kBq
The BOMAB phantom is used primarily as a calibration standard for Reference Man measurements of homogeneously distributed radioactive materials that emit mid- and high-energy photons. Smaller sizes representing the Reference Female (ICRP 23) and a 4-yr old child are also available.
The tissue substitute used in the BOMAB phantom is a polyurethane-based filler. It has excellent handling characteristics and durability. The plastic matrix contains National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard Reference Materials (SRM) or NIST-traceable radioactive materials uniformly distributed throughout the polyurethane. Chemical additives are incorporated to provide the a 40K background in most of the phantoms and to duplicate the transmission characteristics of soft tissues. Specific material constituents and chemical compositions are provided for each phantom.
| Container | Quantity | Cross section Shape | Cross section Dimensions (cm) |
Height (cm) |
Volume (ml) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Head | 1 | ellipsoid | 19x14 | 20 | 3525 |
| 2. Neck | 1 | circular | 13 dia | 10 | 1030 |
| 3. Chest | 1 | ellipsoid | 30x20 | 40 | 16970 |
| 4. Pelvis | 1 | ellipsoid | 36x20 | 20 | 9990 |
| 5. Arms | 2 | circular | 10 dia | 60 | 3800 (2) |
| 6. Thighs | 2 | circular | 15 dia | 40 | 6050 (2) |
| 7. Calves | 2 | circular | 12 dia | 40 | 3745 (2) |
| Total | 10 | 170 | 58,705 |
| Phantom ID# | Radionuclide | Calibration Date | Activity (nCi) ± Uncertainty |
Activity (nCi) on 01Jan2007 | Uncertainty Measure | Order Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL-101 | 40K | - | 940 | ± | 80 | 940 | 1sd | PNNL |
| PL-102 | 137Cs | 1/12/90 | 307 | ± | 8 | 207 | 1sd | PNNL |
| PL-103 | 137Cs | 3/12/92 | 503.7 | ± | 8.5 | 357.7 | 3sd | PNNL |
| PL-104 | 154Eu 155Eu 125Sb |
1/1/95 1/1/95 1/1/95 |
994 225 235 | ± ± ± | 58 15 14 |
386 42.0 11.6 |
PNNL | |
| PL-105 | 133Ba | 9/23/92 | 289.6 | ± | 2.8 | 115.2 | 99%ci | PNNL |
| PL-106 | 152Eu 40K |
6/17/93 - |
224.0 115 | ± ± | 1.4 5.75 |
110.7 115 |
90%ci 1sd |
PNNL |
| PL-107 | 137Cs 40K |
5/1/93 - |
121.3 23 | ± ± | 2.1 1.15 |
88.4 23 |
99.7%ci | PNNL |
| PL-108 | 137Cs 60Co |
5/8/96 5/8/96 |
541.9 537.6 | ± ± | 13.5 5.0 |
423.4 132.0 |
Canada Bureau | |
| PL-109 | 40K | not available | 0.16 | ± | 0.16 | Sandia | ||
| Phantom ID# | Radionuclide | Calibration Date | Activity (kBq) ± Uncertainty |
Activity (kBq) on 01Jan2007 | Uncertainty Measure | Order Info | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PL-101 | 40K | 4/27/90 | 34.8 | ± | 3.0 | 34.8 | 1sd | PNNL |
| PL-102 | 137Cs | 1/12/90 | 11.4 | ± | 0.30 | 7.7 | 1sd | PNNL |
| PL-103 | 137Cs | 3/12/92 | 18.64 | ± | 0.31 | 13.2 | 3sd | PNNL |
| PL-104 | 154Eu 155Eu 125Sb |
1/1/95 1/1/95 1/1/95 |
36.78 8.3 8.7 | ± ± ± | 2.1 0.6 0.5 |
14 1.6 0.4 |
PNNL | |
| PL-105 | 133Ba | 9/23/92 | 10.72 | ± | 0.10 | 4.3 | 99%ci | PNNL |
| PL-106 | 152Eu 40K |
6/17/93 - |
8.3 4.255 | ± ± | 0.052 0.21275 |
4.1 4 |
90%ci 1sd |
PNNL |
| PL-107 | 137Cs 40K |
5/1/93 - |
4.488 0.851 | ± ± | 0.078 0.0426 |
3.3 0.851 |
99.7%ci |
PNNL |
| PL-108 | 137Cs 60Co |
5/8/96 5/8/96 |
20.05 19.89 | ± ± | 0.50 0.19 |
15.7 4.9 |
Canada Bureau | |
| PL-109 | 40K | - | 0.0059 | ± | 0.0059 | Sandia | ||
Phantom ID#: PL-101
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 44 lean muscle tissue-substitute composed of polyurethane, CaCO3, and KOCO(CHOH)2COOH; with a measured variation in activity distribution of <3.4%(n=5).
Phantom ID#: PL-102
Density of filler: 1.01 g/ml
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material:Phantom is filled with ICRU 44 lean muscle tissue-substitute composed of polyurethane and CaCO3, with a measured variation in activity distribution of <3.4%(n=5). No 40K added. The 137Cs SRM was calibrated by counting relative to NIST Reference Point Source #4207B-15.
Phantom ID#: PL-103
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 46 adult average soft tissue substitute composed of a elastomer polyurethane, potassium bitartrate, CaCO3, and additives. Filler density is 1.06 g/mL Calculated attenuation coefficients for the tissue substitute are within 2% of ICRU 46 values. Independent elemental analysis of the elastomer results in a composition of: C-64.56%, H-9.52%, N-2.79%, O-23.19%. A nominal amount of 40K is distributed in the tissue material to provide background.
Phantom ID#: PL-104
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 44 lean muscle tissue-substitute composed of polyurethane and CaCO3, with a measured variation in activity distribution of 1.1%(n=5). Contains 3.606 g of NIST SRM 4276C-49. No 40K added. The tissue substitute is accurate to within 5% of ICRU 44 lean muscle tissue attenuation coefficients for photons between 100-3000 keV.
Phantom ID#: PL-105
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 46 Adult average soft tissue substitute composed of polyurethane, K2CO3, and Bi2O3. Attenuation coefficients for 133Ba photon energies above 75 keV within 0.9% - 6.8% of ICRU 46 values. 40K content approximates ICRP 23 Reference Man.
Phantom ID#: PL-106
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 46 Adult average soft tissue substitute composed of polyurethane, potassium bitartrate, and K2CO3 (filler density of 1.022 g/mL). Attenuation coefficients for photon energies are within 2% of ICRU 46 values. 40K content approximates ICRP 23 Reference Man. 88Y, originally present in phantom has decayed out.
Phantom ID#: PL-107
Canadian BRMD 4-Yr-old Child: Ht. 105 cm., Wt. 18.3 kg
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 46 average soft tissue substitute composed of polyurethane, potassium bitartrate, and Bi2O3 (filler density 1.03 g/mL). Attenuation coefficients for photon energies are within 1% of ICRU 46 values. 40K content reflects ICRP 23 information. 88Y, originally present in phantom has decayed out.
Phantom ID#: PL-108
Reference Female
Total Mass: 55.55 kg. (Active mass 45.46 kg.)
Phantom is filled with PNNL's average soft tissue substitute, composed of an elastomer polyurethane, CaCO3, and K2CO3 for an 81 nCi 40K background contribution (density of filler 1.046 g/mL). The tissue substitute has a total attenuation coefficient within 2% of ICRU 46 average soft tissue. Uniform distribution of 137Cs / 60Co exits in tissue substitute. 40K content reflects ICRP 23 information on Reference Female.
Phantom ID#: PL-109
Reference Man
Tissue Substitute Material: Phantom is filled with ICRU 46 Average Soft Tissue tissue-substitute composed of polyurethane and 4.31% CaCO3 (density 1.03 g/mL). No 40K added. Trace quantity of 40K from CaCO3 calculated as 0.16 nCi in total phantom. Phantom is useful as a blank measurement for determinations of background spectrum subtraction.