Constructing phantom heads for radiation research

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1963 · Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0030-4220(63)90073-2· OSTI ID:4671231

Richards, Albert G.; Webber, Richard L.

Construction of a phantom head, consisting of a human skull encased in plastic skin made in the shape of the human head, is described. Soft tissue was simulated effectively by filling the plastic head-shaped container with water. Plastic foam was used to exclude water from sinuses normally filled with air. The plastic portion of the foam was composed of elements of light atomic number, while light gases, which formed the voids within the bubbles, contributed most of the bulk of the foam. Roentgenograms of the foam indicated that it was extremely transparent to x radiation. Plastic skin was prepared from a mold obtained by sculpturing the phantom head. The assembled skull was first covered with aluminum foil to protect it from the molding clay used to reproduce the external soft-tissue features. Thin plastic coating was sprayed on the clay head to serve as a parting medium for subsequent preparation of a plaster cast. A sheet of transparent butyrate plastic 3/32 in. thick and slightly larger than the mold, was heated until it softened and began to sag. It was placed over the plaster mold, and a vacuum was used to force the plastic into the contours of the plaster mold. When-the excess of the plastic sheets was removed from along the profile of the formed head, the two halves of the head were cemented together along the midline. The top of the plastic head was removed to permit insertion of the skull within it, and small holes were drilled in the plastic head through which plastic rods were inserted to support and maintain the osseous tissues at definite distances from the plastic skin. The skull was soaked before insertion to prevent swelling which could break the seal of the plastic spacer rods and the plastic skin. Before use, the phantom head was filled with water containing a small amount of disinfectant. It was kept dry except when in use.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• NSA Number: NSA-17-035385
• OSTI ID: 4671231
• Journal Information: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Journal Name: Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 16; ISSN 0030-4220
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
AIR
ALUMINUM
BONES
BRAIN
FOAMS
GASES
LIGHT
MOCKUP
POLYMERS
RADIOGRAPHY
SKIN
TISSUES
USES
WATER
X RADIATION