Movable shield for reducing radiation exposure of medical personnel

Abstract

A movable device holds a radiation protection drape for reducing exposure and protecting medical personnel from hazardous X-ray radiation scattered by the patient during fluoroscopy. The device enables positioning an X-ray opaque drape such that it covers the patient in an anatomically and procedurally compatible ways that reduces significantly the scattered radiation towards the operators. The device is capable of repositioning the X-ray opaque drape according to the C-arm movement to prevent interfering with the X-ray beam and the fluoroscopy image. The device is simple to use, reusable, and intended for the invasive, diagnostic and interventional procedure done in the catheterization laboratory.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to reducing exposure of medical personnel to X-ray radiation scattered by the patient body during fluoroscopic procedures.[0002]The harmful effect of radiation was soon recognised after the discovery of X-ray by Wilhelm Roentgen in 1895 yet the carcinogenesis potential of X-rays was not discovered till the middle of the twentieth century.[0003]Although the acute effects of radiation are not commonly a problem, the probability of occurrence of stochastic effect leading to cancer is directly related to the radiation dose.[0004]Stochastic effect is particularly important because there is no threshold below which, the radiation induced effect will not occur. Medical personnel involved in x-ray guided interventional procedures, including invasive and interventional cardiologists, have frequent exposure through, fluoroscopy and cineangiography; many of the above are long and complex procedures. Procedures done through the radial ar...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0032]The current invention discloses a movable device that holds a radiation protection drape for reducing exposure and protecting medical personnel from hazardous X-ray radiation scattered by the patient during fluoroscopy. The device enables positioning an X-ray opaque drape such that it covers the patient in an anatomically and procedurally compatible ways that reduces significantly the scattered radiation towards the operators. The device is capable of repositioning the X-ray opaque drape according to the C arm movement to prevent interfering with the X-ray beam and the fluoroscopy image. The device is simple to use, reusable, and intent for the invasive, diagnostic and interventional procedure done in the catheterization laboratory.

[0033]It is an aspect of the current invention to provide a movable X-ray shield apparatus for reducing exposure of medical personnel to scattered X-ray, comprising: a rail, capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed; a carriage 112, capable of sliding along said rail; at least one pole, connected substantially vertically to said carriage; a bridge, capable of sliding along said at least one pole; and an X-ray opaque shield, supported by said bridge, and capable of blocking scattered X-ray radiation.

Problems solved by technology

Medical personnel involved in x-ray guided interventional procedures, including invasive and interventional cardiologists, have frequent exposure through, fluoroscopy and cineangiography; many of the above are long and complex procedures.

Even shorter procedures done by the hundreds per year will lead to significant cumulative dose of radiation exposure to the operator.

While the acute radiation exposure per ease is not significant enough to be a major concern, the cumulative risk associated with a lifetime of exposure could become significant.

In addition to higher cancer risk, there is increase of cataract incidence compare to the general population.

As a consequence, avoiding using left radial due to fear of radiation exposure might prevent many patients from having radial procedures and will put them at risk for higher morbidity and mortality.

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