Radiation protection screen
By generating luminous markers on the ground of the radiation protection screen, the problem of operators not being able to obtain adequate radiation protection behind the screen is solved, achieving intuitive protection zone delineation and effective radiation protection.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- LEMAY PAX
- Filing Date
- 2024-08-02
- Publication Date
- 2026-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing radiation protection screens cannot effectively protect operators from ionizing radiation when they are behind the screen and at a certain distance from the radiation protection panel, resulting in inadequate radiation protection.
A radiation protection screen including a back and a front is designed, equipped with a device for generating luminous marks on the ground. The luminous lines extending from the side of the screen by a laser device or other light source delineate the protection zone and provide a visual radiation protection area.
By generating luminous markers on the ground, operators can intuitively adjust their positions to obtain appropriate radiation protection, reduce psychological stress, and provide effective protection, avoiding risks caused by positional uncertainty.
Smart Images
Figure CN122161548A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] In general, this invention relates to the field of ionizing radiation protection equipment.
[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to radiation protection screens for use in medical or other environments to protect operators from ionizing radiation (e.g., X-rays). Background Technology
[0003] During certain examinations or surgeries, patients may be exposed to ionizing radiation, particularly X-rays, for monitoring, diagnostic, or therapeutic purposes.
[0004] This is especially applicable to procedures such as catheter insertion, pacemaker implantation, vascular, neurological or urinary system examinations, CRM (Cardiac Rhythm Management), CRT (Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy), or when performing fluoroscopy.
[0005] Specifically, fluoroscopy is an imaging technique that uses X-rays to acquire real-time images of objects. In the medical field, it can visualize the structure and function of a patient's internal organs, such as heartbeat or blood flow in blood vessels. This technology is used for both diagnosis and treatment; and it is applied in interventional fields, particularly in radiology, cardiology, neurology, electrophysiology, peripheral vascular radiology, and interventional pediatrics.
[0006] The rooms used for these specialties are equipped with fluoroscopic equipment (also known as C-arms), which typically take the form of a movable technical housing that extends into a large rack, with an X-ray emitting device at one end and a detector at the other.
[0007] In a fully equipped room, catheters and probes are introduced via access routes (usually the femoral or radial artery) for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. Often combined with the injection of contrast agents, X-rays allow visualization of the vascular network.
[0008] These fluoroscopic devices occupy a lot of space around the examination table, and their position is often adjusted according to the area of the patient's body to be examined or treated.
[0009] Understandably, it is crucial to properly protect operators (doctors, surgeons, technicians, nurses, or other personnel) from emitted ionizing radiation (primary radiation coming directly from the transmitter, or secondary radiation reflected by the equipment and the patient themselves) to prevent them from the risk of long-term exposure to high doses of radiation, which could induce various diseases (upper limb necrosis, brain tumors, cataracts, radiation dermatitis, etc.).
[0010] Therefore, protective clothing structures made of radiation protection materials exist, such as medical gowns, vests, aprons, thyroid shields, and goggles. However, these do not always cover the entire body, and their significant weight can impair operator comfort, restrict their mobility, and lead to rapid fatigue.
[0011] In addition, there are protective covers or radiation shields consisting of a panel or a panel assembly made of appropriate radiation protection materials, which are suspended on suitable supports or placed on the ground (either directly or via a rolling base).
[0012] Such radiation shield structures are described in documents US2012 / 0049093, US2006 / 0076522, FR2915868, WO2009 / 156660, US3308297, or EP3555892.
[0013] Such protective screen structures typically provide adequate protection for operators standing directly behind radiation protection panels.
[0014] However, when operators or other personnel are behind the protective screen and at a certain distance from the radiation protection panel, they cannot obtain specific radiation protection. Summary of the Invention
[0015] To overcome the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention relates to a protective shield made of radiation protection material for protecting operators from ionizing radiation such as X-rays or other rays. The protective screen includes a back panel and a front panel opposite the back panel, with the operator positioned facing the back panel. The protective screen is characterized by including a device for generating luminous markers on the ground, which are used to delineate areas considered as protected zones on one side of the back of the protective screen.
[0016] These luminous markers generated on the ground can inform people on site about the area of radiation protection provided by the shielding screen, and in particular, enable them to adjust their spatial position to obtain appropriate protection.
[0017] Other non-limiting and advantageous features of the protective screen according to the invention may be considered individually or in combination with any feasible technology: - The protective screen includes the sides of the screen. And an apparatus for generating luminous marks on the ground, the apparatus for generating luminous marks on the ground including an apparatus for generating luminous lines extending from at least one side of the protective screen; - The device for generating luminous markers on the ground includes a vertical planar beam; - The apparatus for generating luminous markers on the ground includes at least one laser device; - Each of the two protective screen sides includes a device for generating luminous lines on the ground, thereby generating two luminous lines that define the area behind the protective screen that is considered a protected zone. - The protective screen includes fixed lateral planar panels that at least form part of the side surface of the protective screen, the fixed lateral planar panels extending within respective planes P and P'. Furthermore, the device for generating luminous lines on the ground is arranged such that the generated luminous lines fall into or are parallel to planes P and P', with an angular deviation relative to planes P and P' not exceeding 10°. - Fixed lateral planar plates extend in their respective planes P and P', and are offset from each other by an angle between 70° and 100°; - The protective screen is placed on the ground via a rolling base, which includes wheels fixed to wheel brackets, wherein at least a portion of the wheel brackets are side wheel brackets arranged adjacent to the sides of the protective screen. The device for generating luminous markers on the ground is fixed to the side wheel bracket; - The protective screen includes a control device for controlling the activation and deactivation of the device that generates luminous markers on the ground, the control device being arranged on the back of the protective screen; - The protective screen includes at least one battery structure detachably fixed to the back of the protective screen for powering the device that generates luminous markers on the ground; - The protective screen includes a device for distinguishing luminous markers on the ground based on whether an ionizing radiation (such as X-rays or other rays) emitting device is activated.
[0018] Of course, different features, variations and embodiments of the present invention can be combined with each other in various ways, as long as they do not contradict or exclude each other. Attached Figure Description
[0019] Furthermore, various other features of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention, wherein: Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a protective screen made of radiation protection material according to the present invention; Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part A of the radiation shielding material shown. Detailed Implementation
[0020] Figure 1 and Figure 2 The radiation shield 1 shown is suitable for protecting operators, especially in hospital operating rooms, from ionizing radiation emitted by ionizing radiation sources (such as X-rays emitted by a C-arm fluoroscopy device).
[0021] Therefore, each component of the radiation shield 1 is made of radiation shielding material with an appropriate lead equivalent, which, depending on the specific component, is at least 0.2 mm. For example, the lead equivalent is between 0.5 mm and 3 mm.
[0022] The protective screen 1 made of radiation protection material may correspond to the type described in document EP3555892.
[0023] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the radiation shield 1 is in the form of a movable compartment, with a general horizontal cross-section of a dihedron, including a back panel 2 and a front panel 3. The operator is positioned facing the back panel 2 (located on the acute angle side of the dihedron). Figure 1 (Identified by position B), the front 3 of the protective screen is opposite to the back 2 of the protective screen.
[0024] The lateral orientation of radiation shield 1 is defined by side 4 and side 5 of the shield.
[0025] The protective screen side 4 forms the free side edge of the fixed lateral planar plate 6, which extends in plane P and runs through the entire height of the protective screen 1; while the protective screen side 5 is divided into a first part 51 and a second part 52. The first part 51 forms the free edge of the fixed lower lateral planar plate 7, which extends in plane P', and the second part 52 forms the free boundary of the movable upper lateral planar plate 8.
[0026] The fixed lateral plane plate 6 is located at the vertical or substantially vertical corner edge 9: - It is fixedly connected to the lower lateral flat plate 7, and - It is pivotally connected to the movable upper lateral planar plate 8.
[0027] Fixed lateral plane plate 6 and fixed lateral plane plate 7 extend in planes P and P' respectively, and these two planes are offset from each other by an angle between 70° and 100° (preferably about 90°).
[0028] The individual planar panels 6, 7 and 8 that make up the radiation shielding screen 1 are made of radiation shielding materials (such as steel, lead, lead glass, etc.).
[0029] The entire assembly is mounted on a ground-based supporting rolling base 10, which includes: - Front wheel 11, fixed to front wheel bracket 12, and - Side wheel 13, fixed on side wheel bracket 14, wherein the side wheel bracket 14 is arranged near the protective screen side 4 and side 5.
[0030] The upper edge of the fixed lateral planar plate 6 and the upper edge of the movable lateral planar plate 8 each include an extension, which forms a top cover 15 and a top cover 16, respectively. The top cover 15 and the top cover 16 are made of radiation protection material and extend on this side of the back of the shield 2.
[0031] The extension forming the top cover 16 extends in a plane offset relative to the plane of the extension forming the top plate 15, so as to avoid hindering the pivoting movement of the movable upper lateral planar plate 8.
[0032] According to the present invention, the radiation protection screen 1 includes means 17, 17a for generating luminescent marks 18, 18a on the ground, the luminescent marks 18, 18a being adapted to delineate an area C, which is considered a protected zone, on this side of the back 2 of the protection screen.
[0033] In the illustrated embodiment, the apparatus for generating luminous markers on the ground includes means for generating luminous lines 18, 18a that extend from at least one of the sides 4 and 51 of the protective screen, preferably from both of the sides 4 and 51 of the protective screen.
[0034] The luminous lines 18 and 18a extend from the protective screen side 4 and side 51, or from the vicinity of side 4 and side 51 (a few centimeters or tens of centimeters), and can be several meters long (e.g., 1 to 4 meters).
[0035] For this purpose, laser devices 17 and 17a are used here, which are adapted to generate vertical plane beams 19 and 19a. The projections of the vertical plane beams 19 and 19a on the ground form luminous lines 18 and 18a on the sides of the radiation shield 1, respectively.
[0036] For example, the XtrAlign HU LASER – 5HU52 green laser provided by the German company LAP LASER can be used.
[0037] To limit or even avoid any discomfort to people in the surrounding area, the laser devices 17 and 17a are positioned on the protective screen 1 as close to the ground as possible.
[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, laser devices 17, 17a are fixed to side wheel brackets 14, which are located on or near the sides 4 and 51 of the protective screen.
[0039] In an alternative embodiment, the device for generating luminous markers on the ground may be fixed to other areas of the radiation shield 1, for example, directly fixed to the shield side 4 and side 5, or fixed to the side planar plate 6 and fixed side planar plate 7.
[0040] Preferably, the devices 17, 17a for generating luminous lines 18, 18a on the ground are arranged to generate the luminous lines in at least one of the planes P, P' of the fixed lateral plane plate 6 and the fixed lateral plane plate 7, or to generate the luminous lines parallel to at least one plane P, P' of the fixed lateral plane plate 6 and the fixed lateral plane plate 7, with an angular deviation of less than 10° relative to each plane P, P'.
[0041] The lengths of the luminous lines 18, 18a and the directions of the beams 19, 19a that produce them are adjusted according to the required safety features and the conventional positioning of the protective screen 1 relative to the radiation source located in front of the front 3 of the protective screen.
[0042] However, the luminous lines can also face different directions, especially depending on the actual location of the protective screen relative to the ionizing radiation source.
[0043] The device for generating luminous markers on the ground (here, laser devices 17, 17a) is powered by one or more battery structures 20.
[0044] Advantageously, the battery structure 20 is detachably fixed to the back of the protective screen 2.
[0045] In addition, the control device 21 (e.g., a switch in the form of a spring-loaded button or a touch button) can control the activation and deactivation of the devices 17, 17a used to generate luminous marks on the ground.
[0046] The control device 21 is located on the back of the protective screen 2, which is convenient for the operator at position B to enable and disable it.
[0047] The luminous markers on the ground can be configured differently depending on whether the ionizing radiation (such as X-rays or other rays) emitting device is activated. For example, the luminous markers on the ground can be green when the ionizing radiation emitting device is not activated, and red when it is activated. Alternatively, when the ionizing radiation emitting device is activated, the luminous markers on the ground can be set to an oscillating mode.
[0048] Preferably, the radiation protection zone C that is delineated, displayed, or emphasized is defined as the area between two luminous lines 18, 18a extending from the side 4 and side 5 of the protective screen.
[0049] It should be noted that in certain specific cases, generating a single luminous line extending from only one of the protective screen sides 4 or 5 may be sufficient.
[0050] As another variation, devices other than lasers can also be used to generate luminous markers on the ground.
[0051] For example, an apparatus for generating ground-emitting markers may include a conventional light source equipped with a light-shielding plate for forming vertical slits (to generate a vertical beam of light whose projection on the ground constitutes the desired luminous line).
[0052] According to another alternative embodiment, the apparatus for generating ground luminous markers may include a plurality of light sources whose projections on the ground form dot-shaped or small luminous areas, thereby defining at least a portion of the outline of the protected area; or form one or more large luminous areas by projection to constitute or define the extent of the protected area.
[0053] An adjustment device can also be set up to adjust the direction of the beam that generates the ground luminous markers, so as to adjust the marking range of the protected area according to the actual situation and needs.
[0054] For protective screen structures that do not have a rolling base on the ground, they may also be equipped with the aforementioned device for generating ground luminous markers, which are used to define the area considered as a protected zone on this side of the back of the protective screen structure.
[0055] The radiation protection screen 1 according to the present invention can present a visual radiation protection zone to the personnel behind the screen in a simple and intuitive way, aiming to provide effective protection and eliminate psychological stress caused by location uncertainty.
Claims
1. A protective shield (1) made of radiation protection material for protecting an operator from ionizing radiation such as X-rays or other rays. The protective screen (1) includes a back panel (2) and a front panel (3) opposite to the back panel (2). The operator is positioned facing the back panel (2). Its features are, The protective screen (1) includes devices (17, 17a) for generating luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground, the luminous markers (18, 18a) being adapted to define an area (C) considered as a protected zone on one side of the back (2) of the protective screen.
2. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective screen (1) includes the protective screen sides (4, 5), Furthermore, the apparatus (17, 17a) for generating luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground includes means for generating luminous lines (18, 18a) extending from at least one side (4, 5) of the protective screen.
3. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that, The apparatus (17, 17a) for generating luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground includes a vertical planar beam (19, 19a).
4. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The apparatus (17, 17a) for generating luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground includes at least one laser device (17, 17a).
5. A protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 3 or 4 of claim 2, characterized in that, The two protective screen sides (4, 5) each include a device (17, 17a) for generating luminous marks (18, 18a) on the ground, thereby generating two luminous lines (18, 18a), and a region (C) is defined between the two luminous lines (18, 18a) on one side of the back (2) of the protective screen, said region (C) being regarded as the protective zone.
6. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to claim 5, characterized in that, The protective screen (1) includes fixed lateral planar plates (6, 7), which at least constitute a part of the side surface (4, 5) of the protective screen, and the fixed lateral planar plates (6, 7) extend in their respective planes (P, P'). Furthermore, the apparatus (17, 17a) for generating luminous marks (18, 18a) on the ground is arranged such that the generated luminous lines (18, 18a) fall into or are parallel to the plane (P, P'), with an angular deviation relative to the plane (P, P') not exceeding 10°.
7. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to claim 6, characterized in that, The fixed lateral planar plates (6, 7) extend within their respective planes (P, P'), which are offset from each other by 70° to 100°.
8. A protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 3 to 7 of claim 2, characterized in that, The protective screen (1) is placed on the ground via a rolling base (10), the rolling base including wheels (11, 13) fixed to wheel brackets (12, 14), wherein at least a portion of the wheel brackets (14) are side wheel brackets (14), the side wheel brackets (14) being arranged near the side (4, 5) of the protective screen. The device (17, 17a) for generating luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground is fixed to the side wheel bracket (14).
9. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The protective screen (1) includes a control device (21) for controlling the activation and deactivation of the device (17, 17a) that generates luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground. The control device (21) is arranged on the back (2) of the protective screen.
10. The protective screen (1) made of radiation protection material according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The protective screen (1) includes at least one battery structure (20) for powering a device (17, 17a) that generates luminous markers (18, 18a) on the ground, the battery structure (20) being detachably fixed to the back (2) of the protective screen.