Neck guard

Abstract

To provide a neck guard capable of properly protecting the thyroid gland in comfort flexibly according to various postures of medical staff.SOLUTION: A neck guard 1 includes: a first curved side portion 2A that is circumferentially curved including a radiation shielding material; a second curved side portion 2B that is circumferentially curved including the radiation shielding material; a rear portion 4 placed between the first curved side portion 2A and the second curved side portion 2B; a pair of connecting members 5, 5 that connects the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B to the rear portion 4; and a flexible protruding portion 10 that is attached to the rear part 4 so as to protrude upward from the rear part 4.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1A

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a neck guard that protects the thyroid gland of medical personnel such as doctors from exposure to radiation, and more specifically, to a neck guard that can flexibly accommodate various positions of medical personnel and enable accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable state. [Background technology]

[0002] During surgery or examination, an X-ray is irradiated onto the affected area from an X-ray imaging device, and an operator such as a doctor checks the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the affected area. In this case, various protective shields have been proposed to protect the doctor or other operator from radiation such as X-rays. For example, the operator wears a radiation protector to protect the thyroid gland.

[0003] Existing radiation protection protectors include, for example, a head shielding part that blocks radiation entering through the head and a face shielding part that blocks radiation entering through the face, with the head shielding part configured to cover the top, forehead, and sides of the head, and the face shielding part configured to cover the eyes and the surrounding areas (see Patent Document 1).

[0004] Mihama Medical Co., Ltd. offers the X-ray protective clothing shown in Figure 7A. Hoshina Seisakusho Co., Ltd. offers the neck guard shown in Figure 7B. Maeda Co., Ltd. offers the neck protector shown in Figure 7C. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-225702 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] As mentioned above, there are many types of protectors that protect the thyroid gland from radiation exposure. However, all of them are designed to be worn around the neck or chest, which often makes the surgeon feel uncomfortable during surgery.

[0007] Furthermore, this structure meant that whenever the surgeon looked down, his or her chin would hit the protector, causing discomfort.On the other hand, when the surgeon looked up, the thyroid gland would also move up, which meant that the protector might not be able to fully cover the thyroid gland.

[0008] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a neck guard that can flexibly accommodate various postures of medical professionals and accurately protect the thyroid gland in a comfortable state. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The aspects of the present invention are as follows. [Aspect 1] A neck guard for shielding the thyroid gland from radiation, comprising: A neck guard comprising: first and second curved side portions each containing a radiation shielding material and curved in a circumferential direction; a rear portion provided between the first and second curved side portions; and a pair of connecting members that rotatably connect the first and second curved side portions to the rear portion. [Aspect 2] The neck guard according to aspect 1, A neck guard comprising a protrusion attached to the rear portion so as to protrude upward from the rear portion. [Aspect 3] The neck guard according to aspect 1 or 2, A neck guard in which a first locking portion is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end of the first curved side portion, and a second locking portion that locks the first locking portion is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end of the second curved side portion.

[0010] [Aspect 4] A neck guard according to aspect 3, A neck guard, wherein the first and second fastening portions are hook-and-loop fasteners. [Aspect 5] A neck guard according to aspect 3, A neck guard, wherein one of the first and second engaging portions is a magnetic sheet, and the other of the first and second engaging portions is a metal plate. [Aspect 6] The neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 5, A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material includes any metal or metal salt that has radiation shielding ability.

[0011] [Aspect 7] The neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 6, A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material contains a radiation shielding substance equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mmPb. [Aspect 8] The neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, A neck guard, wherein smooth portions are provided at the lower ends of the first and second curved side portions. [Aspect 9] 9. The neck guard according to claim 8, A neck guard having a smooth portion at the lower end portion of the rear portion. [Aspect 10] 10. The neck guard according to claim 8 or 9, A neck guard, wherein a front portion including the free ends of the first curved side portion and the second curved side portion is heavier than the rear portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] The neck guard of the present invention can flexibly accommodate various postures of medical personnel, enabling accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable state. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1A] 1 is a perspective view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 1B] FIG. 1 is a front view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2A] FIG. 1 is a side view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2B] FIG. 1 is a development view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3A] FIG. 2 is a top view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3B] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the neck guard according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a rear view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 6] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn. [Figure 7A] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard. [Figure 7B] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard. [Figure 7C] FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] A neck guard according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Corresponding parts in the drawings are given the same reference numerals and descriptions thereof will be omitted where appropriate.

[0015] A neck guard 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1A to 4. The neck guard 1 in this embodiment is a protector that protects the thyroid gland of an operator from radiation exposure, and is flexibly adaptable to various positions of such medical personnel, enabling accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable state.

[0016] The neck guard 1 is composed of a first curved side portion 2A that contains a radiation-shielding material and is curved in the circumferential direction, a second curved side portion 2B that contains a radiation-shielding material and is curved in the circumferential direction, a rear portion 4 that is provided between the first curved side portion 2A and the second curved side portion 2B, a pair of connecting members 5 that connect the first and second curved side portions 2A and 2B to the rear portion 4, and a protruding portion 10 that protrudes upward from the rear portion 4. The protruding portion 10 is detachably attached to the rear portion 4 and is flexible. The rear portion 4 can be made of a resin (acrylic resin) that does not contain a radiation-shielding material, or of a radiation-shielding material. The protruding portion 10 can be made of a bendable plate material (aluminum thin plate).

[0017] The connecting member 5 rotatably connects the connecting ends 7 of the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B to the rear portion 4. Furthermore, a first locking portion 11 is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end portion 6 of the first curved side portion 2 (left side in FIG. 1A), and a second locking portion 12 is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end portion 6 of the second curved side portion 2 (right side in FIG. 1A).

[0018] The radiation-shielding material may include any metal or metal salt having radiation-shielding ability, such as at least one element selected from the group consisting of lead, tungsten, tin, bismuth, iodine, cesium, barium, tantalum, antimony, gold, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium, each of which has an atomic number of 40 or more. Preferably, the radiation-shielding material can contain lead, barium nitrate, tungsten, or barium sulfate. More preferably, the radiation-shielding material can be made of a lead-containing resin plate (lead-containing acrylic resin), a barium sulfate-containing rubber sheet or resin, a tungsten-based fabric, or a barium sulfate-containing rubber sheet or resin. The radiation-shielding material contains a radiation-shielding substance (containing lead, barium nitrate, tungsten, or barium sulfate) equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mmPb, which is expected to provide approximately 90% protection (Guidelines for Radiation Exposure in Cardiovascular Care (Revised Edition) Q48, https: / / www.j-circ.or.jp / old / guideline / pdf / JCS2011_nagai_rad_h.pdf).

[0019] The locking portions 11 and 12 may be hook-and-loop fasteners (so-called Velcro), or one of the locking portions 11 and 12 may be a magnetic sheet and the other may be a metal plate.

[0020] When the free end 6A of the first curved side portion 2A and the free end 6B of the second curved side portion 2B are rotated toward each other relative to the rear portion 4 from the state shown in FIG. 1A , the first and second locking portions 11 and 12 are positioned facing each other. The first and second locking portions 11 and 12 are coupled together, closing the gap between the first and second free ends 8A and 8B, as shown in FIG. 1B . In the state shown in FIG. 1B , the first and second free ends 8A and 8B overlap, enhancing the radiation shielding effect in the overlapping portion of the neck guard 1 (the portion facing the thyroid gland). The diameter of the neck guard 1 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the locking positions of the first and second locking portions 11 and 12. This allows the neck guard 1 to be worn by a wide variety of body types, including men and women, those with thin or fat bodies, those with sloping shoulders, and those with short necks. Furthermore, by making the diameter of the neck guard 1 larger than the circumference of the surgeon's neck and leaving space around the neck, the neck guard 1 is worn so that the neck guard 1 does not cling to the surgeon and the surgeon does not feel hot.

[0021] By using such first engaging portion 11 and second engaging portion 12 to engage the first free end 6A and the second free end 6B and secure the neck guard 1 by wrapping around the outer periphery of the surgeon's neck, the neck guard 1 can be secured appropriately while flexibly responding to conditions such as the surgeon's neck size, shape, and body type.

[0022] The connecting members 5, 5 are composed of hinges or flexible members. The flexible members can be thick cloth or rubber sheets that have a predetermined tensile strength and sufficient flexibility. The first and second engaging portions 11, 12 can be omitted by making the force required to rotate the connecting members 5, 5 greater than the force applied by the surgeon's posture change. In this case, when the neck guard 1 is worn, the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B can rotate, preventing the neck guard 1 from falling off.

[0023] The lower end portion 8A of the first curved side portion 2A may have a smooth portion 9A that is smooth (gliding). The lower end portion 8B of the second curved side portion 2B may have a smooth portion 9B that is smooth. The lower end portion of the rear portion 4 may have a smooth portion 9C that is smooth.

[0024] The first smooth portion 9A, the second smooth portion 9B, and the third smooth portion 9C can be made of a flexible resin (vinyl pipe) that has smoothness and elasticity. Alternatively, the first smooth portion 9A, the second smooth portion 9B, and / or the third smooth portion 9C can be formed by sufficiently polishing the first lower end portion 8A, the second lower end portion 8B, and / or the lower end portion of the rear portion 4 in advance. The first smooth portion 9A and the second smooth portion 9B, which are made of flexible resin, are removed from below the first locking portion 11 and the second locking portion 12. This prevents interference between the first smooth portion 9A and the second smooth portion 9B when the first locking portion 11 and the second locking portion 12 are coupled.

[0025] The neck guard 1 has first and second curved side portions 2A and 2B whose lower end portion 8 is kept smooth by the smooth portion 9, so that when the surgeon wearing the neck guard 1 moves the part back and forth (see Figures 5 and 6), the neck guard can move smoothly back and forth around the neck in accordance with the movement.

[0026] To make this forward and backward movement even smoother, the neck guard 1 of this embodiment can be made heavier (weighted) at its front portion (for example, the portion in front of the surgeon) including the first free end 6A and / or the second free end 6B relative to the rear portion 4 (the portion in the rear of the surgeon). By making the front portion heavier than the rear portion in this way, the neck guard 1 can slide forward more easily when the surgeon leans his head or upper body forward.

[0027] This sliding allows the hollow part of the neck guard 1 (the part that wraps around the surgeon's neck) to move forward, preventing discomfort caused by the surgeon's chin hitting the neck guard 1. Even when the surgeon is not leaning forward normally, the neck guard 1 wraps around the neck with an appropriate hollow, eliminating the discomfort that was a problem with conventional technology when wearing the neck guard.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, the lower end of the rear portion 4 is provided with a curved lower end portion 4A that is curved upward. By providing the curved lower end portion 4A, it is possible to prevent the rear portion 4 from interfering with the trapezius muscle of the surgeon when the surgeon is wearing the neck guard 1. The vertical length of the rear portion can be the same as the vertical length of the free end portion or within ±10% of that length. The protruding portion 10 can be fixed to the inner or outer surface of the rear portion 4 with Velcro or the like so that its position can be adjusted. Furthermore, since the protruding portion 10 is bendable, it can be bent backward as shown in FIG. 2A to adjust how it contacts the back of the head.

[0029] In conventional neck guards, when the surgeon faces upward, the thyroid gland also moves upward, which may result in the neck guard not being able to completely cover the thyroid gland. In contrast, the neck guard 1 of this embodiment is provided with a protrusion 10. When the surgeon turns his / her face from a downward position to an upward position, the back of the surgeon's head presses down on the protrusion 10 provided on the rear portion 4 of the neck guard 1. This causes the front portion of the neck guard 1 (the portion on the first free end 6A and second free end 6B side) to move upward, covering the thyroid gland 20 (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This ensures that the thyroid gland 20 is covered, i.e., protected from radiation exposure, even when the surgeon faces upward. [Explanation of symbols]

[0030] 1 neck guard 2A First curved side 2B Second curved side 4 Rear 5 Connecting members 6A First free end 6B Second free end 7 Connecting end 8A First Lower End 8B Second lower end 9A First smooth section 9B Second smooth section 9C Third smooth section 10 Protrusion 11 First locking portion 12 second locking portion 20 Thyroid gland

Claims

1. A neck guard for shielding the thyroid gland from radiation, comprising: A neck guard comprising: first and second curved side portions each containing a radiation shielding material and curved in a circumferential direction; a rear portion provided between the first and second curved side portions; and a pair of connecting members that rotatably connect the first and second curved side portions to the rear portion.

2. The neck guard according to claim 1, A neck guard comprising a protrusion attached to the rear portion so as to protrude upward from the rear portion.

3. The neck guard according to claim 1 or 2, A neck guard, wherein a first engaging portion is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end of the first curved side portion, and a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end of the second curved side portion.

4. The neck guard according to claim 3, The neck guard, wherein the first and second fastening portions are hook-and-loop fasteners.

5. The neck guard according to claim 3, A neck guard, wherein one of the first and second engaging portions is a magnetic sheet, and the other of the first and second engaging portions is a metal plate.

6. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 5, A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material includes any metal or metal salt that has radiation shielding ability.

7. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 6, A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material contains a radiation shielding substance equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mm Pb.

8. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 7, A neck guard, wherein smooth portions are provided at the lower ends of the first and second curved side portions.

9. The neck guard according to claim 8, A neck guard having a smooth portion at the lower end portion of the rear portion.

10. The neck guard according to claim 8 or 9, A neck guard, wherein a front portion including the free ends of the first curved side portion and the second curved side portion is heavier than the rear portion.

Images