Radiation Shielding Garment Weight Transfer Exoskeleton
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation shielding garments for medical professionals are cumbersome and can cause discomfort and fatigue due to the weight they distribute on the shoulders, leading to potential injuries and reduced mobility during prolonged medical procedures.
Innovation Solution
A radiation shielding system that includes a weight transfer support system with an exoskeleton to bear the weight of the shielding garment, allowing it to be partially or fully supported by a vest, skirt, and scarf, and a method of assembling the garment using a laminate structure with radiation shielding materials, which can be attached to a weight transfer device for improved distribution of weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation shielding garments are made with sufficient shielding material, then radiation protection is improved, but weight increases causing shoulder fatigue and reduced mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a weight transfer support system with an exoskeleton structure that acts as a counterweight mechanism. The exoskeleton bears the weight of the shielding garment and transfers it to the user's hips and legs through a waist belt, rather than letting the shoulders bear the full weight. This counteracts the harmful effect of weight on the user's body while maintaining the necessary radiation shielding.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton serves as an intermediary device between the heavy shielding garment and the user's body. It mediates the weight transfer from the shoulders to the hips and legs, allowing the user to wear adequate shielding without experiencing the full burden of the garment's weight on their shoulders and neck.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation shielding garments are made with sufficient shielding material, then radiation protection is improved, but mobility is reduced due to weight and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton weight transfer system counteracts the weight of the shielding garment, making it feel lighter on the user's shoulders. By redistributing the weight to the hips and legs, the system maintains radiation protection while significantly improving ease of movement and reducing fatigue during prolonged procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton acts as an intermediary that enables the user to wear adequate shielding materials without compromising mobility. It mediates between the requirement for heavy shielding and the need for ease of movement by providing mechanical support and weight distribution.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation shielding garments are made with sufficient shielding material, then radiation protection is improved, but fatigue increases during prolonged procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The exoskeleton weight transfer system continuously counteracts the weight of the shielding garment throughout prolonged procedures. By maintaining weight distribution on the hips and legs rather than the shoulders, it prevents fatigue accumulation over time, allowing medical professionals to work longer without experiencing increased exhaustion.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton serves as a continuous intermediary support during extended procedures, mediating the weight burden throughout the entire duration of the medical procedure. This sustained weight transfer prevents fatigue from building up over time, enabling longer work periods while maintaining protection.
4Ease of operation
If weight transfer support system is added to radiation shielding garment, then weight distribution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The weight transfer support system is segmented into distinct functional components: an exoskeleton structure for weight bearing, a waist belt for hip attachment, and connection points on the shielding garment. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall assembly while achieving effective weight distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The exoskeleton structure serves multiple functions: it supports the weight of the shielding garment, provides structural stability, and acts as a attachment point for the waist belt. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved weight distribution.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoulder transfer weight support apparatus including a hip or waist belt, a back support, and one or more shoulder extensions. The support apparatus includes an integrated radiation shielding unit. Optionally, the apparatus includes a face shield at least partially made of a radiation shielding material that is configured to releasable attach to the apparatus. The face shield can be a full face shield or a partial face shield.