Surgical Drape with Integrated Radio-Protective Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current radiation shielding solutions for medical procedures, such as X-ray imaging in angioplasty, fail to effectively protect operators and assistants from diffuse secondary radiation due to gaps in coverage and difficulty in positioning protective gear during rotating machinery and varying patient angles.
Innovation Solution
A sterile surgical drape with an integrated radio-protective layer that provides comprehensive coverage, featuring pre-cut holes for access and a radiation-absorbing sheet with at least 0.25 mm lead equivalence at 70 kVp, ensuring protection across all angles without obstructing the operator's access.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If free-standing protecting pads are placed directly on the patient to fill gaps, then radiation protection is improved, but the operator cannot see the X-ray secondary radiation that leaks through the patchy barrier, making it difficult to know how to place the pads or which one to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the surgical drape with the radiation protective layer into a single integrated unit. The protective layer is built into the drape structure, eliminating the need for separate free-standing pads. This integration provides comprehensive coverage including previously inaccessible areas like the operator's region near the table edge, while maintaining ease of positioning as it is deployed as a single unit rather than multiple separate components.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a large radio-protective sheet is used to cover all possible radiation angles, then radiation protection is improved, but the imaging machinery needs to move around the patient and the operator needs to have unobstructed access to different parts of the patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the protective coverage into functional zones with precut access holes positioned at specific locations (e.g., 10-20 cm from edges, at intersections of imaginary lines dividing the drape). This segmentation allows the drape to provide comprehensive radiation protection while maintaining unobstructed access to different patient areas during procedures, as the access holes can be opened to expose specific regions when needed.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If radiation shielding is placed directly on the patient to decrease scatter, then operator doses are reduced, but placement of high attenuation objects in the path of the primary beam can markedly increase radiation to the patient through automatic exposure control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by positioning the radiation protective layer specifically in regions where scatter radiation is most problematic (such as within 10-20 cm of the table edge and in areas away from the primary beam path). The precut access holes are strategically placed to provide protection in these localized areas without interfering with the primary beam, thereby reducing operator exposure while avoiding unnecessary increase in patient radiation through automatic exposure control adjustments.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The integrated radio-protective surgical drape significantly reduces operator and assistant exposure by up to 90% compared to existing solutions like RADPADs, nearly eliminating exposure in many cases and providing reliable, gap-free protection.
Implementation Method 1
a radiation-absorbing sheet with at least 0.25 mm lead equivalence at 70 kVp
Data Source
AI summary
Invasive cardiology and radiology are widespread procedures that involve the use of X-ray radiations for imaging. During these procedures, the operators are exposed to a variable dose of radiation. It is shown that these professionals are among the most exposed to ionizing radiations. New studies have shown that brain cancers can be linked to these exposures. As these exposures are harmful to health, maximum protection is required to protect the patient and the staff. The current invention provides an improved protective shield to fully protect the staff in cardiologic, angiologic, and radiologic procedures. The present invention relates to a modified surgical drape that include a layer that absorbs the X-rays scattered from the patient's body during invasive angiology procedures.