System and Method for Implementing a Suspended Personal Radiation Protection System

• US 20070138415A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interventco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Interventco, LLC
• Inventors: Rees, Chet
• Granted Patent: US 7,608,847 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/516.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/107 Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/92 Garment supporter or retainer having a hook-loop type fastener

Abstract

A personal radiation protection garment that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body is suspended from a suspension means. The garment is operable to protect the operator from radiation. The suspension means is operable to apply constant force. The suspension means allows operator wearing protective radiation garment to move freely in the X, Y, and Z spatial planes simultaneously, such that the protective radiation garment is substantially weightless to operator. A radiation protection face shield and flap can also be suspended from suspension means, such that face shield and flap are substantially weightless to operator. The suspension means can be mounted to a ceiling.

Claims

1. A method for a suspended personal radiation protection device, comprising:

providing a garment that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body, wherein the garment is operable to protect the operator from radiation, and wherein the garment is suspended from a suspension component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension component allows the operator, who is wearing the garment to move freely in X, Y, and Z spatial planes simultaneously, and wherein the garment is substantially weightless to the operator.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension component is operable to support weight of the operator, and wherein the operator can move around with reduced weight.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment further comprises a face shield, the face shield being substantially weightless to operator, and wherein the face shield is substantially transparent to visible light, allowing the operator unhindered vision, the face shield protecting operator'"'"'s head from radiation.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the garment further comprises a flap, the flap being substantially weightless to the operator, and wherein the flap is operable to protect the operator from radiation between the garment and the face shield.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a removable sleeve, wherein the sleeve is operable to protect the operator from radiation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension component is mounted to a ceiling.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension component further comprises a constant force balancer, wherein the balancer is a selected one of a group of balancers, the group consisting of:

a) a spring balancer;

b) one or more counterweights;

c) a constant force spring;

d) a pneumatic balancer;

e) an air balancer;

f) a spring motor; and

g) an intelligent assist device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the suspension component further comprises a bridge, one or more rails, and a trolley, wherein the bridge freely moves along rail, and wherein the trolley freely moves along bridge.

10. A system for a suspended personal radiation protection device, comprising:

providing a garment that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body, wherein the garment is operable to protect the operator from radiation, and wherein the garment is suspended from a suspension component.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the suspension component allows the operator, who is wearing the garment to move freely in X, Y, and Z spatial planes simultaneously, and wherein the garment is substantially weightless to the operator.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the suspension component is operable to support weight of the operator, and wherein the operator can move around with reduced weight.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the garment further comprises a face shield, the face shield being substantially weightless to operator, and wherein the face shield is substantially transparent to visible light, allowing the operator unhindered vision, the face shield protecting operator'"'"'s head from radiation.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the garment further comprises a flap, the flap being substantially weightless to the operator, and wherein the flap is operable to protect the operator from radiation between the garment and the face shield.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the garment comprises a removable sleeve, wherein the sleeve is operable to protect the operator from radiation.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the suspension component is mounted to a ceiling.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the suspension component further comprises a constant force balancer, wherein the balancer is a selected one of a group of balancers, the group consisting of:

a) a spring balancer;

b) one or more counterweights;

c) a constant force spring;

d) a pneumatic balancer;

e) an air balancer;

f) a spring motor; and

g) an intelligent assist device.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the suspension component further comprises a bridge, one or more rails, and a trolley, wherein the bridge freely moves along rail, and wherein the trolley freely moves along bridge.

19. An apparatus for a suspended personal radiation protection device, comprising:

providing a garment that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body, wherein the garment is operable to protect the operator from radiation, and wherein the garment is suspended from a suspension component.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the suspension component allows the operator, who is wearing the garment to move freely in X, Y, and Z spatial planes simultaneously, and wherein the garment is substantially weightless to the operator.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the suspension component is operable to support weight of the operator, and wherein the operator can move around with reduced weight.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the garment further comprises a face shield, the face shield being substantially weightless to operator, and wherein the face shield is substantially transparent to visible light, allowing the operator unhindered vision, the face shield protecting operator'"'"'s head from radiation.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the garment further comprises a flap, the flap being substantially weightless to the operator, and wherein the flap is operable to protect the operator from radiation between the garment and the face shield.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the garment comprises a removable sleeve, wherein the sleeve is operable to protect the operator from radiation.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the suspension component is mounted to a ceiling.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the suspension component further comprises a constant force balancer, wherein the balancer is a selected one of a group of balancers, the group consisting of:

a) a spring balancer;

b) one or more counterweights;

c) a constant force spring;

d) a pneumatic balancer;

e) an air balancer;

f) a spring motor; and

g) an intelligent assist device.

27. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the suspension component further comprises a bridge, one or more rails, and a trolley, wherein the bridge freely moves along rail, and wherein the trolley freely moves along bridge.