System and Method for Providing a Suspended Personal Radiation Protection System

• US 20100107320A1
• Filed: 01/15/2010
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Interventco, LLC
• Original Assignee: Interventco, LLC
• Inventors: Rees, Chet R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,598,554 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/456
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/107 Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4423 related to hygiene or sterilisation
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing

Abstract

An improved personal radiation protection system 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 provide constant force and allows the operator to move freely in the X, Y and Z planes simultaneously, such that the protective garment, face shield, illumination means or other attachments integrated the system are substantially weightless to the operator. A face shield and arm cover can also be incorporated with the system, such that the face shield and arm cover are substantially weightless to the operator. The suspension means may be mounted to the ceiling, a vertical wall, the floor, or on a mobile platform.

Claims

1. A protection apparatus, comprising:

a garment that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body wherein the garment is operable to protect the operator from a substantial portion of radiation;

a frame that substantially contours to the operator'"'"'s body wherein the frame is operable to support the garment and is operable to substantially maintain its substantially contoured shape in the absence of the operator; and

,

a suspension assembly operable to support the protection apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the suspension assembly is one selected from a group of components from the group consisting of:

a) a trolley;

b) an articulating arm;

c) a balancer;

d) a reaction arm;

e) an extension arm;

f) a jib crane;

g) a wire rope; and

,

h) a bridge crane.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a binding assembly operable to provide for engaging the operator and the protection apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a first binding component attached on or about the frame.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a second binding component attached on or about the operator'"'"'s person.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a second binding component attached on or about the garment.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a male-female connection operable to detachably secure the operator to the protection apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a friction connection operable to detachably secure the operator to the protection apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes a magnetic connection operable to detachably secure the operator to the protection apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the binding assembly includes hook and loop fasteners to detachably secure the operator to the protection apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a locking mechanism operable to substantially immobilize at least one component of the suspension assembly.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a light source detachably secured to the frame.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a face shield movably secured to the frame.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the operator engages with the radiation protection system by moving into proximity with the protection system.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the operator engages with the radiation protection system by activating or deactivating an electromagnet.

26. The method of claim 13 wherein the operator engages with the radiation protection system by coupling a male binding component and a female binding component.

28. The method of claim 13 wherein the binding assembly is a selected one from the group consisting of:

a) hook and loop fasteners;

b) friction fasteners;

c) mechanical fasteners;

d) magnetic fasteners; and

,

e) electromagnetic fasteners.

29. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing a lamp detachably secured to the protection system.

30. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing an environmental control detachably secured to the protection system.

31. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

providing an instrument holder detachably secured to the protection system.

14. A method, comprising:

suspending with a suspension assembly a radiation protection system which includes a garment and a face shield secured to a frame operable to protect an operator from a substantial portion of radiation;

contouring a portion of the frame to the operator'"'"'s body; and

,

engaging the operator with the protection system.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the protection system includes a binding assembly.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

immobilizing the protection system with a locking mechanism.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the suspension assembly is a selected one from a group of components the group consisting of:

a) a trolley;

b) an articulating arm;

c) a balancer;

d) a reaction arm;

e) an extension arm;

f) a jib crane;

g) a wire rope; and

,

h) a bridge crane.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the binding assembly includes a first binding component attached on or about the protection system.

19. The method of claim 15 wherein the binding assembly includes a second binding component attached on or about the operator'"'"'s person.

20. The method of claim 15 wherein the binding assembly forms a rigid connection between the first and second binding components.

21. The method of claim 15 wherein the binding assembly forms a flexible connection between the first and second binding components.

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the operator disengages with the radiation protection system by pushing away from the frame.

25. The method of claim 14 wherein the operator disengages with the radiation protection system by activating or deactivating an electromagnet.

27. The method of claim 14 wherein the operator disengages with the radiation protection system by decoupling a male binding component and a female binding component.

32. A protection apparatus, comprising:

a frame that substantially contours to an operator'"'"'s body;

a face shield supported by the frame; and

,

a suspension assembly operable to support the protection apparatus.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the suspension assembly is one selected from a group of components from the group consisting of:

a) a trolley;

b) an articulating arm;

c) a balancer;

d) a reaction arm;

e) an extension arm;

f) a jib crane;

g) a wire rope; and

,

h) a bridge crane.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising:

a binding assembly operable to provide for engaging the operator and the protection apparatus.

35. The apparatus of claim 32, further comprising a light source detachably secured to the frame.

36. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the face shield is movably attached to the frame.