Radiation protective glove

• US 5,548,125 A
• Filed: 01/18/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Original Assignee: Smith & Nephew PLC
• Inventors: Sandbank, Barry M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Bruce C.
• Application Number:
  US08/182,057
• Time in Patent Office: 945 Days
• Field of Search: 250/505.1, 250/515.1, 250/516.1, 250/519.1
• US Class Current: 250/519.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/00 Surgical gloves; Finger-stalls specially adapted for surgery; Devices for handling or treatment thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 42/10 Surgical gloves
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 1/106 metallic dispersions
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/035 Gloves mounting means on glove boxes G21F7/053

Abstract

Radiation protection gloves for surgical and medical use which have a layer of flexible polymer containing at least 25% by volume of particulate tungsten material and a radiation absorbing capacity equivalent to that of 0.13 mm of lead. The glove preferably comprises an elastomer such as ethylene propylene diene copolymer.

Claims

1. A radiation protective glove for surgical and medical use comprising a layer of flexible polymer containing at least 25-90% by volume of particulate tungsten material and having a radiation absorbing capacity equivalent to that of at least 0.13 mm thickness of lead said layer of the glove being of a thickness of 0.1 to 1.3 mm and being sufficiently flexible to enable the wearer to bend finger portions of the glove without undue force, to hold instruments, and to obtain a sense of touch and feel through the walls of the glove.

2. A radiation protective glove according to claim 1 having radiation absorbing capacity equivalent to that of 0.13 mm thickness of lead.

3. A glove as claimed in claim 1 in which the polymer is an elastomeric polymer.

4. A glove as claimed in claims 3 in which the elastomeric polymer comprises an ethylene propylene or ethylene propylene diene copolymer.

5. A glove as claimed in claim 4 in which the elastomeric polymer contains up to 50% by weight of hydrocarbon plasticiser.

6. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which has a radiation capacity equivalent to that of at least 0.25 mm thickness of lead.

7. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which has a radiation capacity equivalent to that of at least 0.35 mm thickness of lead.

8. A glove as claimed in claim 1 in which the polymer layer has a thickness of 0.2 mm to 1.0 mm.

9. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which in the polymer layer contains 30% to 60% by volume of particulate tungsten material.

10. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which is capable of absorbing at least 85% of the incident radiation generated at voltages of 60 to 100 kVp.

11. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which is capable of absorbing at least 90% of the incident radiation generated at voltages of 60 to 100 kVp.

12. A glove as claimed in claim 1 which is capable of absorbing at least 95% of the incident radiation generated at voltages of 60 to 100 kVp.

14. A process as claimed in claim 11 in which the forming step comprises a moulding step.

13. A process for forming a flexible radiation protective glove for surgical and medical use having a radiation absorbing capacity equivalent to that of at least 0.13 mm thickness of lead which comprises forming the glove from a polymer composition comprising a flexible polymer and containing at least 25-90% by volume of a particulate tungsten material, said glove being sufficiently flexible to enable the wearer to bend finger portions of the glove without undue force, to hold instruments, and to obtain a sense of touch and feel through the walls of the glove, and wherein said wall of the glove has a thickness of 0.1 to 1.3 mm.