Radiation protection system

• US 6,448,571 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2000
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James A. Goldstein
• Original Assignee: James A. Goldstein
• Inventors: Goldstein, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Berman, Jack
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandez, Kalimah
• Application Number:
  US09/638,772
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 250/515.1, 250/505.1, 250/516.1, 250/517.1, 378/189, 378/167
• US Class Current: 250/515.1
• 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 3/00 Shielding characterised by its physical form, e.g. granules, or shape of the material
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing

Abstract

A radiation protection system around a patient on an x-ray table includes a radiation protection wall with an opening around the x-ray table, a radiation screen over the patient, and a flexible interface joining the cubicle and the x-ray table. The wall shields medical personnel in an operating region from most radiation output by an x-ray emitter. The radiation screen is attached to the x-ray table such that it can be retracted to the foot of the x-ray table and extended over the patient such that it is interposed between the patient and the medical personnel. The interface has flexible joints attached to the wall and a flexible radiation-resistant skirt that joins the wall to the screen and covers the opening in the wall. An access port may be formed in the screen, and a shielding cloak can cover the access port to surround medical instruments that are threaded through the port and inserted into the patient.

Claims

1. A radiation protection system for shielding medical personnel from most radiation from an x-ray emitter and from x-ray scattering during radiologic procedures in which the medical personnel operate in close proximity to a patient on an x-ray table, comprising:

a radiation-shielding wall separating the medical personnel from the x-ray emitter and having an opening around the x-ray table;

a radiation-shielding screen attached to the x-ray table and interposed between the patient and the medical personnel; and

a radiation-shielding flexible interface joining said wall with the x-ray table and said screen, said flexible interface having a flexible radiation-resistant skirt covering said opening in said wall.

2. A radiation protection system according to claim 1 wherein said screen has an instrument port through which the medical personnel can operate on the patient.

3. A radiation protection system according to claim 2 further comprising a radiation-shielding cloak attached to said screen around said instrument port.

4. A radiation protection system according to claim 1 wherein said screen has a control port through which the medical personnel can control the x-ray table.

5. A radiation protection system according to claim 1 wherein said screen is movably attached to the x-ray table such that said screen can be retracted and extended.

6. A radiation protection system according to claim 1 wherein said screen is comprised of a plurality of screen supports slidably attached to the x-ray table and a radiation-resistant partition attached to said screen supports.

7. A radiation protection system according to claim 1 wherein said interface is comprised of a plurality of flexible joints connecting said wall with the x-ray table and said skirt is attached to said joints and joins said wall with said screen.

8. A radiation protection system for shielding medical personnel from most radiation from an x-ray emitter and from x-ray scattering during radiologic procedures in which the medical personnel operate with surgical equipment in an operating region adjacent to a patient on an x-ray table, comprising:

a radiation-shielding cubicle surrounding the medical personnel in the operating region and extending over the x-ray table adjacent to the operating region, said cubicle having a wall with an opening around the x-ray table;

a radiation-shielding screen attached to the x-ray table and interposed between the x-ray table and the medical personnel; and

a radiation-shielding flexible interface circumferentially joining said cubicle with the x-ray table and said screen, said flexible interface having a flexible radiation-resistant skirt covering said opening in said wall.

9. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said screen has an instrument port through which the medical personnel operate on the patient with the surgical equipment.

10. A radiation protection system according to claim 9 further comprising a radiation-shielding cloak attached to said screen and surrounding the surgical equipment around said instrument port.

11. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said screen has a control port through which the medical personnel can control the x-ray table.

12. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said screen is movably attached to the x-ray table such that said screen can be retracted and extended.

13. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said screen is comprised of a plurality of screen supports slidably attached to the x-ray table and a radiation-resistant partition attached to said screen supports.

14. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said interface is comprised of a plurality of flexible joints connecting said cubicle with the x-ray table and said flexible radiation-resistant skirt is attached to said joints and joins said cubicle with said screen.

15. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said cubicle has a half-wall separating the operating region from the x-ray table.

16. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said cubicle has a shelf for placing surgical equipment.

17. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said cubicle has an access panel for passing surgical equipment.

18. A radiation protection system according to claim 8 wherein said cubicle has a tubing port for running surgical equipment.

19. A process for shielding medical personnel from an x-ray emitter and x-ray scattering in an operating region in close proximity to a patient on an x-ray table, the steps comprising:

isolating the operating region from the x-ray emitter with a radiation-shielding wall and a radiation-shielding flexible interface;

covering the patient with a radiation-shielding screen adjacent to the operating region; and

joining said wall and said screen with said flexible interface.