Radiation protection system

• US 7,091,508 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2003
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ECO Cath-Lab Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Goldstein, James A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Johnston, Phillip A.
• Application Number:
  US10/721,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20040161076A1
• Time in Patent Office: 995 Days
• Field of Search: 250/515.1
• 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 method of performing a medical procedure includes providing a radiation-shielding cubicle having an interior defining a medical personnel region and including a first wall having an opening therein, locating the cubicle with respect to an x-ray table so a portion of the x-ray table extends through the opening into the interior of the cubicle, and separating medical personnel from an x-ray emitter disposed outside of the cubicle using the first wall to shield the medical personnel from radiation emitted by the x-ray emitter.

Claims

1. A method of performing a medical procedure, said method comprising:

providing a radiation-shielding cubicle having an interior defining a medical personnel region and including a first wall having an opening therein;

locating the cubicle with respect to an x-ray table so a portion of the x-ray table extends through the opening into the interior of the cubicle; and

separating medical personnel from an x-ray emitter disposed outside of the cubicle using the first wall to shield the medical personnel from radiation emitted by the x-ray emitter.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising joining the x-ray table to the cubicle using a radiation-shielding flexible interface.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2 wherein said joining the x-ray table to the cubicle using a radiation-shielding flexible interface comprises joining the x-ray table to the first wall using the radiation shielding flexible interface.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising sealing the opening in the first wall using a flexible radiation-resistant skirt.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising circumferentially joining the x-ray table to the cubicle using a flexible radiation-resistant skirt.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising attaching a radiation-shielding screen to the x-ray table so the radiation-shielding screen covers a portion of a patient supported by the x-ray table and covers a portion of a top surface of the x-ray table.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising joining the first wall to the radiation-shielding screen using a flexible radiation-resistant skirt.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the radiation-shielding screen has at least one port for facilitating access to the patient, said method further comprising:

inserting procedural equipment through the port to access the patient with the procedural equipment; and

performing a medical procedure on the patient using the procedural equipment.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising positioning a cloak over the port to create a substantially radiation-resistant seal over the port and around the procedural equipment.

10. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein the radiation-shielding screen has at least one port for facilitating at least one of connection and access to controls for at least one of the x-ray table, the x-ray emitter, and a catheterization system monitor, said method further comprising accessing the controls using the port to control at least one of the x-ray table, the x-ray emitter, and the catheterization system monitor.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

detecting radiation levels within the radiation-shielding cubicle; and

terminating operation of the x-ray emitter when the detected radiation levels are above a predetermined level.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising monitoring portions of the patient located outside the radiation-shielding cubicle from inside the radiation-shielding cubicle using a video camera.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising communicating with the patient from inside the radiation-shielding cubicle using a two-way microphone system.