Movable shield for reducing radiation exposure of medical personnel

Abstract

A movable device holds a radiation protection drape for reducing exposure and protecting medical personnel from hazardous X-ray radiation scattered by the patient during fluoroscopy. The device enables positioning an X-ray opaque drape such that it covers the patient in an anatomically and procedurally compatible ways that reduces significantly the scattered radiation towards the operators. The device is capable of repositioning the X-ray opaque drape according to the C-arm movement to prevent interfering with the X-ray beam and the fluoroscopy image. The device is simple to use, reusable, and intended for the invasive, diagnostic and interventional procedure done in the catheterization laboratory.

1 . A movable X-ray shield apparatus for reducing exposure of medical personnel to scattered X-ray, comprising:
 a rail, capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed;   a carriage, capable of sliding along said, rail;   at least one pole, connected substantially vertically to said carriage;   a bridge, capable of sliding along said at least one pole; and   an X-ray opaque shield, supported by said bridge, and capable of blocking scattered X-ray radiation.   
     
     
         2 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said opaque shield is rigid. 
     
     
         3 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid opaque shield is connected to said bridge with at least one pivot, and capable of being positioned in at least two angular positions with respect to said patient table. 
     
     
         4 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said rigid opaque shield is optically transparent. 
     
     
         5 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein;
 said opaque shield comprises an X-ray opaque blanket; and   said X-ray opaque blanket is supported by at least one arm connected to said bridge.   
     
     
         6 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising at least one X-ray shielding blanket or strip, capable of blocking scattered X-ray radiation, from escaping the gap between said X-ray shield and said rail. 
     
     
         7 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a motorized actuator, capable of moving said carriage along said rail. 
     
     
         8 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a motorized actuator, capable of moving said bridge along said at least one pole. 
     
     
         9 . The movable shield apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising a handle for moving the movable shield apparatus along said rail. 
     
     
         10 . An extendable shield apparatus for reducing radiation exposure of medical personnel comprising:
 a base, capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed;   a pole, connected substantially vertically to said base;   a dispenser for X-ray opaque blanket, supported by said pole; and   a self-supporting X-ray opaque blanket capable of being extended from said dispenser.   
     
     
         11 . The extendable shield apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said pole is capable of moving vertically in respect to said base. 
     
     
         12 . The extendable shield apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said pole is capable of rotating in respect to said base. 
     
     
         13 . The extendable shield apparatus of  claim 10 , and further comprising swivel joint. that allows rotating the dispenser in respect to said pole. 
     
     
         14 . The extendable shield apparatus of  claim 10 , and further comprising:
 a retracting motor, capable of retracting said self-supporting X-ray opaque blanket into said dispenser; and   an extending motor, capable of extending said self-supporting X-ray opaque blanket out of said dispenser.   
     
     
         15 . The extendable shield apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein said self-supporting opaque blanket comprises a plurality of reed springs, capable of keeping said self-supporting opaque blanket in substantially horizontal position when extended, yet allow said blanket to bead as it is retracted into said dispenser. 
     
     
         16 . A fluoroscopy system comprising:
 a C-arm unit comprising;
 an X-ray tube, capable of producing X-ray beam; 
 an X-ray Imager, capable of detecting said X-ray beam; and 
 at least one light source capable of producing at least one light beam, wherein said least one light beam is situated to mark the edge of said X-ray beam; 
   a patient bed comprising a patient table; and   an X-ray shield apparatus comprising an X-ray opaque shield for reducing radiation exposure of medical personnel.   
     
     
         17 . The fluoroscopy system of  claim 16 , wherein said at least one light source is attached to said X-ray imager. 
     
     
         18 . The fluoroscopy system of  claim 16 , wherein said X-ray shield apparatus is further comprising:
 a light sensor, capable of sensing said at least one light beam; and   at least one motorized actuator, capable of adjusting the position of said X-ray opaque shield in response to signals from said light sensor such that said X-ray opaque shield would not block said X-ray beam.   
     
     
         19 . The fluoroscopy system of  claim 16 , wherein said X-ray shield apparatus is further comprising:
 an X-ray sensor, capable of sensing said X-ray beam; and   at least one motorized actuator, capable of adjusting the position of said X-ray opaque shield in response to signals from said X-ray sensor such that said X-ray opaque shield would not substantially block said X-ray beam.   
     
     
         20 . The fluoroscopy system of  claim 16 , wherein said X-ray shield apparatus is further comprising:
 a rail, capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed;   a carriage, capable of sliding along said rail;   at least one pole, connected substantially vertically to said carriage; a bridge, capable of sliding along said at least one pole; and   an X-ray opaque shield, supported by said bridge, and capable of blocking scattered X-ray radiation.   
     
     
         21 . The fluoroscopy system of  claim 16 , wherein said X-ray shield apparatus is further comprising:
 a base, capable of being connected to a patient table of an X-ray fluoroscopy bed;   a pole, connected substantially vertically to said base;   a dispenser for X-ray opaque blanket, supported by said pole; and   a self-supporting X-ray opaque blanket, capable of being extended from said dispenser.