SE541578C2 - Radiation protecting garment system - Google Patents

Abstract

A radiation protecting garment system (2) comprising a protective garment (4) that substantially contours to an operator’s (6) body and is operable to protect a portion of the operator’s body from radiation, the garment (4) comprises two attachment arrangements (8) wherein each is arranged at a shoulder region of the garment, and that each attachment arrangement (8) comprises an attachment member (10). The garment system further comprises an overhead suspension assembly (12) configured to suspend said protective garment (4) to reduce at least a portion of the weight of the garment for the operator (6), and that the suspension assembly (12) comprising two suspension members (14), each attached to an end of an elongated flexible suspension cable (16). Each of the two suspension members (14) is structured to cooperate with one of said attachment members (10), constituting a suspension pair, such that said suspension member (14) is detachably attachable to said attachment member (10). The suspension members (14) and said attachment members (10) are made from materials having inherent magnetic capability such that magnetic attraction forces are present when the suspension member (14) is in the vicinity of the attachment member (10), and wherein the magnetic attraction forces are such that the protective garment (4) is suspended during normal use, but also such that manual detachment is possible.

Description

Radiation protecting garment system Technical field The present disclosure relates to a radiation protecting garment system configured to suspend a protecting garment worn by a physician during a medical procedure.

Background The invention as disclosed and described herein relates generally to suspension devices, and more particularly to devices for suspending medical equipment such as personal radiation protecting garments, radiation shields or lead aprons worn by medical personnel in a medical environment.

Performance of medical procedures can be a physically demanding job, potentially creating discomfort and health issues for medical personnel. For example, a doctor performing a medical procedure can expose his body to radiation, such as X-rays, which are used to perform many medical diagnostic and therapeutic tests and procedures. In particular, cardiac catheterization procedures can expose doctors and other medical personnel to potentially dangerous X-rays.

To minimize exposure to radiation, medical personnel performing procedures having risk of X-ray exposure commonly wear personal protective garments containing radiation-absorbing materials, generally lead foil or other metals, which are worn in the fashion of a vest and apron.

Such garments can be uncomfortable, heavy and place significant stress on the operator's body, especially the spine, over the course of a working day which may be 8 hours or longer. This issue presents a significant health concern for medical operators in radiation environments, such as personnel in a cardiac catheterization laboratory or orthopedic operating theater. The effects of an operator wearing a heavy radiation shielding garment over an extended period of time is known to be associated with maladies of the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine, knee problems, foot problems, and other musculoskeletal dysfunctions, which can result in disability, medical expenses, and decreased quality of life for the operator. Further, the use of such garments can impact the quality of patient care by placing undue physical stress on the operator.

Thus, there is a need for radiation shielding suspension devices for use in a medical environment. The suspension system should allow an operator to wear a personal radiation protection garment minimizing the weight on his body, while not substantially limiting his freedom of movement. In addition the suspension system should allow the operator to quickly release the garment from the suspension system so as to allow an operator wearing the garment to move free of the suspension system.

In the following patent documents some known suspension devices are briefly discussed.

US-9349492 relates to a radiation shielding suspension device comprising a support member, a vertical member, a swing arm, an attachment member, a balancer, a spreader bar, and a plurality of straps, being attachable to a radiation shielding garment, such as a lead apron is provided. An operator can attach straps to a radiation shielding garment thus offsetting the weight of the garment and providing the operator unbiased mobility along a transverse axis and around a rotational axis.

US-9198470 relates to an adapter device for radiation protective garments that includes a user engagement unit that is interposed between a lower member and an upper member via a connector. The lower member includes a generally curved main body having two shafts extending upward. The user engagement unit includes an upper shoulder strap having a pair of shaft apertures. The upper member includes a generally curved main body having another pair of shaft apertures and a protrusion extending from the top surface of the upper member. The lower member, upper member and user engagement unit are functionally secured by a pair of shaft connectors.

US-7608847 relates to a personal radiation protection garment that substantially contours to an operator's body and is suspended from a suspension means. The garment is operable to protect the operator from radiation. The suspension means is operable to apply a constant force. The suspension means allows the operator wearing protective radiation garment to move freely in the X, Y, and Z spatial planes simultaneously, such that the protective radiation garment is substantially weightless to operator. A radiation protection face shield and flap can also be suspended from suspension means, such that face shield and flap are substantially weightless to operator. The suspension means can be mounted to a ceiling.

US-2009/0256044 is directed to a system and method for suspending a personal radiation protection device. The system includes a support member and a cable mechanically suspended from the support member. The system also includes a member for counter-balancing the weight of a personal radiation protection device. The counter-balancing member is attached to the cable. The system further includes a member for attaching the counter-balancing member to the personal radiation protection device.

US-7973299 relates to a system for providing radiation protection is provided that includes a garment that contours to an operator's body. The garment protects the operator from radiation. The garment is supported by a suspension component that reduces a portion of weight of the garment for the operator.

During many medical procedures, and particularly in invasive medical procedures, sterility is a very important issue. Thus, the personnel involved therefore need to take all necessary measures in order to fulfil the stipulated sterility rules. One important measure is that the operator uses a so-called surgical coat, i.e. a coat that is sterile, that has to be worn outside of a protecting garment if such a garment is used.

One drawback with the prior art suspension devices is that none of them provides suspension of the garment when an operator wears a surgical coat outside of the protecting garment. Thus, one object of the present invention is to achieve an improved suspension device that enables an operator to wear a surgical coat outside of the protecting garment. One further and more general object is to achieve a further improved suspension device that provides for a simplified attachment and detachment of the garment to a suspension assembly.

Summary The above-mentioned objects are achieved by the present invention according to the independent claims.

Preferred embodiments are set forth in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the present invention a radiation protecting garment system is provided comprising a protective garment that substantially contours to an operator’s body and is operable to protect a portion of the operator’s body from radiation. The garment comprises two attachment arrangements wherein each is arranged at a shoulder region of the garment, and that each attachment arrangement comprises an attachment member. The system further comprises an overhead suspension assembly configured to suspend the protective garment to reduce at least a portion of the weight of the garment for the operator, and that the suspension assembly comprising two suspension members, each attached to an end of an elongated flexible suspension cable, wherein each of the two suspension members is structured to cooperate with one of the attachment members, thereby constituting a suspension pair, such that the suspension member is detachably attachable to the attachment member. The suspension members and the attachment members are made from materials having inherent magnetic capability such that magnetic attraction forces are present when the suspension member is in the vicinity of the attachment member, and wherein the magnetic attraction forces are such that the protective garment is suspended during normal use, but also such that manual detachment is possible.

The radiation protecting garment system disclosed herein is advantageous in that it facilitates easy attachment and detachment of the protective garment by providing suspension pairs wherein magnetic forces bring the members together to achieve the suspension, but also provides for manual detachment.

According to one embodiment the magnetic attraction force, for one suspension pair, is in the range of 50-150 N. Thereby it is secured that the protective garment is securely held in place during use, but also that manual detachment is facilitated.

According to another embodiment, at least one of the suspension member and the attachment member in a suspension pair is provided with guiding means structured to guide the members in a suspension pair into an attachment position with respect to the magnetic attraction force, wherein the guiding means comprises at least one wall member having an extension along a longitudinal axis A of an assembled suspension pair. This is advantageous in order to provide for an easy attachment of the suspension member to the attachment member.

According to still another embodiment one of the suspension member and the attachment member in a suspension pair has a bowl-like shape and the other member has a rounded shape that corresponds to and fits into the bowl-like shape.

According a further embodiment the suspension member is structured to be detached from the attachment member by a detachment procedure including tilting the suspension member in relation to a longitudinal axis A of an assembled suspension pair and against a guiding means, and in particular against a wall member of the guiding means, provided at the attachment member or suspension member. This is advantageous in that easy manual detachment of the protecting garment is thereby achieved.

According to another embodiment, suspension of the protective garment is facilitated with a surgical coat arranged outside protective garment, wherein each of the suspension members is structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between the suspension member and the attachment member. Thus, the magnetic force is such that a secure attachment is achieved with up to approximately 2-3 mm distance between the members, i.e. even if the surgical coat fabric is folded several times the garment should be suspended.

This embodiment is advantageous in that a sterile environment is easily achieved in combination with the use a protecting garment. A further advantage is that no openings or special arrangements need to be provided at the surgical coat, i.e. a normal surgical coat may be used.

According to an alternative embodiment suspension of the protective garment with a surgical coat arranged outside the protective garment is facilitated by the suspension members, wherein each of the suspension members is structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between the suspension member and the attachment member, and that the attachment is mechanical. Also this embodiment is advantageous in that a sterile environment is easily achieved in combination with the use of a protecting garment. A further advantage is that no openings or special arrangements need to be provided at the surgical coat, i.e. a normal surgical coat may be used.

According to still another embodiment, which is applicable both to the magnetic and mechanical attachment, each of the attachment arrangements is further provided with a shield holding member structured to receive and attach a head and neck shield to be arranged to protect from radiation the back head and neck of an operator. In many medical procedures hazardous radiation may reach the back head and neck of the operator. By providing a shield holding member at the attachment arrangement a head a neck shield may easily be attached to the protecting garment as a complement in achieving an improved protection for the operator.

Brief description of the drawings Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a radiation protecting garment system according the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a suspension pair according to one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a suspension pair according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a suspension pair according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figures 5a-5c illustrates various views of a suspension pair according to still another embodiment.

Figure 6 is a schematic illustration of a radiation protecting garment system according an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description The garment system will now be described in detail with references to the appended figures. Throughout the figures the same, or similar, items have the same reference signs. Moreover, the items and the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.

First with references to the schematic illustration in figure 1 a radiation protecting garment system 2 is provided. The garment system comprises a protective garment 4 that substantially contours to an operator’s 6 body and is operable to protect a portion of the operator’s body from radiation. The garment includes radiation-absorbing materials, generally lead foil or other metals, and has an extension that covers an essential part of the body. The garment has an exemplary thickness in the order of e.g. 1-3 mm, which normally is required to achieve a stipulated radiation protection when a lead foil is used as radiationabsorbing material.

The garment 4 comprises two attachment arrangements 8 wherein each is arranged at a shoulder region of the garment, and that each attachment arrangement 8 comprises an attachment member 10. The attachment arrangement comprises a fastening part 32 which preferably has a flat structure that follows the shape of the garment in the shoulder region. The fastening part 32 is fixated to the garment e.g. by an adhesive or a suitable mechanical fixture. The attachment member 10 is attached to the fastening part 32, e.g. by a suitable mechanical fixture, e.g. by one or many screws.

The garment system further comprises an overhead suspension assembly 12 configured to suspend the protective garment 4 to reduce at least a portion of the weight of the garment for the operator 6. The suspension assembly 12 comprises two suspension members 14, each attached to an end of an elongated flexible suspension cable 16. The upper ends of each of the suspension cables are joined together in a common suspension cable that in turn is attached to a suspension arrangement. The suspension cable may e.g. be a wire made from metal or a plastic material. It should be flexible but non-elastic. An essentially horizontally arranged bar 34 may be provided to position the two suspension cables at a suitable distance from each other to match each suspension member to a mating attachment member. In the figure the suspension arrangement is only schematically indicated.

However, the suspension arrangement comprises means to continuously adjust to length of the suspension cables in order to achieve the necessary upward directed force required to suspend the protective garment. This is indicated by a vertical double-arrow. The suspension arrangement also comprises means to adjust the horizontal position of the suspension cable, which is indicated by a horizontal double-arrow. This suspension arrangement may be attached to the ceiling and various equipment is provided to achieve and adjust the horizontal position.

Each of the two suspension members 14 is structured to cooperate with one of the attachment members 10, constituting a suspension pair, such that the suspension member 14 is detachably attachable to the attachment member 10.

The suspension members 14 and the attachment members 10 are made from materials having inherent magnetic capability such that magnetic attraction forces are present when the suspension member 14 is in the vicinity of the attachment member 10 urging the members together. The vicinity may be a distance up to approximately 15-20 mm. One of the members in a suspension pair may be a magnet, e.g. a neodymium magnet, and the other member is then made from a magnetic material, e.g. a ferromagnetic material. The magnetic attraction forces are such that the protective garment 4 is suspended during normal use, but also such that manual detachment is possible.

According to one embodiment the magnetic attraction force, for one suspension pair, is in the range of 50-150 N. The required magnetic attraction force is of course dependent on the weight of the protection garment. A typical weight of the garment is in the range of 8-12 kg.

According to another embodiment at least one of the suspension member 14 and the attachment member 10 in a suspension pair is provided with guiding means 18 structured to guide the members in a suspension pair into an attachment position with respect to the magnetic attraction force. This is illustrated in figures 2 and 3. The guiding means 18 comprises at least one wall member 20 having an extension along a longitudinal axis A of an assembled suspension pair. In the illustrated embodiments the attachment members are provided with the guiding means, and specifically with wall members 20.

According to still another embodiment, one of the suspension member 14 and attachment member 10, preferably the attachment member, in a suspension pair has a bowl-like shape and the other member has a rounded shape that corresponds to and fits into said bowl-like shape. In figure 2, the attachment member 10 has a bowl-like shape, and the suspension member 14 has a rounded shape. In figure 4 one example of this embodiment is illustrated.

Preferably, the suspension member 14 is structured to be detached from the attachment member 10 by a detachment procedure including tilting the suspension member 14 in relation to the longitudinal axis A of the assembled suspension pair and against the guiding means 18, and in particular against the wall member 20 of the guiding means, provided at the attachment member or suspension member. Thereby, the required breaking force is achieved to detach the suspension member from the attachment member. To further facilitate the detachment procedure, one of the members, preferably the suspension member, is provided with an elongated rigid part oriented along the longitudinal axis A. Thereby the operator, or a person assisting the operator, easily may achieve the required breaking force by a tilting manoeuvre. In figures 2 and 3 the rigid part is indicated by a bold line. In the example illustrated in figure 4 the rigid part has curved shape which makes the suspension member easy to handle.

Often a medical operator has to wear a sterile surgical coat during the medical procedure that then must be worn outside a protective garment. According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention the suspension of the protective garment 4 is facilitated with a surgical coat 22 arranged outside the protective garment 4. Thus, each of the suspension members 14 is structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member 10 having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between the suspension member 14 and the attachment member 10. In figure 2 is illustrated a suspension pair where a layer of surgical coat fabric is between the members of the suspension pair.

During use the medical operator puts on the sterile surgical coat outside the protective garment. The easily recognizable bowl-like shape of the attachment members according to one embodiment is particularly advantageous in order to feel the position of the attachment members through the surgical coat fabric in order to correctly orient the respective suspension member in relation to the attachment members.

According to an alternative embodiment the attachment between the suspension members and attachment member instead is mechanical. This embodiment is schematically illustrated in figures 5a-5c. In particular, the suspension of the protective garment 4 is facilitated with a surgical coat 22 arranged outside the protective garment 4. Each of the suspension members 14 is then structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member 10 having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between the suspension member 14 and the attachment member 10. In this embodiment, where the attachment between the suspension members and attachments members is mechanical, one member of a suspension pair is preferably provided with a lateral extension means 24 and the other member is provided with a corresponding recess 26. The recess 26 is structured to receive and mechanically attach the lateral extension means, to detachably attach the attachment member 10 to the suspension member 14. In figure 5a a schematic cross-sectional view to a suspension pair, in a nonconnected state, according to this embodiment, is illustrated.

In figure 5b a view from above of the attachment member is shown, and in figure 5c a cross-sectional view of the assembled members of a suspension pair is shown. In order to attach the suspension member 14 to the attachment member 10 the extension means 24 is inserted into the recess 26, to the right in the illustrated figures, and then moved to the left until the extension means 24 is in the position of a correspondingly shaped mating part of the attachment member. Further means, not shown, may be provided to lock the attachment member in the assembled position.

In some medical procedures it is beneficial to also have a radiation protection shield adapted to protect the back head and the neck of the operator. According to a preferred variation applicable to all embodiments disclosed herein each of the attachment arrangements 8 is further provided with a shield holding member 28 structured to receive and attach a head and neck shield 30 to be arranged in order to protect the back head and neck of an operator from radiation. This is illustrated in figure 6. In the figure the head and neck shield is schematically indicated as a dotted rectangle. The shield may naturally have any possible shape as long as it fulfils it radiation protection purposes.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described preferred embodiments. Various alternatives, modifications and equivalents may be used. Therefore, the above embodiments should not be taken as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appending claims.

Claims (8)

Claims

1. A radiation protecting garment system (2) comprising - a protective garment (4) that substantially contours to an operator’s (6) body and is operable to protect a portion of the operator’s body from radiation, the garment (4) comprises two attachment arrangements (8) wherein each is arranged at a shoulder region of the garment, and that each attachment arrangement (8) comprises an attachment member (10), - an overhead suspension assembly (12) configured to suspend said protective garment (4) to reduce at least a portion of the weight of the garment for the operator (6), and that the suspension assembly (12) comprising two suspension members (14), each attached to an end of an elongated flexible suspension cable (16), wherein each of said two suspension members (14) is structured to cooperate with one of said attachment members (10), constituting a suspension pair, such that said suspension member (14) is detachably attachable to said attachment member (10), characterzed in that said suspension members (14) and said attachment members (10) are made from materials having inherent magnetic capability such that magnetic attraction forces are present when the suspension member (14) is in the vicinity of the attachment member (10), and wherein the magnetic attraction forces are such that the protective garment (4) is suspended during normal use, but also such that manual detachment is possible.

2. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic attraction force, for one suspension pair, is in the range of 50-150 N.

3. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of said suspension member (14) and said attachment member (10) in a suspension pair is provided with guiding means (18) structured to guide the members in a suspension pair into an attachment position with respect to the magnetic attraction force, wherein said guiding means (18) comprises at least one wall member (20) having an extension along a longitudinal axis A of an assembled suspension pair.

4. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to any of claims 1-3, wherein one of said suspension member (14) and said attachment member (10) in a suspension pair has a bowl-like shape and the other member has a rounded shape that corresponds to and fits into said bowl-like shape.

5. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the suspension member (14) is structured to be detached from said attachment member (10) by a detachment procedure including tilting said suspension member (14) in relation to a longitudinal axis A of an assembled suspension pair and against a guiding means (18) provided at said attachment member or suspension member.

6. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to any of claims 1-5, wherein suspension of said protective garment (4) is facilitated with a surgical coat (22) arranged outside said protective garment (4), wherein each of the suspension members (14) is structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member (10) having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between said suspension member (14) and said attachment member (10).

7. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to claim 1, wherein suspension of said protective garment (4) with a surgical coat (22) arranged outside said protective garment (4) is facilitated by the suspension members (4), wherein each of the suspension members (14) is structured to being detachably attached to a respective attachment member (10) having at least one layer of surgical coat fabric between said suspension member (14) and said attachment member (10), and wherein said attachment is mechanical.

8. The radiation protecting garment system (2) according to any of claims 1-7, wherein each of said attachment arrangements (8) is further provided with a shield holding member (28) structured to receive and attach a head and neck shield (30) to be arranged to protect from radiation the back head and neck of an operator.