Development of a New Radiation Shield for the Face and Neck of IVR Physicians

Abstract

Interventional radiology (IVR) procedures are associated with increased radiation exposure and injury risk. Furthermore, radiation eye injury (i.e., cataract) in IVR staff have also been reported. It is crucial to protect the eyes of IVR physicians from X-ray radiation exposure. Many IVR physicians use protective Pb eyeglasses to reduce occupational eye exposure. However, the shielding effects of Pb eyeglasses are inadequate. We developed a novel shield for the face (including eyes) of IVR physicians. The novel shield consists of a neck and face guard (0.25 mm Pb-equivalent rubber sheet, nonlead protective sheet). The face shield is positioned on the left side of the IVR physician. We assessed the shielding effects of the novel shield using a phantom in the IVR X-ray system; a radiophotoluminescence dosimeter was used to measure the radiation exposure. In this phantom study, the effectiveness of the novel device for protecting against radiation was greater than 80% in almost all measurement situations, including in terms of eye lens exposure. A large amount of scattered radiation reaches the left side of IVR physicians. The novel radiation shield effectively protects the left side of the physician from this scattered radiation. Thus, the device can be used to protect the face and eyes of IVR physicians from occupational radiation exposure. The novel device will be useful for protecting the face (including eyes) of IVR physicians from radiation, and thus could reduce the rate of radiation injury. Based on the positive results of this phantom study, we plan to perform a clinical experiment to further test the utility of this novel radiation shield for IVR physicians.

Keywords: X-ray examination; disaster medicine; face shield; fluoroscopically guided interventional procedures; fluoroscopy; interventional radiology (IVR); percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); protective apron; radiation dose; radiation protection and safety.

Figure 1

Photograph of the novel shield: (a) frontal view; (b) lateral view. The neck guard and face shield are fastened together to create a single device, which cannot be disassembled. The face shield is attached to the left side of the neck guard and protects the left side of the physicians’ neck and face from radiation. The novel shield was designed so that it does not obstruct IVR physicians’ field of vision.

Figure 2

Schematic of the novel shield: (a) frontal view; (b) lateral view. The novel shield consists of a neck guard and face shield, which together comprise a single unit to promote stability and prevent misalignment. The shield is firmly attached behind the neck of the IVR physicians using Velcro to protect them from scattered radiation from the left side. The device consists of a neck guard and face shield designed using a 0.25 mm Pb-equivalent rubber sheet (nonlead protective sheet).

Figure 3

Experimental setup used for our phantom study (e.g., LAO60): (a) without novel shielding device; (b) with novel shielding device.

Figure 4

The 24 measurement points on the head of the phantom simulating the physician: (a) frontal view; (b) left lateral view; (c) right lateral view. Twenty-four dosimeters were attached to the points marked on the phantom’s surface (left eye: No. ③, right eye: No. ㉑). The distance between the measurement points was 3 cm.

Figure 4

The 24 measurement points on the head of the phantom simulating the physician: (a) frontal view; (b) left lateral view; (c) right lateral view. Twenty-four dosimeters were attached to the points marked on the phantom’s surface (left eye: No. ③, right eye: No. ㉑). The distance between the measurement points was 3 cm.

Figure 5

Protective effect of the novel radiation shield in the phantom study. Measurement point: Twenty-four dosimeters were attached to the points marked on the phantom’s surface (left eye: No. ③, right eye: No. ㉑) (See Figure 4). PA: posteroanterior, LAO60: 60° left anterior oblique, RAO30: 30° right anterior oblique, LAO60+CAU30: 60° left anterior oblique + 30° craniocaudal (caudal), RAO30+CRA30: 30° right anterior oblique + 30° caudocranial (cranial).