Researchers invent elastic x-ray shield

A group in Japan has developed and tested an elastic x-ray shield made by embedding bismite particles in porous polyurethane, and suggests the new shielding material could provide more comfortable radiation protection.“It is expected that this x-ray shielding material will lead to the development of various radiation protectors used for clinical applications,” wrote corresponding author Hiroaki Hayashi, PhD, of Kanazawa University in Kanazawa, in a study published December 16 in Medical Physics.Hospitals have guidelines on the use of radiation protective procedures, and various x-ray shields are used to reduce unwanted exposure to patients and staff, yet most shields are in the form of sheets and lack elasticity, which limits their effectiveness in shielding areas with movement, such as the thyroid, the authors explained.To overcome this limitation, the group developed a novel elastic x-ray shield, and described their methodology and the testing of the shield in the study.In brief, the x-ray shield was developed through a process of embedding Bi2O3 particles from bismuth oxide (Bi2O3), compounds found in the element bismuth, into porous polyurethane. Porous polyurethane with a thickness of 10 mm was dipped into a solution of water, metal particles, and chemical agents. Then, it was air-dried to fix the metal particles in the porous polyurethane.Using this process, the researchers fabricated 13 investigational x-ray shields in which Bi2O3 particles were embedded at various...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Medical Physics Source Type: news