An x-ray shield for improved vacuum conductivity is disclosed herein. An example x-ray shield includes at least one elongate member formed from high atomic weight material shaped into a twist with at least 180 of twist.

A radiation shielded vault structure includes a rigid outer structure comprising a plurality of rigid structural components that are interconnected at elongated joints to define an interior space. The structural components include a layer of lower atomic number (Z) material such as aluminum alloy and one or more layers of higher atomic number (Z) material titanium and/or tantalum. The vault structure may include radiation shield members extending along the elongated joints to provide radiation shielding at the elongated joints. The shield members comprise a higher atomic number (Z) material such as titanium or tantalum. The rigid structural components may comprise plate members that are interconnected along side edges thereof. End plates may be attached to the plate members to close off the interior space.

A shield structure configured to protect a head and/or neck of a patient during a radiologic procedure comprises a bottom wall, a side wall, and an opening. The bottom wall includes radiation attenuating material and is configured to be positioned between the head and/or neck of the patient and a radiation source so as to shield the patient from radiation directed toward the bottom of the patient. The bottom wall is of a general size to shield the head and/or neck of the patient. The side wall includes radiation attenuating material and is configured to extend upward from the bottom wall so as to shield the patient from radiation directed toward a side of the patient. The opening is configured to receive the head and/or neck of the patient.

In general, radiation shielding systems that shield radiation from multiple directions are described. In one embodiment, a method of shielding radiation is provided, including supporting a shielding device on an object proximate a radiation source, positioning a first shielding portion in a vertical position relative to the object, positioning a second shielding portion to extend away from the first portion, the second shielding portion attached to the first portion, and shielding radiation from the radiation source by the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion such that the first and second shielding portions provide a radiation shielding zone for a healthcare practitioner.

In one aspect, the disclosure relates to storage systems comprising a protective barrier to chemical attack, e.g. to chloride-induced stress corrosion cracking (CISCC). Moreover, the disclosed protective barriers can provide enhanced protection to or otherwise shield against general corrosion. In a further aspect, the disclosed protective barriers have minimal activity as catalysts for galvanic corrosion. The present disclosure further pertains to methods of applying the disclosed protective barriers to the disclosed storage systems. In various aspects, the disclosed storage systems are used for the storage of nuclear material. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure.

Certain embodiments are described that are directed to lead containing compositions including radiation absorption metals in combination with a polymeric material. In some aspects, a composition includes lead, optionally at least one additional heavy metal known to have shielding capability against ionizing radiation and at least one polymer, polymer blend or co-polymer. Sheets and articles including the compositions are also described.

The present invention relates to rigid structures and composite materials thereof for providing radiation attenuation/shielding. Some embodiments pertain to a radiation shielding apparatus including: a plurality of positionable radiation-shielding stacks of tiles. The stacks are subsequently and adjacently arranged in a contiguous configuration. A tile positioning mechanism allows movement of tiles within a stack between a stacked (retracted) position and an extended position. In the extended position, the tiles of each of the plurality of radiation shielding stacks at least partially overlap tiles of subsequent and adjacent tile stack at corresponding opposing side-margins thereof.

In general, radiation shielding systems that shield radiation from multiple directions are described. In one embodiment, a method of shielding radiation is provided, including supporting a shielding device on an object proximate a radiation source, positioning a first shielding portion in a vertical position relative to the object, positioning a second shielding portion to extend away from the first portion, the second shielding portion attached to the first portion, and shielding radiation from the radiation source by the first shielding portion and the second shielding portion such that the first and second shielding portions provide a radiation shielding zone for a healthcare practitioner.

A shield structure configured to protect a head and/or neck of a patient during a radiologic procedure comprises a bottom wall, a side wall, and an opening. The bottom wall includes radiation attenuating material and is configured to be positioned between the head and/or neck of the patient and a radiation source so as to shield the patient from radiation directed toward the bottom of the patient. The bottom wall is of a general size to shield the head and/or neck of the patient. The side wall includes radiation attenuating material and is configured to extend upward from the bottom wall so as to shield the patient from radiation directed toward a side of the patient. The opening is configured to receive the head and/or neck of the patient.

One embodiment provides an imaging device, including: an enclosure comprising a casing and a radiation lining arranged within the casing to provide a radiation shield, wherein the enclosure comprises a removable portion; a plurality of modular components being in communication with calibration code, wherein the calibration code calibrates the imaging device based upon information of the plurality of modular components; each of the plurality of modular components comprising a plurality of gamma detectors including semiconductor crystals and being removable from the imaging device; the plurality of modular components being arranged such that the plurality of gamma detectors are configured in an array configuration with each of the plurality of gamma detectors having a predetermined spacing from each other gamma detector; a plurality of electronic communication components, wherein the plurality of electronic communication components facilitate communication from each of the gamma detectors using a hierarchical communication technique; and a cooling system.