X-RAY PROTECTIVE GARMENT

Abstract

An X-ray protective garment for protecting a user against X-rays emitted by an X-ray source, wherein the X-ray protective garment comprises: a first X-ray protective garment with a first X-ray protective material having a first lead equivalent value; and a second X-ray protective garment with a second X-ray protective material having a second lead equivalent value. The second X-ray protective garment overlaps the first X-ray protective garment in a predetermined area. The first and second lead equivalent values in addition provide a predetermined protection against X-rays in the predetermined overlapping area.

Claims

1. An X-ray protective garment for protecting a user against X-rays emitted by an X-ray source, wherein the X-ray protective garment comprises: a first X-ray protective garment with a first X-ray protective material having a first lead equivalent value; and a second X-ray protective garment with a second X-ray protective material having a second lead equivalent value, wherein the second X-ray protective garment overlaps the first X-ray protective garment in a predetermined area, and wherein the first and second lead equivalent values in addition provide a predetermined protection against X-rays in the predetermined overlapping area.

2. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second X-ray protective garment consists of one single or a plurality of layers.

3. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the first lead equivalent value is smaller than, preferably greater than or equal to, the second lead equivalent value, wherein the first lead equivalent value is preferably Pb 0.10 mm to Pb 1.00 mm and the second lead equivalent value is preferably Pb 0.10 mm to Pb 0.50 mm, wherein the first lead equivalent value is particularly preferably Pb 0.175 mm or Pb 0.25 mm and the second lead equivalent value is particularly preferably Pb 0.25 mm.

4. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second X-ray protective garment covers the following regions and/or organs of the user: the intestine and/or the stomach and/or the urinary bladder and/or the gonads and/or the bone marrow and/or the liver and/or the mammary glands and/or the sternum and/or the thyroid gland of the user and/or the lungs and/or the esophagus and/or the shoulder joints and/or the bases of the upper arm, preferably at least on the front side of the user.

5. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the first X-ray protective garment covers at least an area of the pubic bone or the gonads to the lower base of the chest or across a user's chest, wherein the first X-ray protective garment preferably further covers the region of the thyroid gland and/or the region of the shoulder joint and upper arm of the user, and/or wherein the organs of the user covered by the first and second X-ray protective garments correspond to the predetermined overlapping area and/or wherein the region covered by the first X-ray protective garment corresponds to the predetermined overlapping area.

6. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the second X-ray protective garment covers at least a region from the sternum to the knees or a region from the sternum to the gonads or a region from the sternum to a region between the gonads and the knees or a region from the upper abdomen to the gonads or a region from the chest to the gonads of the user, wherein the second X-ray protective garment preferably additionally covers a region from the thyroid gland to the sternum of the user, and/or wherein the first and/or second X-ray protective garment comprises uniform or different zones with uniform or different lead equivalent values and/or the second X-ray protective garment comprises a uniform lead equivalent value, wherein preferably at least one of the zones corresponds to the predetermined overlapping area.

7. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined overlapping area is disposed on the front side of the user, wherein the second X-ray protective garment and/or the first X-ray protective garment preferably each covers at least 50%, particularly preferably at least 60%, of the girth of the front side of the user, and/or wherein the second X-ray protective garment only partially overlaps the first X-ray protective garment or wherein the second X-ray protective garment substantially completely overlaps the first X-ray protective garment.

8. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined overlapping area corresponds to at least one region from the pubic bone or the gonads to the sternum of the user, and/or wherein the first X-ray protective garment comprises one or a plurality of first support devices configured to support the weight of the first X-ray protective garment on the user's body, preferably on the user's shoulder and/or waist or hip.

9. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the second X-ray protective garment comprises one or a plurality of second support devices configured to support the weight of the second X-ray protective garment on the user's body, preferably on the user's shoulder and/or waist or hip, and/or the second X-ray protective garment and the first X-ray protective garment are configured as two separate parts.

10. The X-ray protective garment according to claim 1, wherein the second X-ray protective garment is separably connected to the first X-ray protective garment, preferably with a hook-and-loop connection or a zipper connection or a push-button connection, and/or wherein the second X-ray protective garment and/or the first X-ray protective garment are completely or partially free from X-ray protective material at the back of the user.

Description

[0077] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first X-ray protective garment (inner apron) according to an embodiment of the invention, and

[0078] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a second X-ray protective garment (outer apron) according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0079] A first exemplary embodiment of the X-ray protective garment is described with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 1 shows a first X-ray protective garment 100 (inner apron) in a front view. FIG. 2 shows a second X-ray protective garment 200 (outer apron) in a front view.

[0080] The first X-ray protective garment 100 comprises an apron 110 which extends from an upper edge 140 to a lower edge 150. The apron 110 extends from the upper base of the chest to 10 cm below the user's pubic bone. Thus, the apron 110 covers the abdomen and thus at least a large part of the user's radiation-sensitive organs.

[0081] The first X-ray protective garment 100 further comprises an inner stretch belt 120. The stretch belt 120 may at least partially support the weight of the first X-ray protective garment 100 on the user's hip.

[0082] The first X-ray protective garment 100 further comprises a support device 130 which additionally supports the weight of the first X-ray protective garment 100 on the user's shoulders.

[0083] Together, the belt 120 and the support device 130 provide advantageous weight distribution on the user's shoulders and hip (or waist).

[0084] The first X-ray protective garment 110 comprises a material with a lead equivalent value of 0.25 mm Pb.

[0085] The second X-ray protective garment 200 comprises a main section 210. The second X-ray protective garment 200 further comprises a stretch belt 220 and arm sections 230 which are attached to the main section 210.

[0086] The stretch belt 220 may at least partially support the weight of the second X-ray protective garment 200 on the user's hip.

[0087] The main section 210 covers the user's torso and defines the portion of the second X-ray protective garment 200 excluding the arm sections 230. The transitions from the main section 210 to the arm sections 230 are indicated by perpendicular lines 221 in the shoulder region.

[0088] The weight of the second X-ray protective garment 200 on the user's shoulders may also additionally be supported by the main section 210 and the arm sections 230.

[0089] The main section 210 extends from the thyroid gland to 10 cm below the user's pubic bone.

[0090] Alternatively, the main section extends from the thyroid gland to the user's knees (not illustrated).

[0091] The second X-ray protective garment 200 further comprises a front closure 240 centered on the main section 210 and allowing the user to open and close the second X-ray protective garment 200.

[0092] The second X-ray protective garment 200 comprises a uniform lead equivalent value of 0.25 mm Pb.

[0093] If the second X-ray protective garment 200 is worn over the first X-ray protective garment 100, a lead equivalent value of 0.5 mm Pb is achieved in the overlapping area. In the exemplary embodiment, the overlapping area corresponds to the length of the first X-ray protective garment 100 and thus extends from the upper base of the chest to 10 cm below the user's pubic bone.

[0094] In FIG. 2, the overlapping area is shown with two dashed lines and arrows. The overlapping area extends from the upper dashed line at the level of the upper base of the chest, said line corresponding to the upper edge 140 of the first X-ray protective garment 100 shown in FIG. 1, to the lower dashed line, which corresponds to the upper edge 150 of the first X-ray protective garment 100.

[0095] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first X-ray protective garment is not flush with the second X-ray protective garment. It is preferred that the first X-ray protective garment 100 covers an area up to about 10 cm below the gonads and the second X-ray protective garment 200 extends to about mid-thigh or the knees.

[0096] Alternatively, the first X-ray protective garment 100 may be substantially flush with the second X-ray protective garment 200 (not illustrated).

[0097] Increased protection against X-rays is thus achieved in the overlapping area. Since the first and second protective garments 100, 200 each have only half the maximum lead equivalent value, the total weight as well as the weight distribution of the X-ray protective garment may be optimized.

[0098] While the present invention has been described and illustrated herein with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. In this manner, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and changes to the present invention insofar as they fall within the scope of protection of the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, features described in connection with a particular embodiment are not to be understood exclusively in connection with other features of that embodiment. Rather, it is clear that a combination of features from different embodiments is also possible. Also, a feature described in connection with another feature may be present without the other feature in a possible embodiment according to the present invention.