title: Comparison of a suspended radiation protection system versus standard lead apron for radiation exposure of a simulated interventionalist.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the radiation protective characteristics of a system designed to enhance operator protection while eliminating weight to the body and allowing freedom of motion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiation doses to a mock interventionalist were measured with calibrated dosimeters in a clinical interventional suite. A standard lead apron (SLA; Pb equivalent, 0.5 mm) was compared with a suspended radiation protection system (ZeroGravity; Zgrav) that shields from the top of the head to the calves (except the right arm and left forearm) with a complex overhead motion system that eliminates weight on the operator and allows freedom of motion. Zgrav included a suspended lead apron with increased lead equivalency, greater length, proximal left arm and shoulder coverage, and a wraparound face shield of 0.5 mm Pb equivalency. A 26-cm-thick Lucite stack (ie, mock patient) created scatter during 10 controlled angiography sequences of 120 exposures each. Parameters included a field of view of 40 cm, table height of 94 cm, 124 cm from the tube to image intensifier, 50 cm from the image center to operator, 66 kVp, and 466-470 mA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Under identical conditions, average doses (SLA vs Zgrav) were 264 versus 3.4 (ratio, 78) to left axilla (P < .001), 456 versus 10.2 (ratio, 45) to left eye (P < .001), 379.4 versus 6.6 (ratio, 57) to right eye (P < .005), and 18.8 versus 1.2 (ratio, 16) to gonad (P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relative to a conventional lead apron, the Zgrav system provided a 16-78-fold decrease in radiation exposure for a mock interventionalist in a simulated clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular and Interventional Radiology, Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75246, USA. damarichal@gmail.com
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Marichal
authors.forename: Temoor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Anwar
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirsch
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Luke
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: Chet R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D001822:Body Burden; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D007854:Lead; D008422:Materials Testing; D009043:Motor Activity; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011481:Protective Clothing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011835:Radiation Protection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D015641:Radiography, Interventional / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012542:Scattering, Radiation
chemical_list: D007854:Lead