[0001] The present invention refers to a device for the individual protection from ionizing
radiations, particularly from X-rays, having an arrangement such to enable an easy
and effective washing.
[0002] The term "individual protection device" means an equipment suitable for being worn
by an individual in order to protect him/her from one or more risks capable of threatening
the safety of health, and also each complement or accessory suitable for such object.
The present invention is directed to devices for the individual protection from ionizing
radiations, particularly from X-rays.
[0003] The ionizing radiations are radiations having an energy sufficient to directly or
indirectly ionize the atoms or molecules which they interact with, so that alterations
of the electronic structure are made. Such radiations are particularly dangerous when
the individual is subjected to an extended and repeated exposition. Indeed, they can
attack the biological tissues, causing damages which can be also serious, particularly
cancers. Examples of ionizing radiations are α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, and X-rays.
[0004] With a particular reference to the X-rays, as it is known, they are used for example
in sanitary environments (such as hospitals, medical offices, surgeries, dental offices)
for diagnostic purpose, for example for making radiographs. Moreover, radioactive
artificial sources can be used for a therapeutic purpose.
[0005] Due to the possible danger of the ionizing radiations, it is vital that, during the
execution of radiographs, the X-rays hit only the portions of an individual body on
which it is necessary to perform a radiological inspection. Therefore, the areas of
a patient which are not radiographed, must be protected.
[0006] A further particularly felt need is of protecting the operators, such as radiological
technicians or doctors, from X-rays. Indeed, due to professional reasons, they are
repeatedly exposed to the radiations and therefore it is a prerequisite to provide
systems suitable for their protection.
[0007] In order to protect patients and operators, it is known the use of suitable individual
protection devices. They can for example comprise gowns, skirts, wraps, aprons, armcovers,
thyroid collars, shouldercovers, handcovers, intraoral exam aprons, based on the body
portion which must be protected. Such individual protection devices comprise a core
made of a radiation shielding material. For example, they can be made of lead which
is particularly suited to the X-ray protection; or they are made of lead rubber or
materials alternative to lead for manufacturing the devices for the protection from
ionizing radiations. The shielding material core is wrapped by an envelope for example
made of cloth, which internally receives the same core.
[0008] The individual protection devices, particularly gowns or the like, are generally
heavy and tight, and therefore they can cause the user to severely perspirate.
[0009] Moreover, the individual protection devices since are used for example in operating
rooms or similar environments, often become dirty because they come in contact with
blood or other organic liquids.
[0010] Therefore, a particularly felt need is of suitably washing and sanitizing the individual
protection devices. However, due to the their structure, the individual protection
devices are difficult to be suitably washed. Indeed, since the washing is made by
dipping individual protection devices in water or by dropping water on them, the water
enters the space inside the envelope, wherein it is received the protection core,
and it cannot readily flow out through the stitches of the envelope cloth. Therefore,
drying the individual protection device can require also some days, during this time
it is not possible to use the individual protection device.
[0011] Alternatively, the individual protection devices are simply washed by sponges soaked
in water and/or detergent. However, this type of washing is inadequate for sanitizing
the individual protection device because it is superficial and therefore inadequate.
[0013] Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to make available a device for
the individual protection from ionizing radiations which can be effectively washed
and sanitized and does not require too much time to be dried.
[0014] This and other objects are met by a device for the individual protection from ionizing
radiations according to claim 1.
[0015] In order to better comprehend the invention and appreciate its advantages, in the
following some exemplifying non limiting embodiments thereof will be described with
reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of an individual protection device, particularly a
gown, according to a possible embodiment, and of some enlarged portions thereof;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of an individual protection device, particularly a
gown, according to a further possible embodiment, and of some enlarged portions thereof.
[0016] With reference to the figures, reference 1 indicates a device for the individual
protection from ionizing radiations. Examples of ionizing radiations which the device
1 is capable of protecting an user from, are α-rays, β-rays, γ-rays, and X-rays.
[0017] The present description will mainly refer to an individual protection device to be
used in a sanitary environment, suitable for protecting the user from X-rays. Still
more particularly, it will be made reference to a gown which can be worn for example
by a sanitary operator which usually works adjacent to X-ray emitters, or by a patient.
However, it is noted that the X-ray protection sanitary gown should be understood
in a non limiting way as a simple example of a device for the individual protection
from ionizing radiations. For example, the device 1 can be a skirt, a wrap, an apron,
a glove, an armcover, a thyroid collar, a shouldercover, a coverarm, an intraoral
exam apron, or the like.
[0018] The individual protection device 1 comprises a protection core 2 having the function
of shielding from the ionizing radiations, in other words suitable for attenuating
such radiations in order to prevent them from being transmitted to the user when wearing
the device 1. With reference to a gown, the protection core 2 can be for example shaped
as a plate suitable for making wearable the gown, and can be made of a material suitable
for shielding from X-rays. Materials suitable for shielding from ionizing radiations
are known per se. An example of a material suitable for X-ray shielding is lead. A
further possible material is lead rubber.
[0019] Besides the protection core 2, the individual protection device 1 comprises a covering
envelope 3 wrapping the protection core 2, by internally receiving the latter into
a housing 4 defined by the same covering envelope 3. The covering envelope 3 is per
se suitable for shielding from ionizing radiations and is preferably made of a cloth,
for example a waterproof polyamide. The covering envelope 3 can be equipped with further
components improving the wearability and usability thereof. For example, the covering
envelope 3 can comprise paddings, zippers, buttons, closing laces, sleeves, belts
or the like.
[0020] It is to be noted that the individual protection device 1 can alternatively comprise
a single covering envelope internally receiving a single protection core or a plurality
of covering envelopes separated from each other and connected to each other, for example
by suitable stitches, each internally receiving an independent protection core.
[0021] For example, Figure 1 shows a gown having at least one first and one second covering
envelopes 3', 3" internally receiving respective protection cores, while Figure 2
represents a gown having a single covering envelope 3 internally receiving a protection
core. Of course, several solutions alternative to the illustrated ones from the point
of view of the number and placement of the protection cores and covering envelopes
are possible.
[0022] Thanks to said arrangement of the covering envelope 3, when the individual protection
device 1 is washed, for example by dipping it in water or by dropping water from above
on it, the housing 4 is at least partially flooded by the water flowing for example
through the stitches of the clothes forming the covering protection envelope 3.
[0023] Therefore, the individual protection device 1 comprises means 5 for draining water
or other liquids possibly collected in the housing 4 due to operations of washing
the individual protection device. Also, the drainage means 5 enable to rapidly empty
the housing 4 of the collected water and therefore a rapid drying of the individual
protection device 1 after the washing. Therefore, the individual protection device
1 can be rapidly used again after a washing.
[0024] The drainage means 5 can be differently positioned. The individual protection device
1 comprises an inner side 6 and an outer side 7. The inner side 6 is the side of the
individual protection device 1 suitable, during the use, for facing the user, while
the outer side 7 is the side opposite to the inner side 6. With reference to a gown,
the inner side 6 is the side of the individual protection device, suitable for facing
the user torso, and usually it comes in contact with it. Advantageously, the drainage
means 5 are arranged at the inner side, or outer side, or preferably at both. In the
latter case, the drainage is much more rapid and uniform.
[0025] More advantageously, the drainage means 5 are placed at the lower portions of the
envelope or envelopes, in case the latter are in number greater than one. The term
"lower" refers to the normal conditions of use of the individual protection device.
With reference for example to a gown, the lower portions of the gown are the portions
facing the user legs in a condition of use. The position of the drainage means 5 in
the lower portions of the individual protection device causes the water eventually
collected in the housing 4 due to a washing, to exit by gravity without forming collecting
areas wherein water remains trapped in. With reference to a gown, the water can be
drained, for example, by hanging the gown to suitable supports, so that water exits
by gravity.
[0026] Further, the drainage means 5 can be variably shaped.
[0027] According to a possible embodiment, the drainage means 5 comprise one or more drainage
openings 8 formed in the protection envelope. According to what has been previously
said, the drainage openings 8 can be placed in the inner side 6 and/or outer side
7 of the individual protection device 1, preferably at the lower portion of the covering
envelope or envelopes 3. Moreover, the drainage means 5 comprise one or more net-shaped
elements 9 placed at said drainage openings 8 (see Figures 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b,
for example). The net-shaped elements 9 enable to drain the water from the housing
of the individual protection device to the outside and preferably have a size such
to prevent for example the hands of the users to gain access into the housing from
the outside. Therefore, the protection core is protected.
[0028] Advantageously, the net-shaped elements 9 are made of a material ensuring a high
tensile and tear strengths, and also a good washability. For example, the net-shaped
elements can be made of polyester.
[0029] The net-shaped elements 9 form meshes enabling, besides allowing the passage of water
and detergents, also the passage of air, however at the same time they are sufficiently
tight to prevent the passage for example of the operator hands.
[0030] According to a possible embodiment, the individual protection device 1 comprises
one or more closure edges 15 extending along the contours of the covering envelopes
3, particularly for forming a side closure of the covering envelopes. Advantageously,
the closure edges 15, the net-shaped elements 9 and the protection core 2 are connected
to each other by stitches 16. Further advantageously, the net-shaped elements 9 are
in turn connected to the covering envelopes 3 by second stitches 17. In this manner,
the covering envelopes 3, the net-shaped elements 9 and the closure edges 15 form
a single body. Further, the protection cores 2 are also connected to the closure edges
15 - not just at the areas wherein the net-shaped elements 9 are provided - and therefore
they are blocked and extend inside the housing 4, in order to therefore ensure a good
wearability and a considerable protection since the movements inside the housing 4
are prevented.
[0031] The net-shaped elements 9 are a possible example of the water drainage means having
a fixed-type configuration. According to an alternative embodiment (not shown in the
figures), the drainage means 5 comprise means for reversibly closing the drainage
openings 8, in other words means shaped so that the drainage openings can switch from
a closed configuration to an open one, and viceversa. For example, the reversible
closure means can comprise zipper systems, so that during the washing, the drainage
openings can be opened for draining the water, and during the normal use of the individual
protection device, such drainage openings are kept closed.
[0032] Of course, further different arrangements of the means for closing the drainage openings
8 can be provided. For example, according to a possible embodiment (not shown in the
figures), closure rings fixed to the covering envelope 3 such to keep closely spaced
the opposed edges of the drainage openings can be provided. In this way, the water
can freely run down when the individual protection device is washed, through the drainage
openings. During the normal use of the gown, the rings prevent to gain access into
the housing through the drainage openings.
[0033] The individual protection device can comprise one or more pockets 10. The pockets
10 can be placed on the inner side 6 (Figures 1e and 2d), on the outer side 7 (Figures
1d and 2c), or on both the sides of the individual protection device 1. The pockets
10 can be for example made by a closure flap 14, for example of cloth, connected,
for example stitched, to the covering envelope 3 in order to leave accessible an opening
for gaining access to the same pocket. For example, in case the closure flap 14 has
a rectangular shape, this can be stitched to the covering envelope 3 along three sides,
keeping free the fourth side, for example, the upper side. Advantageously, the pockets
10 comprise second means 11 for draining water or other liquids eventually collected
in the same pockets due to operations of washing the individual protection device.
[0034] The second drainage means 11 can be variably shaped.
[0035] Generally, they can have the same arrangement of the previously described drainage
means 5. Specifically, they can comprise one or more second drainage openings 12 formed
in the closure flap 14, and one or more net-shaped elements 13 placed at said drainage
openings 12 (see Figure 1d and 2c, for example). Alternatively (this embodiment is
not shown in the figures), the second drainage means 11 can comprise second means
for reversibly closing the drainage openings 12, in other words means shaped so that
the drainage openings can switch from a closed configuration to an open one, and viceversa.
For example, the second reversible closure means can comprise zipper systems. According
to a possible further embodiment (not shown in the figures), closure rings fixed to
the covering envelope 3 and to the closure flap 14 can be provided. The second drainage
openings 12 of the pockets 10 are preferably placed at the lower portions of the latter,
in order to enable to drain the water by gravity.
[0036] According to a further possible embodiment (see for example Figures 1e and 2d), the
closure flap 14 is at least partially shaped as a net, in order to hold objects contained
in the pocket, enabling to drain the water during the washing.
[0037] From the above given description, a person skilled in the art can appreciate that
the individual protection device according to the invention can be accurately washed
avoiding collections of water or detergents. This enables to rapidly dry it and therefore
the possibility to rapidly use it again after the washing. Indeed, the presence of
the drainage means enables the water or detergents possibly collected in the housing
receiving the protection core, and also in the pockets, when provided, to rapidly
flow out.
[0038] The individual protection device can be for example washed by totally dipping it
in water or by dropping water from above on it, ensuring in this way an effective
sanitization. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims.
1. Device (1) for the individual protection from ionizing radiations, particularly X-rays,
comprising at least one protection core (2) suitable for shielding from said ionizing
radiations, and at least one covering envelope (3) internally defining a housing (4)
receiving said protection core, wherein said covering envelope (3) comprises means
(5) for draining water or other liquids possibly collected in the housing (4) due
to washing operations of the individual protection device (1), characterized in that said drainage means (5) comprise one or more drainage openings (8) formed in the
protection envelope (3) and one or more net-shaped elements (9) placed at said one
or more drainage openings (8).
2. Individual protection device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said covering envelope
(3) comprises an inner side (6) suitable for facing an user wearing the individual
protection device (1), and an outer side (7) opposed to the inner side (6), wherein
said drainage means (5) are placed at said inner side (6) and/or said outer side (7)
of the covering envelope (3).
3. Individual protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, with reference
to the normal arrangement of the individual protection device (1) when worn by an
user, said drainage means (5) are placed at one or more lower portions of the covering
envelope (3) of the individual protection device (1).
4. Individual protection device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
the individual protection device (1) comprises one or more closure edges (15) extending
along the contour of said covering envelope (3), said closure edges (15), said net-shaped
elements (9) and said protection core (2) being connected to each other by stitches
(16).
5. Individual protection device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
said net-shaped elements (9) are made of polyester.
6. Individual protection device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, wherein
said covering envelope (3) comprises one or more pockets (10) placed at one inner
side (6) and/or one outer side (7) of the covering envelope (3), wherein the one or
more pockets (10) comprise second means (11) for draining water or other liquids possibly
collected in the same pockets due to washing operations of the individual protection
device (1).
7. Individual protection device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said second draining
means (11) comprise one or more second drainage openings (12) formed in the same pockets
(10) and one or more second net-shaped second elements (13) placed at said one or
more second drainage openings (12).
8. Individual protection device (1) according to claim 6, wherein said one or more pockets
comprise a closure flap (14) connected to the covering envelope (3), said closure
flap (14) being at least partially net-shaped.
9. Individual protection device (1) according to anyone of the preceding claims, selected
in the group consisting of: lead-gowns, lead-skirts, lead-wraps, lead-aprons, lead-armcovers,
lead-shouldercovers, lead-handcovers, lead intraoral exam aprons.
1. Vorrichtung (1) zum individuellen Schutz vor ionisierenden Strahlungen, insbesondere
Röntgenstrahlung, die wenigstens einen Schutzkern (2), der zum Abschirmen gegen die
ionisierenden Strahlungen geeignet ist, und wenigstens eine Abdeckhülle (3) umfasst,
die im Inneren ein Gehäuse (4) definiert, das den Schutzkern empfängt, wobei die Abdeckhülle
(3) Mittel (5) zum Ableiten von Wasser oder anderen Flüssigkeiten umfasst, die sich
möglicherweise aufgrund eines Waschvorgangs von der individuellen Schutzvorrichtung
(1) in dem Gehäuse (4) angesammelt haben, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Ableitungsmittel (5) eine oder mehrere Ableitungsöffnungen (8), die in der Schutzhülle
(3) ausgebildet sind, und ein oder mehrere netzförmige Elemente (9) umfassen, die
an der einen oder den mehreren Ableitungsöffnungen (8) platziert ist/sind.
2. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Abdeckhülle (3) eine
Innenseite (6), die geeignet ist, um einem Benutzer gegenüberzuliegen, der die individuelle
Schutzvorrichtung (1) trägt, und eine Außenseite (7) gegenüber der Innenseite (6)
umfasst, wobei die Ableitungsmittel (5) an der Innenseite (6) und/oder der Außenseite
(7) von der Abdeckhülle (3) platziert sind.
3. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei, unter Bezugnahme
auf die normale Anordnung von der individuellen Schutzvorrichtung (1), wenn diese
durch einen Benutzer getragen wird, die Ableitungsmittel (5) an einem oder mehreren
unteren Abschnitten von der Abdeckhülle (3) von der individuellen Schutzvorrichtung
(1) platziert sind.
4. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die
individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) einen oder mehrere Schließränder (15) umfasst,
die sich entlang der Kontur von der Abdeckhülle (3) erstrecken, wobei die Schließränder
(15), die netzförmigen Elemente (9) und der Schutzkern (2) durch Nähte (16) miteinander
verbunden sind.
5. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die
netzförmigen Elemente (9) aus Polyester hergestellt sind.
6. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, wobei die
Abdeckhülle (3) eine oder mehrere Taschen (10) umfasst, die an einer Innenseite (6)
und/oder einer Außenseite (7) von der Abdeckhülle (3) platziert sind, wobei die eine
oder die mehreren Taschen (10) zweite Mittel (11) zum Ableiten von Wasser oder anderen
Flüssigkeiten, die sich möglicherweise in denselben Taschen aufgrund eines Waschvorgangs
von der individuellen Schutzvorrichtung (1) angesammelt haben, umfassen.
7. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei die zweiten Ableitungsmittel
(11) eine oder mehrere zweite Ableitungsöffnungen (12), die in denselben Taschen (10)
ausgebildet sind, und ein oder mehrere zweite netzförmige Elemente (13) umfassen,
die an der einen oder den mehreren zweiten Ableitungsöffnungen (12) platziert sind.
8. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach Anspruch 6, wobei die eine oder die mehreren
Taschen eine Schließklappe (14) umfasst/umfassen, die mit der Abdeckhülle (3) verbunden
ist/sind, wobei die Schließklappe (14) wenigstens teilweise netzförmig ist.
9. Individuelle Schutzvorrichtung (1) nach einem der vorstehenden Ansprüche, ausgewählt
aus der Gruppe bestehend aus: Röntgenumhängen, Röntgenkittel, Röntgenschürzen, Röntgenarmabdeckungen,
Röntgenschulterabdeckungen, Röntgenhandabdeckungen, Röntgenschürzen für intraorale
Prüfung.
1. Dispositif (1) pour la protection personnelle contre les rayonnements ionisants, en
particulier les rayons X, comprenant au moins un noyau de protection (2) convenant
à une protection contre lesdits rayonnements ionisants, et au moins une enveloppe
de recouvrement (3) définissant intérieurement un logement (4) recevant ledit noyau
de protection, dans lequel ladite enveloppe de recouvrement (3) comprend des moyens
(5) pour drainer l'eau ou d'autres liquides éventuellement recueillis dans le logement
(4) en raison d'opérations de lavage du dispositif de protection personnelle (1),
caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens de drainage (5) comprennent une ou plusieurs ouvertures de drainage
(8) formées dans l'enveloppe de protection (3) et un ou plusieurs éléments en forme
de filets (9) placés sur lesdites une ou plusieurs ouvertures de drainage (8).
2. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite
enveloppe de recouvrement (3) comprend un côté interne (6) convenant pour faire face
à un utilisateur portant le dispositif de protection personnelle (1) et un côté externe
(7) opposé au côté interne (6), dans lequel lesdits moyens de drainage (5) sont placés
sur ledit côté interne (6) et/ou ledit côté externe (7) de l'enveloppe de recouvrement
(3).
3. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel,
en se référant à l'aménagement normal du dispositif de protection personnelle (1)
lorsqu'il est porté par un utilisateur, lesdits moyens de drainage (5) sont placés
sur une ou plusieurs parties inférieures de l'enveloppe de recouvrement (3) du dispositif
de protection personnelle (1).
4. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, dans lequel le dispositif de protection personnelle (1) comprend un ou
plusieurs bords de fermeture (15) s'étendant le long du contour de ladite enveloppe
de recouvrement (3), lesdits bords de fermeture (15), lesdits éléments de forme de
filets (9) et ledit noyau de protection (2) étant raccordés l'un à l'autre par des
points de couture (16).
5. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, dans lequel lesdits éléments en forme de filets (9) sont constitués de
polyester.
6. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, dans lequel ladite enveloppe de recouvrement (3) comprend une ou plusieurs
poches (10) placées sur un côté interne (6) et/ou un côté externe (7) de l'enveloppe
de recouvrement (3), dans lequel les une ou plusieurs poches comprennent des seconds
moyens (11) pour drainer l'eau ou d'autres liquides éventuellement recueillis dans
les mêmes poches en raison d'opérations de lavage du dispositif de protection individuelle
(1).
7. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel lesdits
seconds moyens de drainage (11) comprennent une ou plusieurs secondes ouvertures de
drainage (12) formées dans les mêmes poches (10) et un ou plusieurs seconds éléments
en forme de filets (13) placés pardessus lesdites une ou plusieurs secondes ouvertures
de drainage (12).
8. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon la revendication 6, dans lequel lesdites
une ou plusieurs poches comprennent un rabat de fermeture (14) raccordé à l'enveloppe
de recouvrement (3), ledit rabat de fermeture (14) étant au moins en partie en forme
de filet.
9. Dispositif de protection personnelle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications
précédentes, choisi dans le groupe constitué des robes de plomb, des jupes de plomb,
des couvertures de plomb, des tabliers de plomb, des couvre-bras de plomb, des couvre-épaules
de plomb, des gants de plomb et des tabliers d'examen intra-oral de plomb.