News > Occupational Radiation Hazard Significantly Reduced for Physicians and Staff

Occupational Radiation Hazard Significantly Reduced for Physicians and Staff:

Randolph, Vermont, August 28, 2006 - Radiation overexposure from the use of X-ray Fluoroscopy during diagnostic and interventional procedures is an occupational hazard for physicians and their staffs, worldwide.  Unlike patients who may have one or two of these procedures during their lifetime, occupational personnel like physicians, may do thousands of these cases during their careers and the radiation exposure they receive has a cumulative effect. That is their radiation dose accumulates over time. The biological effect of, this accumulating radiation dosage, takes years to manifest itself. Placing them at high risk for serious illness and disease, later in life.

One of the greatest sources of scattered radiation during fluoroscopic procedures is the patient. Much of the radiation used in fluoroscopy is scattered as it passes through the patient’s body. This scattered radiation is what reaches occupational personnel. Traditional lead acrylic barriers, lead equivalent material shields, glasses and aprons offer some protection, but often this protection is not enough. This is especially true when the physician must work very close to the patient. In this case suspended lead acrylic barriers sometimes cannot be used. The highest dose levels are suffered during such procedures.

Shown: RayShield® x-drape® and RayShield® Acrylic Overhead X-ray Barrier

To tackle this problem of high-level scattered radiation dose, emanating from the patient’s body, AADCO Medical, Inc. has developed a new device. AADCO has developed a Sterilized Disposable Surgical Drape that can be placed within the sterile field over the patient’s body that absorbs the radiation scattered from the patient.  Called X-drape®, the product is made from AADCO’s proprietary non-leaded composite radiation absorbing material, “X-Ban®”. X-Drape®, works within the sterile field to significantly reduce dose, from scatter radiation, up to 98%. Used properly, x-drape® significantly reduces this occupational hazard.

Robert L. Marchione, President of AADCO Medical, Inc. the manufacturer of X-Drape and a 39 year veteran of both Clinical Radiology Profession and Commercial Imaging Business commented, “This solution has drawn interest internationally. It is not only a more effective way for medical professionals, to prevent dangerous levels of radiation exposure, this new device also allows them to do so while not adversely impacting their ability to be effective and efficient in performing life saving procedures”.

About AADCO Medical, Inc:
Headquartered in Randolph, Vermont, AADCO Medical, Inc. is a global company serving The Medical Imaging Industry through a comprehensive portfolio of ergonomic radiation protection and ergonomic equipment suspension systems as well as other associated imaging accessories. The company specializes in the design, engineering, manufacturing and distribution of medical imaging products used in over 85% of U.S. Hospitals and imaging centers. More information about the company may be found at www.aadcomed.com.