An Invented Device for Radiation Protection from a Digital Fluoroscopic X-ray Tube

Abstract

       A Quasi-experimental study was aimed to invent a radiation protection device around an over-table x-ray tube of a Toshiba brand model KXO-50XM digital fluoroscopy x-ray machine operating in an Automatic Exposure Control (AEC) mode at a fluoroscopic room, Radiology Unit of Bamrasnaradura Infectious Disease Institute. The radiation protection device was built by using an unused lead apron, equivalent to a lead shield with its thickness of 0.5 millimeter, and was covered with a leatherette sheet and a steel frame. The device was put around the x-ray tube and scatter radiation was determined before and after installation for its effectiveness. Using a survey meter with a phantom, the scatter radiation of 7 different positions around a fluoroscopic table was measured at 90 and 145 centimeters above the floor, representing of gonad and thyroid positions of a person with a height of 170 centimeters, respectively. Reduction of scatter radiation was demonstrated in a range of 5.26 to 16.15% and 1.86 to 11.76% at 90 and 145 centimeters above the floor, respectively. Our study suggested that the device invented demonstrated its ability to protect radiation during operation.