Radiation protection system

1. A radiation protection system for protecting medical personnel from radiation being applied from a radiation source to a patient positioned on a table, the system comprising:

a shield for positioning above the table including:

an inner frame sized and shaped for receiving the patient when the patient is positioned on the table;

a plurality of rods extending outward from the inner frame;

an outer frame surrounding said inner frame and connected to said plurality of rods; and

a radiopaque flexible panel attached to said rods.

2. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said flexible panel includes lead.

3. A radiation system as set forth in claim 2 wherein said flexible panel includes lead sheets wrapped in a vinyl cover.

4. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield includes a plurality of flexible panels attached to said plurality of rods.

5. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further including a visually transparent and radiopaque window attached to the outer frame by said plurality of rods.

6. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said window includes a lead-impregnated acrylic.

7. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further including a track mounted on a ceiling of an area in which the system is positioned and a lift connected to the outer frame of the shield and said track.

8. A radiation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein the lift is movably connected to the track allowing selective movement of the shield about the area in which the system is positioned.

9. A radiation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lift includes covering bellows.

10. A radiation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lift further includes a carriage mounted on said track and linear bearings mounted between the frame and the carriage.

11. A radiation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lift further includes springs biasing the shield toward the ceiling.

12. A radiation system as set forth in claim 7 wherein said lift further includes a scissor mechanism and the shield is raised and lowered by opening and closing the mechanism.

13. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said outer frame includes hinges allowing the shield to fold to a collapsed position for storage of the shield.

14. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the outer frame, the plurality of rods, and the inner frame are made from stainless steel tubing.

15. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of rods are telescopic to allow relative movement between the outer frame and the inner frame.

16. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein each of said plurality of rods includes internal rotational and linear bearings or bushings.

17. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of rods are telescopic to allow relative movement between the outer frame and said window.

18. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said plurality of rods include six upper rods connecting the outer frame to said window and four lower rods connecting said outer frame to the inner frame.

19. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of panels are suspended from said plurality of rods.

20. A radiation system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said plurality of panels are attached to said rods using a fastener selected from a group of fasteners consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a Velcro fastener, a screw fastener, a snap fastener, and an adhesive.

21. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flexible radiopaque interface attached to the inner frame to cover an opening between the inner frame and the patient during use of the system.

22. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a radiopaque blanket for positioning between the patient and the medical personnel during use of the system.

23. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield further includes lower rails extending between the outer frame and the inner frame and the system further includes a radiopaque skirt attached to said lower rails.

24. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt is configured for attaching to the table and attached to the table during use of the system.

25. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt extends substantially to a floor of an area in which the system is positioned.

26. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt extends beneath the table.

27. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt includes lead.

28. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt includes lead sheets wrapped in vinyl covers.

29. A radiation system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said blanket includes lead sheets wrapped in vinyl covers.

30. A radiation system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said interface includes lead sheets wrapped in vinyl covers.

31. A radiation system as set forth in claim 23 wherein said skirt is attached to the lower rails by a fastener selected from a group of fasteners consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a Velcro fastener, a screw fastener, a snap fastener, and an adhesive.

32. A radiation system as set forth in claim 21 wherein said interface is attached to the inner frame by a fastener selected from a group of fasteners consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a Velcro fastener, a screw fastener, a snap fastener, and an adhesive.

33. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the shield further includes lower rails pivotally connected to the outer frame and pivotally connected to the inner frame and ends of the plurality of rods are pivotally mounted on the outer frame and the inner frame so the inner frame is free to pivot about the rails.

34. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 further including a lift connected to said outer frame and a support connecting the window and said lift.

35. A radiation system as set forth in claim 34 wherein the support is mounted on linear bearings mounted on said frame.

36. A radiation system as set forth in claim 34 wherein the window is attached to the support by a ball joint.

37. A radiation system as set forth in claim 34 wherein the support is made from stainless steel tubing.

38. A radiation system as set forth in claim 10 further including a bridge slidably connected to said track, wherein said track is fixedly connected to a ceiling of an area in which the system is positioned and the carriage is slidably mounted on said bridge.

39. A radiation system as set forth in claim 38 wherein said carriage and bridge form an x/y-direction stage permitting the lift to be positioned anywhere within an area defined by the track.

40. A radiation system as set forth in claim 38 further including a motor connected to the carriage and the bridge for controlling movement of the shield.

41. A radiation system as set forth in claim 38 further including brakes or detents connected to said carriage and bridge for maintaining relative positions of the carriage and bridge.

42. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 wherein said window and said inner frame include a handle for grasping by medical personnel for facilitating positioning of the window and inner frame.

43. A radiation system as set forth in claim 22 wherein said blanket includes an opening for allowing access to the patient by medical personnel while minimizing radiation exposure to the personnel.

44. A radiation system as set forth in claim 43 further including an insert covering said opening to further reduce radiation exposure to the personnel.

45. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further including a visually transparent and radiopaque wing panel connected to the outer frame.

46. A radiation system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said wing panel is pivotally connected to the outer frame.

47. A radiation system as set forth in claim 1 further including a radiopaque wing panel pivotally connected to the outer frame.

48. A radiation system as set forth in claim 47 wherein said wing panel is visually transparent.

49. A radiation system as set forth in claim 45 wherein said wing panel includes a lead-impregnated acrylic.

50. A radiation system as set forth in claim 47 wherein said wing panel includes a lead-impregnated acrylic.

51. A radiation system as set forth in claim 5 further including a cover connected between the window and said panel adjacent the window for blocking radiation from emitting between the window and the panel.

52. A radiation system as set forth in claim 22 further including disposable sheets positioned over and/or under said blanket during use of the system.