A RADIATION SHIELDING GARMENT, A WEIGHT TRANSFER SUPPORT SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF MAKING AND USING THE SAME
A shoulder transfer weight support apparatus including a hip or waist belt, a back support, and one or more shoulder extensions. The support apparatus includes an integrated radiation shielding unit. Optionally, the apparatus includes a face shield at least partially made of a radiation shielding material that is configured to releasable attach to the apparatus. The face shield can be a full face shield or a partial face shield.
1 . A radiation shielding system, comprising:
a weight supporting device, wherein the weight supporting device includes an exoskeleton configured to bear a weight of a radiation shielding garment, wherein the radiation shielding garment is configured to be arranged and at least partially supported by the weight supporting device, wherein the radiation shielding garment comprising:
a vest;
a skirt; and
a scarf,
wherein the vest and the skirt are configured to be at least partially supported by the weight supporting device.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the scarf comprises opposing ends configured to be at least partially coupled by a hook-and-loop fastener.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the skirt comprises opposing ends configured to be at least partially coupled by a buckle.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the vest comprises opposing ends configured to be at least partially coupled by a buckle and a plurality of hook-and-loop fasteners.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the vest, skirt, and scarf comprise a laminate having an outer layer, an inner layer, and at least one core material between the outer layer and inner layer.
6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the core material is lead.
7 . A method of assembling a radiation shielding vest, comprising:
forming a laminate having an outer layer, an inner layer, and a core material configured to be arranged between the outer and inner layer;
basting the core material between the outer layer and the inner layer, wherein the basting comprises:
clipping the layers together;
stitching the layers together; and
binding the radiation shielding vest.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein forming the laminate outer layer comprises cutting a first outer layer, a second outer layer, and a third outer layer.
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein forming the laminate inner layer comprises cutting a first inner layer, a second inner layer, and a third inner layer, wherein the third inner layer comprises a plurality of snap settings.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein forming the laminate core material comprises cutting at least two first core materials, at least two second core materials, and at least one third core material.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the clipping comprises:
clipping the first outer layer, the first inner layer, and the at least two first core materials together;
clipping the second outer layer, the second inner layer, and the at least two second core materials together; and
clipping the third outer layer, the third inner layer, and the at least one third core material together.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the stitching comprises:
stitching the first outer layer, the first inner layer, and the at least two first core materials together;
stitching the second outer layer, the second inner layer, and the at least two second core materials together; and
stitching the third outer layer, the third inner layer, and the at least one third core material together.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the binding comprises:
an edge seaming each of the first layers, second layers, and third layers;
a shoulder seaming each of the first layers, second layers, and third layers;
a side seaming each of the first layers, second layers, and third layers;
a binding the first layers to the third layers at a first end; and
a binding the second layers to the third layers at a second end.
14 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising an active cooling means.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the active cooling means is a heat exchanger.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the active cooling means is a forced convectional cooling fan.
17 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a passive cooling means.
18 . The system of claim 6 , further comprising a dosimeter configured to monitor radiation shielding garment usage.
19 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the core material comprises one or more of a light lead material, a lead material, and a lead free material configured to a have a lead equivalence in range from about 0.125 mm to about 1.0 mm or greater.
20 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the core material comprises one or more of layers of radiation shielding material configured to a have a lead equivalence in range from about 0.125 mm to about 1.0 mm.