X-Ray Supplies
Radiation Protection Clothing - It's All About the Right Size
To ensure that the X-ray apron offers optimal protection from radiation during imaging, the body length should be considered when purchasing a radiation protection apron. According to the current DIN standard, X-ray protective clothing needs to cover the knees for ideal shielding from radiation. The reason for this is the knee joint. The bone marrow forms blood and therefore needs shielding from radiation. Matching the X-ray protective clothing to a body length ensures that the knees are securely covered during imaging.
The Right Size Protects Against Gaps in the Protected Area
If the size of the X-ray apron is incorrectly chosen, it can result in dangerous gaps in the protective area. An example of this is an armhole that is too large, which can cause exposure of breast tissue in women. As breast tissue is considered particularly sensitive, long-term use of an excessively large X-ray apron can even lead to the development of breast cancer in the worst case.
For this reason, it is essential to ensure that the X-ray apron has the best possible fit for ideal shielding from radiation, as in the case of the MAVIG X-ray apron RA650 with individually adjustable, wide back straps for optimal adjustment. This radiation protection is available with different bleaching equivalences and in a wide range of lengths/sizes.
X-ray Protective Clothing in Various Designs
For X-ray protective clothing, a distinction can be made between X-ray aprons, costume/two-piece suits, gonadal protection and X-ray protection products for individual body parts (e.g. thyroid protection collars or X-ray protection gloves). While X-ray protection aprons shield the body and especially the internal organs, the MAVIG gonadal protection only protects the gonads (testicles or ovaries) from radiation exposure.
To shield the thyroid gland, an adjustable thyroid X-ray protection is available in the form of a neck collar, which optimally protects the thyroid gland from radiation.
Furthermore, there are differences in the material. While in the past pure lead was used for manufacturing X-ray aprons, nowadays other materials are also used for X-ray protective clothing. A basic distinction is made between protective clothing made of pure lead, lead-reduced protective clothing and lead-free X-ray protective clothing.
Lead Apron
- High-Z material (high atomic number)
- Stable lead equivalent in the range of 50 - 150 kV
- Relatively heavy
Lead-reduced X-ray Apron
- Mixture of lead and low-Z materials (lower atomic number)
- Shielding at low and high tube voltages worse than with pure lead (mostly the lead equivalent is only fulfilled in the range of 50 - 110 kV)
- Slightly lighter than pure lead
Lead-free X-ray Apron
- Exclusively low-Z materials
- In most cases, the specified lead equivalent value is only met at certain X-ray tube voltages
- Lighter than lead-reduced protective clothing, unless bismuth is used (weight comparable to lead)
Large Selection of X-Ray Protective Clothing & X-Ray Supplies
At Praxisdienst you will find a large selection of high-quality X-ray protective clothing to shield patients and medical staff from renowned manufacturers such as MAVIG or Dr. Goos-suprema. We also offer you perfect radiation protection for patients during X-rays scans in the head area with the X-ray protection apron for patients.
Whether for adults or children, whether front apron, thyroid collar or surgical X-ray protection gloves - here you will find the right X-ray protection for your needs. Of course, we also offer X-ray aprons that fully comply with the new IEC 61331:2014 or DIN EN 61331:2016 standard. We also offer various X-ray accessories - such as X-ray film marking clips.
Do you have questions about radiation protection or protective X-ray equipment or accessories for patient safety? Our customer service will be happy to advise you! You can reach us either by phone, email or live chat.