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New Material for Shields in X-Ray Diagnostic Procedures



Author(s)

Maria Anna Staniszewska, Marian Zaborski, Edyta Kusiak and Piotr Pankowski

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DOI:10.17265/1548-6648/2016.04.004

Shielding with the use of materials strongly absorbing X-rays is one of the oldest methods reducing patients’ exposure to radiation. This article presents the results of the research aimed at developing a material, which will reduce radiation dose more efficiently than the materials produced so far, and will not change features of the computed tomography (CT) image. The current study focuses on elastomeric composites containing bismuth, wolfram, and gadolinium as the elements strongly absorbing X-rays in the range of energies used in diagnostic radiography. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the made shields on the quality of CT image and properties reducing radiation. Measurements with the use of dosimetry phantoms have proven that the impact of shields on the distribution of energy absorbed in the inside of the object is limited to the regions situated directly under the shield surface. The material containing bismuth, wolfram and gadolinium most efficiently reduced doses measured in the BODY phantom. Hence, real shield efficacy was verified by measuring dose distribution on the surface of the phantom imitating a 5-year-old child (CIRS) and comparing the dose values registered without the shield and those achieved after using the shield. On the basis of the results achieved in the study was concluded that 50% attenuation of X-ray beam emitted by the CT scanner is available using the (Bi+W+Gd shield) and the effect of reduction of X-radiation intensity is visible in the surface layer of the exposed object located directly beneath the shield.

Computed tomography, patients, doses, shields, bismuth.