Lead Shielding for Medical Purpose

The properties of Lead which make it an excellent shielding material are its density, high atomic number, high level of stability, ease of fabrication, high degree of flexibility in application, and its availability. And that’s why lead is used as radiation protection in applications ranging from x-ray imaging and PET rooms to nuclear reactors. In this article, author explains how lead shielding is used for medical purposes.

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Lead is the best metal in providing protection from various sources of radiation and has become a standard in the design of Radiation Protection systems. The properties of Lead which make it an excellent shielding material are its density, high atomic number, high level of stability, ease of fabrication, high degree of flexibility in application, and its availability. And that’s why lead is used as radiation protection in applications ranging from x-ray imaging and PET rooms to nuclear reactors.

A senior consultant from Medi-Ray^TM1 says about lead shielding, “Whether you are shielding radioactive materials, X-Ray, CT, MRI or PET scanning equipment or the rooms that house them, Medi-Ray^TM has the shielding components you need: sheet lead and foils, adhesive backed and coated lead materials, custom components and lead stampings.” (Ref: Medi-Ray^TM, http://www.mediray.com/product_category/products/lead_shielding )

Radioactive materials in laboratories and hospitals are usually handled by remote control from a position of safety behind a wall of Lead bricks and in hospitals, X-ray machines are normally installed in rooms shield with Lead Sheet / Lead Foil.

The X-ray can cause physical damage to person exposed to them so it is necessary to shield the x-ray generating units with a material that resists x-ray penetration.

For medical radiographic and fluoroscopic rooms, the lead shielding generally does not extend above a line 7 ft., 0 in. from the finished floor; and if the services lines and ducts can be located above this line, shielding around them is obviously unnecessary. For X-ray therapy rooms, lead shielding may extend to the ceiling or structural slab. The ceiling or slab above and the floor may also be lead lined, depending upon the output and other conditions.

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1. Mediray^TM:  Mediray^TM is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Mediray^TM has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Mediray^TM is mainly known for shielding radioactive products, X-ray, PET, CT or MRI equipment. For any further enquiry or to get free quotes, call at 877-898-3003 / 914-979-2740 or fax at 914-337-4620. You can send e-mails at sales@mediray.com. Office is located at 150 Marbledale Road, Tuckahoe, New York 10707. Visit http://www.mediray.com/ for more information.

Lead products for radiation shielding

To shield radioactive materials, X-Ray, CT, MRI or PET scanning equipment or the rooms that house them, lead is the best metal to mould radiation shielding products. Sheet lead and foils, adhesive backed and coated lead materials, custom components and lead stampings etc. can be used to shield harmful radiations.

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Medi-RayTM¹ provides the most comprehensive materials and assemblies for your lead shielding projects. The variety of lead product designs, in-house coating services and machining capabilities provide the customer with numerous alternatives and options. Medi-RayTM has several custom lead brick configurations that can be altered to a customer’s requirements and provided in pure lead or antimonial lead.

Me-diray provides the following lead shielding products

Generator shielding

Used for the on-site conversion of saline solutions into usable dosages of radiopharmaceuticals, Medi-RayTM’s Generators provide both the efficiency and the safety.

Sheet Lead

Medi-RayTM produces a wide range of lead materials in sheet form for the shielding of nuclear medicine facilities and X-Ray rooms. Sheet lead shielding material is Sheet Lead & Foil available in thin antimonial lead foils that adapt well to thin contoured applications such as electrical shielding. Sheet lead is also available in thicknesses well suited for walls, doors, and ceilings. To meet the heaviest duty shielding needs we provide lead plates.

PET scanner shielding

Medi-RayTM is currently working with industry experts to develop a unique syringe shielding and transport apparatus specifically designed to meet the heavier shielding demands of PET scanning.

This new apparatus will provide clinicians with a high level of protection from the arrival of the radioactive material in its shipping container all the way to its administration in the scanning facility.

Lead Lining

Medi-Ray TM’s line of adhesive-backed lead sheeting enables a manufacturer to effortlessly construct a custom shielded container by simply cutting the sheet lead with scissors or a razor knife and applying it to foam packing material. The other side of the adhesive backed lead sheet is covered with a durable white plastic film for safe handling and easy cleaning.

Lead Stamping

Lead Extrusions

Medi-Ray's custom production machines can provide extrusions in numerous shapes and sizes. Extrusions provide an economical method of producing products with cost savings, excellent surface characteristics, and adherence to dimensional tolerances.

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1. Medi-Ray: Medi-Ray is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Medi-Ray has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Medi-Ray is mainly known for shielding radioactive products, X-ray, PET, CT or MRI equipment. For any further enquiry or to get free quotes,  call at 877-898-3003 / 914-979-2740 or fax at 914-337-4620. You can send e-mails at sales@mediray.com. Office is located at 150 Marbledale Road, Tuckahoe, New York 10707. Visit http://www.mediray.com/ for more information.

Lead Lined Products for radiation protection

Radiation shielding used to protect people and the environment from harmful effects of radiation. Lead lined products are of great importance for radiation protection and used worldwide in several facilities.

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The importance of radiation shielding

Radiation shielding is necessary because people in various fields may be exposed to worrying levels of radiation that may damage skin tissues and cause hazardous diseases like cancer. The equipment in medical fields like x-ray equipment, thyroid equipment etc. is covered with masses of lead to patients from radiation overexposure.

In which industries are these lead lined products used?

1. Lead lined products are used in medical fields like dental equipment, x-ray machines, vetinary etc. This ensures safety for the patients and staff who work frequently with them.

2. Nuclear medicine accessories are used to hold nuclear medicines are made with lead lining products. Also syringes used to hold these medicines are shielded with lead.

3. Shipping containers that hold radioactive active materials are also shielded with lead to ensure safety while transportation.

4. In nuclear power industries, to protect the workers and environment from powerful gamma and neutron radiation, lead shielding is vigorously used.

5. Many lead products like lead plates and lead bricks are used in defence industries like submarines where nuclear power is used.

6. Lead sheets and other lead products are used in construction industry to best suit ant radiation issues.

Lead lined products

Medi-RayTM¹ is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Medi-RayTM is noted as the industry leader in radio-pharmaceutical containers. The essential elements of solidity and porosity-free castings have been the focus of Medi-RayTM packaging engineers and radiation physicists.

Medi-Ray’s staff of engineers, in concert with numerous security, detection and scanning equipment companies, has developed the latest in shielding components. Medi-Ray’s lead components are utilized in a wide variety of security environments from port security to air-line baggage, mail and freight applications. Medi-RayTM has the shielding components you need: sheet lead and foils, adhesive backed and coated lead materials, custom components and lead stampings.

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1. Medi-Ray: Medi-Ray is devoted to innovation in lead metal technology. Since 1974, Medi-Ray has been the largest supplier of radio-pharmaceutical shipping containers. Medi-Ray is mainly known for shielding radioactive products, X-ray, PET, CT or MRI equipment. For any further enquiry or to get free quotes,  call at 877-898-3003 / 914-979-2740 or fax at 914-337-4620. You can send e-mails at sales@mediray.com. Office is located at 150 Marbledale Road, Tuckahoe, New York 10707. Visit http://www.mediray.com/ for more information.