# US 12,109,152 B2 · Modification to leaded eyewear for significant operator eye radiation dose reduction > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,109,152 B2 - Document ID: US12109152B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/763,983 - Filed: 2020-09-25 - Published: 2022-11-24 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2019-09-27 - Assignees: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System - Applicants: The Board of Regents of the University of Texas System - Inventors: Melissa Kirkwood; Jeffrey Guild; Gary Arbique - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12109152B2 ## CPC - A61F 9/025: {Special attachment of screens, e.g. hinged, removable; Roll-up protective layers} - G02C 11/12: {Side shields for protection of the eyes} - A61F 9/029: {Additional functions or features, e.g. protection for other parts of the face such as ears, nose or mouth; Screen wipers or cleaning devices} - G02C 5/001: {specially adapted for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for or not fully classifiable according to technical characteristics, e.g. therapeutic glasses} - G21F 3/02: Clothing - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - G02C: SPECTACLES; SUNGLASSES OR GOGGLES INSOFAR AS THEY HAVE THE SAME FEATURES AS SPECTACLES; CONTACT LENSES (trial frames for testing the eyes A61B3/04; goggles or eyeshields not having the same features as spectacles A61F9/00) - G21F: PROTECTION AGAINST X-RADIATION, GAMMA RADIATION, CORPUSCULAR RADIATION OR PARTICLE BOMBARDMENT; TREATING RADIOACTIVELY CONTAMINATED MATERIAL; DECONTAMINATION ARRANGEMENTS THEREFOR (radiation protection by pharmaceutical means A61K8/00, A61Q17/04; in cosmonautic vehicles B64G1/54; combined with a reactor G21C11/00; combined with X-ray tubes H01J35/16; combined with X-ray apparatus H05G1/02) ## Abstract The present disclosure provides a removable eyewear shielding device, an eyewear comprising a removable eyewear shielding device, and methods of uses thereof for reducing eye radiation exposure, reducing ipsilateral brain radiation exposure, reducing FGI-induced lens opacification, reducing cataract development, or protecting an eye or ipsilateral brain from radiation exposure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A removable eyewear shielding device comprising: a shielding panel comprising: i) an inferior curved edge (20), ii) a superior curved edge (30), iii) a thin edge (40) joining a first end of the inferior curved edge (20a) to a first end of the superior curved edge (30a), and iv) a wide edge (50) joining a second end of the inferior curved edge (20b) to a second end of the superior curved edge (30b); wherein the removable eyewear shielding device is configured to be attached to and detached from an eyewear frame comprising a superior lens frame portion (1), an inferior lens frame portion (2), a first lateral lens frame portion (3) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1) at a hinge (7) side of the eyewear frame, a second lateral lens frame portion (4) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1), a nasal bridge (5), and a temple (8), and wherein an inferior portion of the shielding panel (12) is configured to extend from the inferior lens frame portion (2) of the eyewear frame to a position below a user's lower cheekbone when the removable eyewear shielding is attached to the nasal bridge (5) and the temple (8) of the eyewear frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the shielding panel comprises a lateral portion (11) and a nasal bridge portion (13). ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the inferior curved edge (20) comprises one or more adhesive strips, one or more inferior conformable wires (21), or a combination thereof. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 3, wherein the one or more adhesive strips or one or more inferior conformable wires (21) are configured to extend from the user's nose to the user's upper lateral cheekbone. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the wide edge (50) comprises a slide-on pocket (51). ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 5, wherein the slide-on pocket is configured to directly fasten the shielding device to the temple (8) of the eyewear frame. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the shielding panel comprises a radio-protective material located on an interior side of the shielding panel, or inserted inside a pocket within the shielding panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the superior curved edge (30) comprises one or more superior conformable wires (31). ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 8, wherein the one or more superior conformable wires (31) extend from the hinge (7) of the eyewear frame to the thin edge (40). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the superior curved edge (30) comprises one or more adhesive strips. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein one or more inferior conformable wires (21), one or more superior conformable wires (31), or both are configured to be moldable around and across the user's nose bridge. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, wherein the shielding panel is a U-shaped shielding panel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 12, wherein one or more superior conformable wires (31) are configured to be moldable along the first lateral lens frame portion (3), the inferior lens frame portion (2), and the second lateral lens frame portion (4) of the eyewear frame. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The removable eyewear shielding device of claim 12, wherein the thin edge (40) comprises an adhesive piece (41) to fasten the shielding device around the nasal bridge of the eyewear frame. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A eyewear comprising: a) the removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, b) the eyewear frame, and c) a shielding lens, wherein the removable eyewear shielding device is attached to the eyewear frame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The eyewear of claim 15, wherein the removable eyewear shielding device is attached to the right side of the eyewear frame, to the left side of the eyewear frame, or to the right side and the left side of the eyewear frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) A method of reducing eye radiation exposure, reducing ipsilateral brain radiation exposure, reducing FGI-induced lens opacification, reducing cataract development, protecting an eye or ipsilateral brain from radiation exposure, or a combination thereof in the user comprising providing to the user the removable eyewear shielding device of claim 1, for use during exposure to ionizing radiation, thereby reducing the amount of ionizing radiation reaching the user's eye or ipsilateral brain. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the shielding device extends from a first lateral frame of the eyewear frame to the user's nose, from an inferior frame of the eyewear frame to the user's lower cheekbone or jaw, and from a second lateral frame and from a temple of the eyewear frame to the user's upper lateral cheekbone. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein one or more adhesive strips, one or more inferior conformable wires, or both are in contact with the user's nose, lower cheekbone or jaw and upper lateral cheekbone to eliminate any space gap between the removable shielding device and the operator's face. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the removable eyewear shielding device protects the eyes and the ipsilateral brain of the user from oblique radiation exposure. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein a space between a superior frame of the eyewear frame and the user's face is open to reduce fogging and to increase the user's comfort. ### Claim 22 A removable eyewear shielding device comprising: a shielding panel comprising: i) an inferior curved edge (20), ii) a superior curved edge (30), iii) a thin edge (40) joining a first end of the inferior curved edge (20a) to a first end of the superior curved edge (30a), iv) a wide edge (50) joining a second end of the inferior curved edge (20b) to a second end of the superior curved edge (30b), v) a lateral portion (11), and vi) a nasal bridge portion (13); wherein the removable eyewear shielding device is configured to be attached to and detached from an eyewear frame comprising a superior lens frame portion (1), an inferior lens frame portion (2), a first lateral lens frame portion (3) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1) at a hinge (7) side of the eyewear frame, and a second lateral lens frame portion (4) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1), wherein an inferior portion of the shielding panel (12) is configured to extend from the inferior lens frame portion (2) of the eyewear frame to a user's lower cheekbone, and wherein the lateral portion of the shielding panel (11) is configured to extend from the first lateral lens frame portion (3) and from a temple (8) of the eyewear frame to the user's upper lateral cheekbone. ### Claim 23 A removable eyewear shielding device comprising: a shielding panel comprising: i) an inferior curved edge (20), ii) a superior curved edge (30), iii) a thin edge (40) joining a first end of the inferior curved edge (20a) to a first end of the superior curved edge (30a), iv) a wide edge (50) joining a second end of the inferior curved edge (20b) to a second end of the superior curved edge (30b), v) a lateral portion (11), and vi) a nasal bridge portion (13); wherein the removable eyewear shielding device is configured to be attached to and detached from an eyewear frame comprising a superior lens frame portion (1), an inferior lens frame portion (2), a first lateral lens frame portion (3) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1) at a hinge (7) side of the eyewear frame, and a second lateral lens frame portion (4) joining the inferior lens frame portion (2) to the superior lens frame portion (1), wherein an inferior portion of the shielding panel (12) is configured to extend from the inferior lens frame portion (2) of the eyewear frame to a user's lower cheekbone, and wherein the nasal bridge portion (13) of the shielding panel is configured to extend from the second lateral lens frame (4) of the eyewear frame to the user's nose.