# US 12,213,816 B2 · Radiation protection apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,816 B2 - Document ID: US12213816B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/146,833 - Filed: 2022-12-27 - Published: 2023-07-06 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-12-30 - Assignees: Siemens Healthineers AG - Applicants: Siemens Healthineers AG - Inventors: Chihebeddine Dahmani - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213816B2 ## CPC - A61B 6/107: {Protection against radiation, e.g. shielding} - A61B 6/4441: {the rigid structure being a C-arm or U-arm} - A61B 6/102: {Protection against mechanical damage, e.g. anti-collision devices} - A61B 6/547: {involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device} - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A radiation protection apparatus of a medical X-ray imaging system for absorbing scattered X-rays emerging from an examination region, wherein the radiation protection apparatus comprises: a plurality of lead glass elements, wherein each of the plurality of lead glass elements is configured to move between a rest position and a shield position, and also relative to one another. In the shield position, the plurality of lead glass elements form a radiation shield arranged between the examination region and a region occupiable by medical staff. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radiation protection apparatus of a medical X-ray imaging system for absorbing scattered X-rays emerging from an examination region, the radiation protection apparatus comprising: a plurality of lead glass elements, each of the plurality of lead glass elements configured to move between a rest position and a shield position, and configured to move relative to one another, wherein in the shield position, the plurality of lead glass elements form a radiation shield between the examination region and a region occupiable by medical staff. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the rest position, at least a subset of the plurality of lead glass elements are arranged congruently with one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein, in the shield position, the plurality of lead glass elements span a shield area that substantially corresponds to a sum of base areas of the plurality of lead glass elements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein a longitudinal extension of the plurality of lead glass elements is in a range between 20 cm and 50 cm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the shield position, the plurality of lead glass elements span a shield area that substantially corresponds to a sum of base areas of the plurality of lead glass elements. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the base areas of the plurality of lead glass elements are triangular and the shield area substantially spans a circular sector. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the radiation shield spans an angle between 90° and 180°. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of lead glass elements are connected to one another via a common axis of rotation, and the plurality of lead glass elements are configured to rotate about the axis of rotation during movement between the rest position and the shield position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of lead glass elements are connected to one another via a common axis of rotation, and the plurality of lead glass elements are configured to rotate about the axis of rotation during movement between the rest position and the shield position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of lead glass elements include 5 to 25 lead glass elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a longitudinal extension of the plurality of lead glass elements is in a range between 20 cm and 50 cm. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a drive unit configured to move the plurality of lead glass elements between the rest position and the shield position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: a guide apparatus with at least one guide rail, wherein the guide apparatus is configured to adjust the plurality of lead glass elements and the drive unit along the guide rail. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A medical X-ray imaging system comprising at least one radiation protection apparatus as claimed in claim 1. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the medical X-ray imaging system is a C-arm X-ray system, and the medical X-ray imaging system comprises: a patient bench; an X-ray source; and an X-ray detector, wherein the X-ray source and the X-ray detector are arranged at opposite ends of a C-arm, the radiation protection apparatus is arranged at a longitudinal edge of the patient bench, and in the shield position, the radiation protection apparatus spans a shield area perpendicular to a supporting surface of the patient bench. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 15, further comprising: a second radiation protection apparatus arranged on the X-ray detector. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 15, wherein a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance between the radiation protection apparatus and a moving object, and a controller configured to check whether the distance is below a minimum threshold, and generate control signals for a drive unit to bring the radiation protection apparatus into the rest position, in response to the distance being below the minimum threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a sensor configured to detect angulation of a C-arm; and a controller configured to generate control signals for a drive unit based on the angulation. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 18, wherein the sensor includes a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance between the radiation protection apparatus and a moving object, and the controller is configured to check whether the distance is below a minimum threshold, and generate control signals for the drive unit to bring the radiation protection apparatus into the rest position, in response to the distance being below the minimum threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The medical X-ray imaging system as claimed in claim 14, further comprising: a proximity sensor configured to detect a distance between the radiation protection apparatus and a moving object, and a controller configured to check whether the distance is below a minimum threshold, and generate control signals for a drive unit to bring the radiation protection apparatus into the rest position, in response to the distance being below the minimum threshold.