Shielded structure for radiation treatment equipment and method of assembly
AssigneeRad Technology Medical Systems LLC
InventorsGary Zeik, Eric Landau, Joe Don Garrison, Cheri Ann Oquist, Ronald C. McCarthy, Theodore M. Englehart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A modularized approach for rapidly and cost effectively assembling a structure suitable for housing radiation emitting equipment is disclosed. The modules include reinforced walls to contain radiation shielding fill material. The modules are transported empty and then filled on site with the fill material to form a radiation shielding barrier around radiation emitting equipment.
Claims18
A structure housing radiation emitting equipment, the structure comprising:
- an interior area adapted for human occupation and containing radiation emitting equipment;
- and
- a barrier substantially surrounding the interior area, the barrier including first and second spaced apart walls defining a void space and a quantity of radiation shielding granular fill contained in the void space between the first and second walls, wherein the quantity of granular fill is sufficient to substantially reduce the measurable radiation level outside the interior area when radiation is emitted from the radiation emitting equipment;
- wherein the structure is constructed by placing a first module on a supporting surface and then connecting a second module to the first module, wherein at least the first module comprises a support frame structure which allows the first module to stand freely on the supporting surface and which rigidly supports a portion of the first wall and a portion of the second wall in their desired spaced apart positions prior to introduction of the granular fill.
The structure of claim 3 wherein void spaces in the first and second modules are in fluid communication such that granular fill flows between the modules.
A method of constructing a structure for housing radiation emitting equipment comprising:
- providing a plurality of modules at a site, wherein at least a first module and a second module each comprises a support frame structure which allows the module to stand freely on a supporting surface and which rigidly supports opposing walls in a predetermined spaced apart position defining a void space therebetween;
- positioning the first and second modules adjacent to each other with a major axis of each module horizontal and with the void space of the first module aligned with the void space of the second module;
- connecting the first module to the second module so as to form a channel from the aligned void spaces;
- pouring radiation shielding filler material into the channel to form a barrier;
- and
- providing radiation emitting equipment in a central area bordered by the barrier;
- wherein the quantity of filler material is sufficient to substantially reduce the measurable level of radiation outside the central area when radiation is emitted by the equipment in the central area.
The method of claim 14 further comprising:
- providing the area above the floor structure in fluid communication with at least a portion of the channel such that the radiation shielding filler material poured onto the floor structure can flow into the barrier.
A method for constructing a structure housing radiation emitting equipment comprising:
- providing a piece of radiation emitting equipment;
- providing a free standing frame structure;
- supporting opposing walls in a predetermined spaced apart relationship with the frame structure to form a channel open at the bottom of the frame structure and laterally spaced from the radiation emitting equipment;
- and
- pouring a sufficient amount of a granular fill material into the channel to form a radiation barrier to protect persons on one side of the barrier from the harmful effects of the radiation emitted by the radiation emitting equipment on the other side of the barrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.