JP7824626B2 - Neck guard - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a neck guard that protects the thyroid gland of medical professionals such as doctors from exposure to radiation. More specifically, it relates to a neck guard that can flexibly accommodate various positions of medical professionals, allowing for accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable environment.

During surgery or examination, X-rays are irradiated onto the affected area from an X-ray imaging device, and a doctor or other surgeon checks the X-ray fluoroscopic image of the affected area. Various protective shields have been proposed to protect doctors and other surgeons from radiation such as X-rays. For example, surgeons wear radiation protectors to protect the thyroid gland.

One existing radiation protection protector proposed is one that includes a head shield that blocks radiation entering through the head and a face shield that blocks radiation entering through the face, with the head shield configured to cover the top, forehead, and sides of the head, and the face shield configured to cover the eyes and the surrounding areas (see Patent Document 1).

Mihama Medical Co., Ltd. offers the X-ray protective clothing shown in Figure 7A. Hoshina Seisakusho Co., Ltd. offers the neck guard shown in Figure 7B. Maeda Co., Ltd. offers the neck protector shown in Figure 7C.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-225702

As mentioned above, there are many types of protectors available to protect the thyroid gland from radiation exposure. However, all of these protectors are designed to wrap around the neck or chest, which often causes the surgeon to feel uncomfortable and overheated during surgery.

Furthermore, this structure meant that whenever the surgeon looked downward, their chin would hit the protector, causing discomfort. On the other hand, when the surgeon looked upward, their thyroid gland would also move upward, which meant that the protector might not be able to fully cover the thyroid gland.

The present invention aims to provide a neck guard that can flexibly accommodate the various postures of medical professionals and provides accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable environment.

The aspects of the present invention are as follows.
[Aspect 1]
A neck guard for shielding the thyroid gland from radiation, comprising:
A neck guard comprising: first and second curved side portions each containing a radiation shielding material and curved in a circumferential direction; a rear portion provided between the first and second curved side portions; and a pair of connecting members that rotatably connect the first and second curved side portions to the rear portion.
[Aspect 2]
The neck guard according to aspect 1,
A neck guard comprising a protrusion attached to the rear portion so as to protrude upward from the rear portion.
[Aspect 3]
The neck guard according to aspect 1 or 2,
A neck guard, wherein a first engaging portion is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end of the first curved side portion, and a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end of the second curved side portion.

[Aspect 4]
A neck guard according to aspect 3,
The neck guard, wherein the first and second fastening portions are hook-and-loop fasteners.
[Aspect 5]
A neck guard according to aspect 3,
A neck guard, wherein one of the first and second engaging portions is a magnetic sheet, and the other of the first and second engaging portions is a metal plate.
[Aspect 6]
A neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 5,
A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material includes any metal or metal salt that has radiation shielding ability.

[Aspect 7]
A neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 6,
A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material contains a radiation shielding substance equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mm Pb.
[Aspect 8]
A neck guard according to any one of aspects 1 to 7,
A neck guard, wherein smooth portions are provided at the lower ends of the first and second curved side portions.
[Aspect 9]
A neck guard according to aspect 8,
A neck guard having a smooth portion at the lower end portion of the rear portion.
[Aspect 10]
A neck guard according to aspect 8 or 9,
A neck guard, wherein a front portion including the free ends of the first curved side portion and the second curved side portion is heavier than the rear portion.

The neck guard of the present invention can flexibly accommodate the various postures of medical professionals, allowing for accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable environment.

1 is a perspective view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a development view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the neck guard according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a rear view of a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which a neck guard according to an embodiment of the present invention is worn. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a conventional neck guard.

A neck guard according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Corresponding parts in each drawing will be given the same reference numerals and descriptions will be omitted where appropriate.

A neck guard 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described using Figures 1A to 4. The neck guard 1 in this embodiment is a protector that protects the surgeon's thyroid gland from radiation exposure, and is flexible enough to accommodate the various positions of medical professionals, allowing for accurate protection of the thyroid gland in a comfortable environment.

The neck guard 1 is composed of a first curved side portion 2A that contains radiation-shielding material and is curved in the circumferential direction, a second curved side portion 2B that contains radiation-shielding material and is curved in the circumferential direction, a rear portion 4 that is located between the first curved side portion 2A and the second curved side portion 2B, a pair of connecting members 5 that connect the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B to the rear portion 4, and a protrusion 10 that protrudes upward from the rear portion 4. The protrusion 10 is detachably attached to the rear portion 4 and is flexible. The rear portion 4 can be composed of a resin (acrylic resin) that does not contain radiation-shielding material, or a radiation-shielding material. The protrusion 10 can be composed of a bendable plate material (thin aluminum plate).

The connecting member 5 rotatably connects the connecting ends 7 of the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B to the rear portion 4. Furthermore, a first locking portion 11 is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end portion 6 of the first curved side portion 2 (left side in Figure 1A), and a second locking portion 12 is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end portion 6 of the second curved side portion 2 (right side in Figure 1A).

The radiation-shielding material may include any metal or metal salt having radiation-shielding ability, such as at least one element selected from the group consisting of lead, tungsten, tin, bismuth, iodine, cesium, barium, tantalum, antimony, gold, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium, neodymium, samarium, europium, and gadolinium, each having an atomic number of 40 or more.
Preferably, the radiation-shielding material can contain lead, barium nitrate, tungsten, or barium sulfate. More preferably, the radiation-shielding material can be composed of a lead-containing resin plate (lead-containing acrylic resin), a barium sulfate-containing rubber sheet or resin, a tungsten-based fabric, or a barium sulfate-containing rubber sheet or resin. The radiation-shielding material contains a radiation-shielding substance (containing lead, barium nitrate, tungsten, or barium sulfate) equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mmPb, which is expected to provide approximately 90% protection (Guidelines for Radiation Exposure in Cardiovascular Care (Revised Edition) Q48, https://www.j-circ.or.jp/old/guideline/pdf/JCS2011_nagai_rad_h.pdf).

The fastening portions 11 and 12 can be hook-and-loop fasteners (so-called Velcro). Alternatively, one of the fastening portions 11 and 12 can be a magnetic sheet and the other can be a metal plate.

From the position shown in FIG. 1A, when the free end 6A of the first curved side portion 2A and the free end 6B of the second curved side portion 2B are rotated toward each other relative to the rear portion 4, the first and second locking portions 11 and 12 are positioned opposite each other. The first and second locking portions 11 and 12 are coupled together, closing the gap between the first and second free ends 8A and 8B as shown in FIG. 1B. In the position shown in FIG. 1B, the first and second free ends 8A and 8B overlap, enhancing the radiation shielding effect in the overlapping portion of the neck guard 1 (the portion facing the thyroid gland). The diameter of the neck guard 1 can be easily adjusted by adjusting the locking positions of the first and second locking portions 11 and 12. This allows the neck guard 1 to be worn by a variety of body types, including men, women, thin and fat people, people with sloping shoulders, and people with short necks. Furthermore, by making the diameter of the neck guard 1 larger than the surgeon's neck, leaving space around the neck, the neck guard 1 can be worn without clinging to the surgeon, preventing the surgeon from feeling overheated.

By using the first and second locking portions 11 and 12 to lock the first and second free ends 6A and 6B and secure the neck guard 1 around the outer periphery of the surgeon's neck, the neck guard 1 can be secured appropriately while flexibly adapting to conditions such as the surgeon's neck size, shape, and body type.

The connecting members 5, 5 are composed of hinges or flexible members. The flexible members can be made of thick cloth or rubber sheets that have a certain tensile strength and sufficient flexibility. The first and second locking portions 11, 12 can be omitted by making the force required to rotate the connecting members 5, 5 greater than the force applied by the surgeon's posture changes. In this case, when the neck guard 1 is worn, the first and second curved side portions 2A, 2B can rotate, preventing the neck guard 1 from falling off.

The lower end portion 8A of the first curved side portion 2A may have a smooth portion 9A that is smooth (gliding). The lower end portion 8B of the second curved side portion 2B may have a smooth portion 9B that is smooth. The lower end portion of the rear portion 4 may have a smooth portion 9C that is smooth.

The first smooth portion 9A, the second smooth portion 9B, and the third smooth portion 9C can be made of a flexible resin (vinyl pipe) that has smoothness and elasticity. Alternatively, the first smooth portion 9A, the second smooth portion 9B, and/or the third smooth portion 9C can be formed by sufficiently polishing the first lower end portion 8A, the second lower end portion 8B, and/or the lower end portion of the rear portion 4 in advance. The first smooth portion 9A and the second smooth portion 9B, made of flexible resin, are removed from below the first engaging portion 11 and the second engaging portion 12. This prevents interference between the first smooth portion 9A and the second smooth portion 9B when the first engaging portion 11 and the second engaging portion 12 are joined.

The neck guard 1 has first and second curved side portions 2A and 2B, with the smoothness of the lower end portion 8 ensured by the smooth portion 9. Therefore, when the surgeon wearing the neck guard 1 moves the portion back and forth (see Figures 5 and 6), the neck guard can move smoothly back and forth around the neck in accordance with the movement.

To make this forward and backward movement even smoother, the neck guard 1 of this embodiment can be made heavier (weighted) at its front portion (e.g., the portion facing forward of the surgeon) including the first free end 6A and/or the second free end 6B relative to the rear portion 4 (facing rearward of the surgeon). By making the front portion heavier than the rear portion in this way, the neck guard 1 can slide forward more easily when the surgeon leans his head or upper body forward.

This sliding allows the hollow portion of the neck guard 1 (the portion that wraps around the surgeon's neck) to move forward, preventing the surgeon's chin from hitting the neck guard 1 and causing discomfort. Even when the surgeon is not leaning forward, the neck guard 1 wraps around the neck with an appropriate hollow, eliminating the discomfort that was a problem with conventional technology when wearing the neck guard.

As shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the rear portion 4 is provided with a curved lower end 4A that curves upward. By providing the curved lower end 4A, it is possible to prevent the rear portion 4 from interfering with the surgeon's trapezius muscles when the surgeon is wearing the neck guard 1. The vertical length of the rear portion can be the same as the vertical length of the free end or within ±10% of that length. The protruding portion 10 can be fixed to the inner or outer surface of the rear portion 4 with Velcro or the like so that its position can be adjusted. Furthermore, because the protruding portion 10 is bendable, it can be bent backward as shown in Figure 2A to adjust how it contacts the back of the head.

In the past, when the surgeon looked up, the thyroid gland also moved upward, which could result in the neck guard not being able to fully cover the thyroid gland. In contrast, the neck guard 1 of this embodiment is equipped with a protrusion 10, so when the surgeon turns his face from facing downward to facing upward, the back of the surgeon's head presses down on the protrusion 10 provided on the rear 4 of the neck guard 1. This causes the front portion of the neck guard 1 (the portion on the first free end 6A and second free end 6B side) to move upward, covering the thyroid gland 20 (see Figures 5 and 6). This ensures that the thyroid gland 20 is covered, i.e., protected from radiation exposure, even when the surgeon turns his face upward.

1 Neck guard 2A First curved side portion 2B Second curved side portion 4 Rear portion 5 Connecting member 6A First free end 6B Second free end 7 Connecting end 8A First lower end portion 8B Second lower end portion 9A First smooth portion 9B Second smooth portion 9C Third smooth portion 10 Projecting portion 11 First engaging portion 12 Second engaging portion 20 Thyroid gland

Claims (10)

A neck guard for shielding the thyroid gland from radiation, comprising:
A neck guard comprising: first and second curved side portions each containing a radiation shielding material and curved in a circumferential direction; a rear portion provided between the first and second curved side portions; and a pair of connecting members that rotatably connect the first and second curved side portions to the rear portion. The neck guard according to claim 1,
A neck guard comprising a protrusion attached to the rear portion so as to protrude upward from the rear portion. The neck guard according to claim 1 or 2,
A neck guard, wherein a first engaging portion is fixed to the outer periphery of the free end of the first curved side portion, and a second engaging portion that engages the first engaging portion is fixed to the inner periphery of the free end of the second curved side portion. The neck guard according to claim 3,
The neck guard, wherein the first and second fastening portions are hook-and-loop fasteners. The neck guard according to claim 3,
A neck guard, wherein one of the first and second engaging portions is a magnetic sheet, and the other of the first and second engaging portions is a metal plate. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material includes any metal or metal salt that has radiation shielding ability. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A neck guard, wherein the radiation shielding material contains a radiation shielding substance equivalent to or greater than 0.25 mm Pb. The neck guard according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
A neck guard, wherein smooth portions are provided at the lower ends of the first and second curved side portions. The neck guard according to claim 8,
A neck guard having a smooth portion at the lower end portion of the rear portion. The neck guard according to claim 8 or 9,
A neck guard, wherein a front portion including the free ends of the first curved side portion and the second curved side portion is heavier than the rear portion.