USA: New Radiation-Blocking Medical Garments Introduced at RSNA

Ronald F. DeMeo, M.D., M.B.A., president and chief executive officer with Radiation Shield Technologies (RST), will introduce the new Demron-M radiation-blocking medical garments at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting.

Demron-M is a radiopaque, nano-polymeric compound fused between fabric layers and manufactured into medical garments that provide total radiation protection. It replaces traditional lead garments, which are dense, inflexible and prone to cracking. Made of liquid metal, Demron-M is cool, lightweight and flexible. It’s also environment-friendly, lead-free, toxin-free, and may be washed, discarded and recycled. According to the The Spine Journal, 6 (2006) 577-582, Demron is the most lightweight material available for X-ray shielding.

“As a surgeon and pain-management specialist, I was dissatisfied with the old lead garments that offer limited protection and are heavy, dense and prone to cracking,” Dr. DeMeo said. “I developed Demron-M because I recognized the industry’s need for total radiation protection combined with comfort, flexibility and durability.”

Demron-M helps medical facilities reduce costs because it’s durable, washable and reusable. Products include:

    * Demron-M Disposable Mask, the first non-woven, disposable X-ray mask with total radiation protection
    * Demron-M Bra, which reduces radiation transmission in breast brachytherapy patients and enables them to be discharged home without risk of exposing others to radiation. The bras also help reduce radiation exposure for women in high-risk environments.
    * Demron-M Forearm Shield, a lightweight shield that protects clinicians’ forearms. Because it’s not always possible for clinicians to avoid X-ray exposure while performing procedures or holding patients, the shields provide protection without reducing mobility.
    * Demron-M Drop-Off Flex Apron and Two-Piece Vest and Skirt, the most lightweight one-piece and two-piece garments available that help clinicians work comfortably for long periods. Used by physicians in operating rooms, the aprons have a drop-off feature so they’re easy to slip on or remove in sterile environments.

Demron has proved to block gamma rays, X-rays and nuclear emissions in studies by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, part of the National Nuclear Security Administration within the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Georgia Institute of Technology and the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

About Radiation Shield Technologies (RST)

Radiation Shield Technologies (RST), with headquarters in Miami, is a world leader in the research, design and production of personal-protection systems for ionizing and nuclear radiation. The company's core technology, Demron, is the world’s first and only nuclear radiation-blocking, anti-chemical and biological protection material. Demron-W is the world’s only NFPA 1994-2007 Certified Fabric for Protective Ensembles for First Responders to CBRN Terrorism Incidents. Demron technologies are engineered to combine radiation protection with ease of use to maximize radiological defense.

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