CHOWDHARY PRATAPRAI (US)
| US20040041107A1 | 2004-03-04 | |||
| US20110165373A1 | 2011-07-07 | |||
| US20120248346A1 | 2012-10-04 | |||
| US20040004196A1 | 2004-01-08 | |||
| JP2005332637A | 2005-12-02 |
| CLAIMS What is claimed: 1 . A facility in which potentially harmful doses of ionizing radiation are present, comprising: a space including at least one area-defining surface; a source of ionizing radiation present in the space and including at least one source surface; and a radio-opaque layer on at least one of the area-defining surface and the source surface. 2. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the space comprises an interior space within a building. 3. The facility of claim 2, wherein the space comprises a room within the building. 4. The facility of claim 2, wherein the space comprises a portion of an area within a building. 5. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the at least one area-defining surface is fixed or movable. 6. The facility of claim 2, wherein the area-defining surface comprises a surface of an architectural element. 7. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the space is located outside. 8. The facility of claim 7, wherein the area-defining surface comprises at least one of pavement, a structural support and an architectural element. 9. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the at least one area-defining surface comprises at least one of a floor, a wall, a partition, a door, a panel and a ceiling. 10. The facility of claim 8, wherein the radio-opaque layer is associated with the at least one area-defining surface. 1 1 . The facility of claim 10, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises at least two sublayers. 12. The facility of claim 1 1 , wherein the at least two sublayers include: an outer layer comprising a first radio-opaque material based on a first elemental species having a first atomic number; and an under layer comprising a second radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number. 13. The facility of claim 12, wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 14. The facility of claim 12, wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 15. The facility of claim 12, wherein: the first radio-opaque material comprises bismuth oxide; and the second radio-opaque material comprises barium sulfate. 16. The facility of claim 8, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises covering for the surface of the architectural element. 17. The facility of claim 8, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises a sheet removably secured to the area-defining surface. 18. The facility of claim 8, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises wallpaper, a curtain, a panel or a mat. 19. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the radio-opaque layer is associated with the at least one source surface. 20. The facility of claim 19, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises at least two sublayers. 21 . The facility of claim 20, wherein the at least two sublayers include: an outer layer comprising a first radio-opaque material based on a first elemental species having a first atomic number; and an under layer comprising a second radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number. 22. The facility of claim 21 , wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 23. The facility of claim 21 , wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 24. The facility of claim 21 , wherein: the first radio-opaque material comprises bismuth oxide; and the second radio-opaque material comprises barium sulfate. 25. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises a protective coating. 26. The facility of claim 25, wherein the protective coating comprises at least one of a sealer, a paint and an epoxy. 27. The facility of claim 1 , further comprising: a coating. 28. The facility of claim 27, wherein the coating secures the radio-opaque layer to the area-defining surface or the source surface or covers the radio-opaque layer. 29. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises an adherent element. 30. The facility of claim 29, wherein the adherent element comprises a releasable adherent element. 31 . The facility of claim 29, wherein the adherent element comprises an adhesive. 32. The facility of claim 31 , wherein the adherent element comprises a sheet, a film or a tape. 33. The facility of claim 29, wherein the adherent element comprises a magnet. 34. The facility of claim 29, wherein the adherent element mechanically secures the radio-opaque layer to the area-defining surface or the source surface. 35. A structure, comprising: a surface; and a radio-opaque coating covering an entirety of the surface. 36. The structure of claim 35, wherein the radio-opaque coating comprises a protective coating. 37. The structure of claim 35, wherein the radio-opaque coating comprises at least one of a sealer, a paint and an epoxy. 38. The structure of claim 35, wherein the radio-opaque coating comprises a non-toxic radio-opaque material based on an elemental species having an atomic number of at least 50. 39. The structure of claim 36, wherein the radio-opaque material is a compound. 40. The structure of claim 39, wherein the compound is a salt. 41 . The structure of claim 40, wherein the radio-opaque material comprises barium sulfate or bismuth oxide. 42. The structure of claim 39, wherein the radio-opaque material comprises at least one of barium species, bismuth species and lanthanum species. 43. The structure of claim 35, wherein the radio-opaque coating includes at least two sublayers. 44. The structure of claim 43, wherein the at least two sublayers include: a first layer configured to be oriented toward a source of ionizing radiation, the first layer including a first radio-opaque material, the first radio-opaque material comprising a non-toxic radio-opaque material based on a first element species having a first atomic number; a second layer configured to be positioned closer than the first layer to a subject to be shielded from the ionizing radiation, the second layer including a second radio-opaque material, the second layer positioned adjacent to and at least partially superimposed with respect to the first layer, the second radio-opaque material comprising a non-toxic radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number. 45. The structure of claim 44, wherein the second atomic number is greater than the first atomic number. 46. The structure of claim 44, wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 47. The structure of claim 44, wherein the first elemental species and the second elemental species both have atomic numbers of at least 50. 48. The structure of claim 47, wherein the first elemental species comprises one of barium species, bismuth species and lanthanum species and the second elemental species comprises another of barium species, bismuth species and lanthanum species. 49. A radio-opaque cover, comprising: a radio-opaque element having a substantially planar configuration and including a front side and a back side opposite from the front side; an outer surface on the front side of the radio-opaque element; and an adherent element carried by the back side of the radio-opaque element. 50. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the outer surface is decorative. 51 . The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the outer surface is wear resistant. 52. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the outer surface is slip- resistant. 53. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the outer surface has an appearance that corresponds to a surface over which the radio-opaque cover is configured to be placed. 54. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the radio-opaque cover is configured to be placed over an architectural element of a facility. 55. The radio-opaque cover of claim 54, wherein the radio-opaque cover is configured to be placed over at least one of a wall, a floor, a ceiling, a window a panel and a window. 56. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the adherent element comprises an adhesive. 57. The radio-opaque cover of claim 56, wherein the adherent element comprises a sheet, a film or a tape. 58. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the adherent element comprises a magnet. 59. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the adherent element mechanically secures the radio-opaque layer to the area-defining surface or the source surface. 60. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises wallpaper, a curtain, a panel or a mat. 61 . The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the radio-opaque layer is a single layer. 62. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein the radio-opaque layer comprises a plurality of sub-layers. 63. The radio-opaque cover of claim 62, wherein the plurality of sub-layers includes: a first layer comprising a first radio-opaque material based on a first elemental species having a first atomic number; and a second layer comprising a second radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number. 64. The radio-opaque cover of claim 63, wherein the first layer is at the front side of the radio-opaque element and the second layer is at the back side of the radio-opaque element. 65. The radio-opaque cover of claim 64, wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 66. The radio-opaque cover of claim 63, wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 67. The radio-opaque cover of claim 63, wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 68. The radio-opaque cover of claim 49, wherein radio-opaque element comprises a radio-opaque material based on an elemental species having an atomic number of at least 50. 69. The radio-opaque cover of claim 68, wherein the elemental species comprises one of barium species, bismuth species and lanthanum species. 70. An anti-fatigue system, comprising: an anti-fatigue mat for placement on a floor surface; a radio-opaque material associated with the anti-fatigue mat in a manner that the radio-opaque material will attenuate ionizing radiation emanating from the floor surface; 71 . The anti-fatigue system of claim 70, wherein the radio-opaque material comprises a sheet on a bottom surface of the anti-fatigue mat. 72. The anti-fatigue system of claim 70, wherein the radio-opaque material is incorporated into the anti-fatigue mat. 73. The anti-fatigue system of claim 71 , wherein the sheet comprises at least two layers, each layer of the at least two layers include a radio-opaque material. 74. The anti-fatigue system of claim 73, wherein a first layer of the at least two layers is configured to be positioned adjacent to the anti-fatigue mat and a second layer of the at least two layers is configured to be positioned adjacent to the floor surface. 75. The anti-fatigue system of claim 74, wherein: the first layer includes a first radio-opaque material based on a first elemental species having a first atomic number; and the second layer includes a second radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number. 76. The anti-fatigue system of claim 75, wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 77. The anti-fatigue system of claim 75, wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 78. The anti-fatigue system of claim 75, wherein: the first radio-opaque material comprises bismuth oxide; and the second radio-opaque material comprises barium sulfate. 79. A method for limiting exposure of an individual to focused or scattered ionizing radiation, comprising: directing ionizing radiation toward an irradiated location; preventing ionizing radiation from emanating from a floor adjacent to the individual. 80. The method of claim 79, wherein preventing the ionizing radiation from reflecting comprises attenuating ionizing radiation emanating beyond a surface of the floor. 81 . The method of claim 80, wherein preventing the ionizing radiation from reflecting from the floor comprises positioning a radio-opaque element on an area of the floor on which the individual is located. 82. The method of claim 80, wherein attenuating ionizing reflected radiation at the floor comprises: attenuating ionizing radiation with a base radio-opaque material positioned adjacent to the floor, the base radio-opaque material based on an elemental species having a second atomic number; and attenuating ionizing radiation with an outer radio-opaque material positioned away from the floor, the outer radio-opaque material has a first atomic number. 83. The method of claim 82, wherein the first atomic number is greater than the second atomic number. 84. The method of claim 82, wherein the first atomic number and the second atomic number are the same. 85. The method of claim 79, further comprising: providing the individual with anti-fatigue support while directing the ionizing radiation and preventing the ionizing radiation from emanating from the floor. 86. The method of claim 85, wherein providing the individual with anti- fatigue support comprises providing the individual with anti-fatigue support at a same location where preventing the ionizing radiation from reflecting occurs. |
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/887,340, titled SURFACE COVERINGS FOR ATTENUATING IONIZING RADIATION, FACILITIES INCLUDING THE SURFACE COVERINGS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS, filed on October 5, 2013, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This disclosure relates generally to coverings that attenuate ionizing radiation emanating from surfaces. More specifically, this disclosure relates to coverings that may be secured in place over surfaces from which ionizing radiation may emanate. In addition, this disclosure relates to methods for preventing ionizing radiation from emanating from surfaces, assemblies that include surface coverings that attenuate ionizing radiation and facilities in which surface coverings are employed to prevent ionizing radiation from emanating from one or more surfaces.
DISCLOSURE
[0003] A surface covering that attenuates ionizing radiation includes a radio- opaque layer and is configured to be positioned over a surface from which ionizing radiation emanates. As used herein, the term "emanates" and its variations refers to emission of ionizing radiation from a source, transmission of ionizing radiation through a structure and from a surface of the structure, emission or transmission of fluorescent ionizing radiation and reflection of ionizing radiation, including both ionizing radiation that has been directed toward a surface and scattered ionizing radiation.
[0004] The surface covering may be configured to cover a surface of a facility or a surface present at a facility. The surface or surfaces that a surface covering may be configured to cover may depend upon the nature of the facility in which a particular surface covering is configured to be used.
[0005] As an example, a facility may comprise an area or a room within an architectural structure. Without limitation, the surfaces of such a facility, which may be covered by one or more surface coverings according to this disclosure, may include area-defining surfaces. Examples of area-defining surfaces include surfaces of architectural elements, such as walls, floors, ceilings, doors, windows and panels, surfaces of dividers and the like. In some embodiments, a plurality of area-defining surfaces of a facility may be covered with a surface covering. Even more specifically, substantially all or all area-defining surfaces of a facility may be covered with a surface covering.
[0006] As another example, a facility may be located outside. Its corresponding surfaces may comprise area-defining surfaces, including the surfaces of structures that define the facility or parts thereof. Some non-limiting examples of such surfaces include foundation elements, support elements, pavement, and the like. Again, a surface covering may be positioned over one, more, most or all of the area-defining surfaces of such a facility to prevent ionizing radiation from emanating from the covered portions of each area-defining surface.
[0007] In yet another example, a surface covering may be configured to cover one or more surfaces of equipment present at a facility. In some embodiments, the equipment may comprise a source of ionizing radiation. In other embodiments, the equipment (e.g., pipes, valves, etc.) may be configured to convey sources of ionizing radiation [e.g., radioactive materials, etc.). The surfaces of such equipment or elements are also referred to herein as "source surfaces." Of course, a surface covering may be configured to be positioned over surfaces of a variety of other types of equipment and enclosures therefor as well.
[0008] The surface(s) over which a surface covering is placed may be fixed {e.g., walls, floors, ceilings, foundation elements, structural supports, pavements, pipes, valves, etc.), they may comprise movable fixtures {e.g., doors, some windows, etc.) or they may be portable {e.g., fluoroscopes, other large medical devices, etc.).
[0009] The radio-opaque layer of a surface covering may comprise a single layer or a plurality of sublayers. Each radio-opaque layer or sublayer may include a radio- opaque material. The radio-opaque material may be non-toxic {e.g., it may not pose a health risk to humans or animals, etc.) and/or non-hazardous {e.g., it may not pose a threat to surfaces to which it is applied or nearby structures, etc.).
[0010] In some embodiments, the radio-opaque material may be based on an elemental species having an atomic number of at least 50. In other embodiments, the radio-opaque material may be based on an elemental species having an atomic number of 56 or greater. Examples of elements meeting these criteria include, but are not limited to, barium, bismuth and lanthanum. The radio-opaque material may comprise the elemental form {e.g., a metal, etc.) of such an element. Alternatively, or in addition, the binder may comprise a chemical compound (e.g., a molecular compound, a salt, an intermetallic compound or a complex). Some non-limiting examples of these types of chemical compounds include barium sulfate, bismuth oxide and lanthanum oxide. As another alternative, the radio-opaque material of the ionizing radiation attenuating component of a coating according to this disclosure may include one or more elemental forms of a material that acts as a suitable attenuator of ionizing radiation, as well as one or more chemical compounds that are based on one or more elemental species that have acceptable ionizing radiation- attenuating characteristics.
[0011] In embodiments where the surface covering includes a plurality of different sublayers, the sublayers may include the same radio-opaque material as one another, or the sublayers may include different radio-opaque materials. Without limitation, a first sublayer may comprise a first radio-opaque material based on a first elemental species having a first atomic number, while a second sublayer may comprise a second radio-opaque material based on a second elemental species having a second atomic number.
[0012] The first and second atomic numbers may be the same, in which case, the first and second radio-opaque materials may be the same or the first and second radio-opaque materials may be different [e.g., one may comprise an elemental form while another may comprise a chemical compound, they may comprise different chemical compounds, etc.).
[0013] Alternatively, the first and second atomic numbers may differ from one another. In a specific embodiment, the first sublayer may be located closer to, or face, a direction from which ionizing radiation is or will be transmitted, while the second sublayer may be positioned farther away from, or face away from, the direction from which the ionizing radiation is or will be transmitted. Even more specifically, in such an embodiment, the first atomic number may be less than the second atomic number. In such an embodiment, the first radio-opaque material may be a relatively low-z material, while the second radio-opaque material may be a relatively high-z material. With such an arrangement, the first coating may be configured to attenuate relatively high energy ionizing radiation, while the second coating may be configured to attenuate lower energy ionizing radiation, which lower energy ionizing radiation, or fluorescent ionizing radiation, may result from attenuation of the relatively high energy ionizing radiation. [0014] A surface covering may have any of a variety of different configurations. As an example, the surface covering may comprise a wall covering, such as a film or liner, a "paper" (e.g., a wallpaper, etc.), a cloth, a panel or the like. As another example, the surface covering may comprise a curtain or a partition. A few embodiments of surface coverings that are configured to cover floors include mats {e.g., anti-static mats, anti-slip mats, anti-fatigue mats, etc.), tiles, planks and other suitable items for covering floors. Some other embodiments of surface coverings include coatings, such as protective coatings, epoxies, sealants and paints.
[0015] In embodiments where the surface covering is configured to cover a surface of an architectural element, an outer surface of the surface covering may be configured to impart the surface covering with a desired appearance. That desired appearance may be coordinated with or even be substantially the same as the appearance of the surface over which the surface covering is placed. Alternatively, the outer surface of the surface covering may have a decorative appearance.
[0016] When the surface covering is configured to be placed in a floor, it may include a cushioning {e.g., anti-fatigue, etc.) element, a non-slip surface, an antiskid surface, a wear-resistant surface or any combination of the foregoing. Additionally, a surface covering may comprise an anti-bacterial component.
[0017] The radio-opaque layer may be secured to the surface covering {e.g., on a bottom surface thereof, on a top surface thereof, internally, etc.). Alternatively, a radio-opaque material may comprise a part of the surface covering; i.e., the surface covering may itself be the radio-opaque layer.
[0018] Optionally, a surface covering may include an adherent element. The adherent element may be configured to bond the surface covering to a surface {e.g., a binder of a coating material, a permanent adhesive on wallpaper, etc.), or it may be configured to removably or releasably secure the surface coating to a surface. When the adherent element is removable or releasable, it may comprise a pressure- sensitive adhesive, a mechanical fastener, a magnetic fastener or the like.
[0019] In some embodiments, the surface covering may be positioned and held in place over a surface without being secured directly to the surface. As an example, a partition or divider may be selfsupporting, a curtain or blind(s) may be hung, etc.
[0020] Other aspects, as well as various features and advantages, of the disclosed subject matter should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing disclosure and the appended claims.