Open AccessEvaluation of lead equivalence of radiation protection apparatuses as a function of tube potential and spectral shaping filter
Author(s) -
Aljabal Areej Fawzi,
Wargo Richard Ryan,
Lin PeiJan Paul
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of applied clinical medical physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.83
H-Index - 48
ISSN - 1526-9914
DOI - 10.1002/acm2.12768
Subject(s) - equivalence (formal languages) , lead (geology) , radiation protection , filter (signal processing) , radiation , tube (container) , function (biology) , spectral function , mathematics , physics , optics , computer science , materials science , nuclear physics , biology , discrete mathematics , composite material , paleontology , evolutionary biology , computer vision , condensed matter physics
Purpose This study aims to evaluate the lead equivalence (LE) of radiation protective apparatuses under various combinations of tube potentials and spectral shaping filter. Method In this study, the commercially available 3M™ Lead Foil Tape 421, with nominal lead thickness of 0.1 mm, was employed to determine the LE of four different radiation protective apparatuses. The LE of protective apparatus was determined by utilizing the X‐ray transmission curves obtained with the lead foil tape at 60–120 kVp in combination with the spectral shaping filters of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 mmCu. The experimental setup and test method, for the transmission measurements with narrow beam geometry, was performed in accordance to ASTM Designation F2547‐18 Standards. All measurements were obtained using cardiovascular interventional angiography system. Results A much larger discrepancies between the measured LE and stated (nominal) LE were observed at low tube potential (<70 kVp) for non‐lead protective apparatus. At higher tube potentials (>80 kVp) and thicker spectral shaping filters, the measured LE appears to be more consistent with the manufacturer specified nominal thickness for the protective apparatus investigated. On the other hand, for the lead protective eyeglasses, the measured lead equivalence of both the lead side shield and the lens of eyeglasses (0.38 and 0.85 mmPb respectively) are consistent across all tube voltage. Conclusion The conventional specification of LE without considering spectral shaping filter is a valid measure for tube voltages at and above 80 kVp. The measured LE generally exceed the specifications. The difference is most significant at lower tube potentials, and especially with thicker spectral shaping filters. At higher voltages (>100 kVp), the measured LE and the nominal LE are in good agreement with each other irrespective of the spectral shaping filter thickness.