Recently featured Zero-Gravity™ articles

Salcido-Rios et al. studied 700 cardiology procedures and showed a 98% reduction in physician radiation dose to the head and eyes when using Zero-Gravity TM vs. conventional aprons, and suggested that “…it appears that occupational radiation doses once considered ALARA with the conventional standard of wearing lead aprons may no longer meet a more contemporary definition of ALARA.” onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ccd.30047

Orosyat et al. showed a 95.0% reduction in deep dose equivalent [Hp(10)] for Zero-Gravity vs. traditional lead apron in morbidly obese patients in a study of 1,120 consecutive coronary artery cases. jacc.org/doi/abs/10.1016/j.jacc.2018.08.1745

Dabin et al’s MEDIRAD study rigorously compared Radioprotective drapes, head supported lead-acrylic face masks, lead head-caps, and Zero-Gravity, during clinical use with patients as well as phantom studies , and using Monte Carlo analysis. The authors concluded that “ZG offers a considerable dose reduction to all organs covered” [compared to the other tested methods]. Read more and link to manuscript.

Zanca et al. demonstrated that “The Zero-Gravity system has a great potential to significantly reduce operator dose through the creation of a nearly zero-radiation work environment.” Link to manuscript.

Kwarcinski et al. showed that an operator can conduct a busy interventional practice with negligible exposures to the head and eyes, while supporting zero weight on the body. Read more and Link to manuscripts.

Featured recent articels on the subjects of lightweight lead aprons, lead glasses, attenuating head caps, and musculoskeletal disease in the interventional environment

Two studies by Fakhoury et al. and Lu et al. further highlight the reduced protection of non-lead aprons, the pervasive problems with labeling compliance and regulations in general, and why we often don’t know if we are shielded. Read more and link to manuscript.

Fetterly et al. demonstrated the geometric problems with lead glasses and attenuating caps which lead to severely reduced effectiveness, approaching nil for the brain and contralateral eye. Read more and link to manuscript.

The prevalence of musculoskeletal pain is very high in IR doctors, and usually attributed to the interventional practice, as shown in this excellent recent study by Morrison et al. Link to manuscript.