A Lead Garment Structural System to Reduce Musculoskeletal Stress During Fluoroscopy

Abstract

Cardiovascular, orthopedic, and interventional radiology procedures using fluoroscopy require healthcare professionals to wear heavy lead garments for radiation protection, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, discomfort, and fatigue. A mobile lead garment frame, MobiLead, was designed to mitigate these issues by moving the lower garment load off body to a structural frame and redistributing the load of the upper garment from the shoulders to the hips through a torso frame. The frame was designed to be compact with a minimal footprint for maneuverability in operating rooms with limited space, while still giving the surgeon adequate mobility for various emergency procedures. Preliminary analysis of device efficacy was conducted using electromyography (EMG) of load-bearing muscles during use and qualitative surgeon user feedback surveys. Nonparametric permutation tests showed that the MobiLead device mean activation was significantly lower than the standard lead garment (p<0.001). Surgeon feedback and use testing showed that the device fits under a sterile gown and is maneuverable in an operating room (OR).