Meridian Research and Development

Marcus D Benedetto

Ronald F DeMeo

Ronald Demeo

A lightweight, breathable material which has radiopaque qualities and a method for making the radiopaque material. In a preferred embodiment, a lightweight fabric, such as a cloth surgical mask liner ( ) or an entire surgical mask ( ), is impregnated with a lightweight radiopaque compound, such as a barium sulfate compound, to impart radiopaque qualities. Impregnation of the lightweight radiopaque compound can be performed in any number of ways, including soaking the fabric in a solution containing the lightweight radiopaque compound, using the fabric as a filter in a passing solution of the lightweight radiopaque compound, placing the fabric in a reaction chamber between reagent solutions whose interaction will form the lightweight radiopaque compound and impregnating the fabric with one reagent and then exposing it to a complementary reagent whose reaction with the first reagent will form a lightweight radiopaque compound. To enhance the efficiency of impregnation, an additive, such as a Gum Arabic or Guar Gum adhesive, can be added to the solution containing lightweight radiopaque compound or to the fabric itself. While a surgical mask is provided as one example, the principles of the invention can also be applied to a broad range of other items including surgical hoods, hospital gowns, gloves, partitions, patient drapes, coverings etc.

Lightweight radiation protective garments

A lightweight, breathable garment which has radiopaque qualities and a method for making the radiopaque garment. In a preferred embodiment, a lightweight fabric, such as a cloth surgical mask liner (,) or an entire surgical mask (,), is impregnated with a lightweight radiopaque compound, such as a barium sulfate compound, to impart radiopaque qualities. Impregnation of the lightweight radiopaque compound can be performed in any number of ways including soaking the fabric in a solution containing the lightweight radiopaque compound, using the fabric as a filter in a passing solution of the lightweight radiopaque compound, placing the fabric in a reaction chamber between reagent solutions whose interaction will form the lightweight radiopaque compound and impregnating the fabric with one reagent and then exposing it to a complementary reagent whose reaction with the first reagent will form a lightweight radiopaque compound. In alternative embodiments, radiopaque qualities can be imparted to garments by using one or more sheets of lightweight radiopaque material, such as aluminum, or weaving radiopaque metal or metallized threads into the garment. While a surgical mask is provided as one example, the principles of the invention can also be applied to a broad range of other items including surgical hoods, hospital gowns, gloves, partitions, drapes etc.

Growing community of inventors

North Miami Beach, FL, United States of America

Marcus D Benedetto