Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of using a radiation protection system comprising a table having a top surface for supporting a patient, a radiation-shielding screen attached to the table for covering a portion, generally extending between at least a lower portion to a middle portion of the patient and a corresponding portion of the top surface of the table, and controls for controlling the system, wherein the radiation-shielding screen includes at least one port, said method comprising:extending the radiation-shielding screen over a portion of the patient on the table;accessing the controls through the port; andcontrolling the system using the controls. 2. A method of performing a medical procedure comprising:providing a radiation-shielding wall having an opening therein;providing a table having a top for supporting a patient;positioning the wall adjacent the table so a portion of the table extends through the opening in the wall;joining the table to the wall using a radiation-shielding flexible interface;covering the opening in the first wall using a flexible radiation-resistant skirt wherein at least a portion of the skirt extends below said table top; andseparating medical personnel and a radiation source using the wall to shield the medical personnel from radiation emitted by the radiation source. 3. A radiation protection system for shielding medical personnel from radiation emitted by a radiation source during a radiologic procedure performed on a patient supported by a table having a right side and a left side opposite the right side, said system comprising:a radiation-shielding barrier having an opening and being positionable adjacent the table so a portion of the table extends through said opening and the barrier separates said medical personnel and the radiation source to shield the medical personnel from radiation emitted by the radiation source; anda radiation-shielding screen connected to the barrier and securable to the table between said medical personnel and the patient for shielding the medical personnel from radiation emitted from the patient, wherein the radiation-shielding screen generally extends between at least a lower portion and a middle portion of the patient. 4. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 3 further comprising a radiation-shielding interface connecting the radiation-shielding barrier and the radiation-shielding screen. 5. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the barrier comprises a substantially planar wall. 6. A method of using the radiation protection system set forth in claim 3 wherein the radiation-shielding screen includes at least one port, the method comprising:positioning the radiation-shielding screen over the patient supported by the table so the screen conforms to a shape of the patient;attaching the radiation-shielding screen to the table;inserting procedural equipment through the port to access the patient with the procedural equipment; andperforming a medical procedure on the patient using the procedural equipment. 7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the radiation-shielding screen comprises a vascular access drape having at least one port for accessing the patient and a circumferential pleated portion, said method further comprising connecting the circumferentially pleated portion of the vascular access drape to the table to form a radiation-resistant seal. 8. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said positioning the radiation-shielding screen comprises positioning the radiation-shielding screen so the port is located over one of the right and left femoral vascular access regions of the patient, and said inserting procedural equipment through the port to access the patient with the procedural equipment comprises inserting a catheter through the port to access one of the right and left femoral vessels of the patient with the catheter. 9. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the radiation protection system further comprises at least one radiation-closing cloak having a re-closable radial slit and a central orifice, said method further comprising positioning the radiation-closing cloak over the port and around the procedural equipment passing through the port to create a substantially radiation-resistant seal over the port and around the procedural equipment. 10. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein the radiation protection system further comprises at least one radiation-closing cloak sized for positioning over the port, said method further comprising positioning the cloak over any unused ports to create radiation-resistant seal over the port. 11. A radiation protection system for shielding medical personnel from most radiation emitted by a radiation source during a radiologic procedure in which the medical personnel operate in close proximity to a patient on a table, the system comprising:a radiation-shielding wall having an opening and being positionable adjacent the table so a portion of the table extends through said opening and the wall separates the medical personnel from the radiation source to shield the medical personnel from radiation emitted by the radiation source; anda radiation-shielding flexible interface attached to said wall for joining the wall with the table, said flexible interface having a flexible radiation-resistant skirt covering said opening in said wall. 12. A radiation protection system for use during a radiographic procedure performed on a patient supported by a table, the system comprising:a radiation-shielding screen attachable to the table, generally extending between at least a lower portion and a middle portion of the pateint, for blocking radiation transmitted through the patient from reaching medical personnel using the system, the screen including:a corrugated portion comprising a plurality of supports extending in a lateral direction across the screen and radiation-resistant partitions connecting adjacent supports of the plurality of supports; anda pliable vascular access drape attached to the corrugated portion and including at least one access port for accessing the patient. 13. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said drape further includes a circumferential pleated portion surrounding the drape. 14. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said screen further comprises a cloak for covering at least one of the access ports, the cloak having a slit extending from a periphery of the cloak to a generally central orifice. 15. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 12 wherein said drape further includes a channel extending from each access port toward the patient. 16. A radiation protection system as set forth in claim 15 wherein each channel includes a flap for accessing the patient through the flap.