Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A method of performing a radiological examination with a primary radiation beam, the method comprising:placing a radiation attenuation system over a target area on an article; andaligning the radiation attenuation system coincident with the primary radiation beam so that the primary radiation beam passes through the radiation attenuation system before reaching the target area to generate an image of the target area,wherein the radiation attenuation system comprises a first portion formed of a radiation attenuation material and a second portion formed of a relatively non-radiation attenuation material, the second portion provides a buffer region between the first portion and the article configured to improve clarity of the image. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radiation attenuation system includes a cover substantially enclosing the first portion and the second portion. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the cover is formed of a relatively non-radiation attenuation material. 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of attenuating the primary radiation beam before reaching the target area a factor of at least 10 percent of a 100 kVp x-ray beam. 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of attenuating the primary radiation beam before reaching the target area a factor of at least 50 percent of a 100 kVp x-ray beam. 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of attenuating the primary radiation beam before reaching the target area a factor of at least 90 percent of a 100 kVp x-ray beam. 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of placing the radiation attenuation system over the target area includes offsetting the first portion at least approximately 1 centimeter from the article with the second portion. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the step of placing the radiation attenuation system over the target area includes offsetting the first portion between approximately 1 centimeter and approximately 30 centimeters from the article with the second portion. 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of placing the radiation attenuation system over the target area includes offsetting the first portion between approximately 3 centimeters and approximately 10 centimeters from the article with the second portion. 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the article is a human patient undergoing a medical procedure. 11. A method of performing a radiological examination with a primary radiation beam, the method comprising:positioning a radiation attenuation material over a target area on a patient;offsetting the radiation attenuation material a distance of at least approximately 1 centimeter from the skin of the patient; andhaving the primary radiation beam pass through the radiation attenuation material before reaching the target area to generate an image of the target area. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of offsetting the radiation attenuation material from the skin of the patient includes positioning a buffer material between the target area and the radiation attenuation material. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the buffer material has a thickness between approximately 1 centimeter and approximately 30 centimeters. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the buffer material has a thickness between approximately 3 centimeters and approximately 10 centimeters. 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of positioning the radiation attenuation material over the target area on the patient includes positioning the radiation attenuation material over a breast region of a patient. 16. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of positioning the radiation attenuation material over the target area on the patient includes positioning the radiation attenuation material over a gonadal region of the patient. 17. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of reusing the radiation attenuation material for a second radiological examination. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of reusing the radiation attenuation material takes place after the radiation attenuation material has been sterilized. 19. A method of performing a radiological examination with a primary radiation beam, the method comprising:positioning a radiation attenuation means over a target area on a patient;using a buffer means to offset the radiation attenuation means relative to the skin of the patient; andhaving the primary radiation beam pass through the radiation attenuation means before reaching the target area to generate an image of the target area.