Patent Number: 
Section: claims

1. A system for the attenuation of radiation comprising: a polymeric resin comprising a web comprising a relatively thin membrane;  a radiation attenuation material dispersed at least partially in the resin;  wherein the system has a radiation transmission attenuation factor of at least about 10% of a primary 100 kVp x-ray beam. 2. The system of  claim 1  wherein the web comprises a plurality of layers. claim 1 3. The system of  claim 2  having a radiation transmission attenuation factor of at least about 50% of a primary 100 kVp x-ray beam. claim 2 4. The system of  claim 2  having a gamma radiation attenuation fraction of at least about 10% of a 140 KeV radiation source. claim 2 5. The system of  claim 2  wherein the web has a thickness of less than about 50 mil. claim 2 6. The system of  claim 4  having a gamma radiation attenuation fraction of at least about 50% of a 140 KeV radiation source. claim 4 7. The system of  claim 2  wherein the web is generally flexible. claim 2 8. The system of  claim 5  wherein the web is generally rigid. claim 5 9. The system of  claim 7  wherein the web comprises a film. claim 7 10. The system of  claim 7  wherein the web comprises a plurality of fibers. claim 7 11. The system of  claim 9  further comprising a cover coupled to the web. claim 9 12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the cover comprises a skin. claim 11 13. The system of  claim 9  wherein the resin comprises a plastic. claim 9 14. The system of  claim 9  wherein the radiation attenuation material is substantially free of lead. claim 9 15. A method of making a radiation attenuation system having a radiation attenuation material dispersed at least partially in a polymeric resin comprising: extruding the radiation attenuation material and the polymeric resin thereby forming an extrusion;  blowing the extrusion into a web comprising a relatively thin membrane;  wherein the web has a radiation transmission attenuation factor of at least about 10% of a primary 100 kVp x-ray beam. 16. The method of  claim 15  wherein blowing the extrusion further comprises forming a sheet of film. claim 15 17. The method of  claim 16  wherein extruding the radiation attenuation material and the polymeric resin further comprises forming a plurality of separate extrusions. claim 16 18. The method of  claim 16  wherein blowing the extrusion further comprises inflating the web. claim 16 19. The method of  claim 18  further comprising compounding the polymeric resin and the radiation attenuation material before extruding the radiation attenuation material and the polymeric resin. claim 18 20. A shield for the attenuation of radiation comprising: a sheet comprising a radiation attenuation material dispersed generally evenly in a polymeric resin comprising:  a first film;  a second film coupled to the first film;  wherein a radiation transmission attenuation factor of the sheet is greater than a radiation transmission factor of at least one of the first film and the second film and the radiation transmission attenuation factor of the sheet is at least about 10% of a primary 100 kVp x-ray beam. 21. The shield of  claim 20  wherein the sheet has a radiation transmission attenuation factor of at least 50% of a primary 100 kVp x-ray beam. claim 20 22. The shield of  claim 20  wherein the sheet has a thickness of less than about 50 mil. claim 20 23. The shield of  claim 20  wherein the sheet has a gamma radiation attenuation fraction of at least about 10% of a 140 KeV radiation source. claim 20 24. The shield of  claim 22  further comprising a cover coupled to the sheet. claim 22 25. The system of  claim 23  wherein the sheet has a gamma ray radiation attenuation fraction of at least about 50% of a 140 KeV radiation source. claim 23 26. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the cover comprises a generally liquid impervious layer. claim 24 27. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the cover further comprises an absorbent layer. claim 24 28. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the cover comprises a construction article. claim 24 29. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the cover comprises an article of clothing. claim 24 30. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the cover comprises a blanket. claim 24 31. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the resin comprises a fiber. claim 24 32. The shield of  claim 24  wherein the sheet comprises a container. claim 24 33. The shield of  claim 26  wherein the impervious layer comprises a polymeric material. claim 26 34. The system of  claim 12  wherein the skin is laminated to the film. claim 12 35. The system of  claim 13  wherein the radiation attenuation material is dispersed generally evenly in the resin. claim 13 36. The system of  claim 13  wherein the weight of the radiation attenuation material is less than about ten times the weight of the resin. claim 13 37. The system of  claim 13  wherein the volume of the resin is less than about five times the volume of the radiation attenuation material. claim 13 38. The system of  claim 14  wherein the radiation attenuation material comprises at least one of barium and bismuth. claim 14 39. The system of  claim 14  wherein the radiation attenuation material comprises a particle having a diameter of less than about 44 micron meters. claim 14 40. The system of  claim 14  wherein the web has a thickness of less than about 10 mil. claim 14 41. The shield of  claim 20  wherein the first film is laminated to second film. claim 20 42. The system of  claim 22  wherein the web has a thickness of less than about 10 mil. claim 22