Patent Number: 059006382
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is directed to an arrangement for protecting attending personnel from x-rays emitted by an x-ray source in an x-ray diagnostics installation. 2. Description of the Prior Art German OS 30 12 463 discloses a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray aiming device comprised of lead-rubber straps pivotedly suspended at a carrier. The carrier has two carrying elements connected to one another in articulated fashion that are adjustable via button-like guide elements at guide rails secured to the x-ray aiming device. The supporting elements can describe an angle relative to one another. The lead-rubber straps are secured to the two carrying elements of the carrier overlapping one another in the fashion of roofing tiles. The carrying element is guided at a lateral guide rail of the x-ray aiming device and is angled and has comb-like projections at which the lead-rubber straps are seated in articulated fashion. Another lower carrying element is fabricated of an elastically resilient flat material to which the lead-rubber straps are riveted flat at a number of locations. The lead-rubber straps are pivotable around a rotational axis at the comb-like projections of the carrying element. A number of lead-rubber straps are arranged at each carrying element. German OS 196 19 297 discloses a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation that has a carrier at which a lead-rubber flap is pivotably seated. The carrier is adjustable at a guide rail. A carrier is provided for each lead-rubber flap and the carriers are connected chain-like to one another via a connecting element. The lead-rubber straps are seated at the respective carrier pivotable around a transverse axis, so that a good radiation protection is assured both given a horizontal as well as given a vertical alignment of the x-ray aiming device together with an allocated support platform for an examination subject. When the x-ray aiming device is pivoted from the horizontal into the vertical alignment, then the lead-rubber straps are moved in the guide rail via their carrier as a result of the force of gravity and thus proceed into a limit position. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation of the type initially described which does not allow the lead-rubber straps to be unintentionally moved in the guide rail. This above object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation having a guide rail surrounding a region in which x-rays are emitted, with a number of lead-rubber straps each having a carrier movable seated in the guide rail, and a brake arrangement for each carrier which at least impedes, and preferably prevents, movement of the carriers along the guide rail when the component to which the guide rail is attached is adjusted in position. An advantage of the invention is that an movement of the carrier along the rail is intentionally initiated by the operator and does not occur independently, such as by the force of gravity. It is advantageous for the braking arrangement to be a as friction brake or a mechanism which engages at the carrier, preferably at an end of the carrier. The position of the radiation protection arrangement can thus be fixed to achieve an optimum radiation protection. A further object of the present invention is to provide a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation of the type initially described wherein the lead-rubber straps do not seize or become impeded when the x-ray aiming device is pivoted. The above object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostics installation having at least two lead-rubber straps which are pivotably seated at a carrier, each strap having a formed part in the region of the carrier which effects a diversion of the lead-rubber strap when the strap is caused to pivot out of a perpendicular position. An advantage of providing a formed part at the carrier is that the lead-rubber straps are diverted at this formed part when pivoted, without the lead-rubber straps seizing or becoming impeded. It is particularly advantageous when, for this purpose, the formed part is fashioned as a bead surrounded by a swiveling axis of the lead-rubber strap fashioned as a ring. To this end, the formed part can be placed into or placed on the lead-rubber strap. It is advantageous for the same purpose when the lead-rubber straps are joined to one another in a first direction and are aligned in a second direction, with the first and second directions describing a non-zero angle relative to one another. As a result, seizing and impeding of the lead-rubber straps when pivoting the x-ray aiming device is also prevented. Lead-rubber straps pivotally suspended at a carrier are provided in the radiation protection arrangement disclosed by German OS 30 12 463. These lead-rubber straps serve as radiation protection but impede access to the examination subject. It is therefore also an additional object of the invention to provide a radiation protection arrangement of the type initially described wherein this access is facilitated. This object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a radiation protection arrangement for an x-ray diagnostic installation wherein at least one lead-rubber strap is movably arranged in a guide rail so as to prevent radiation from being emitted beyond a region surrounding an x-ray source, and wherein the radiation protection strap can be folded over, and fixed in a folded-over position, so as to allow access to the protected region. An advantage of the invention is that the at least one lead-rubber strap can be folded over and fixed in the folded-over position. Access to the examination subject is thereby produced and the access is maintained.