Cathpax® AIR, a new optimal radiation protection solution to protect interventional radiologists, cardiologists and neurologists from exposure to health-threatening X-rays

The challenge: "Propose an optimum radiation protection solution to interventional cardiologists who are increasingly exposed to X-rays"

Minimally invasive surgical procedures performed by endovascular route are experiencing very significant growth due to the comfort they provide to the patient but also due to demographic factors such as ageing of the population and the rising number of people suffering from obesity and diabetes. The global market of devices for the percutaneous treatment of cardiac pathologies is expected to increase by more 8.9 % per year between 2021 and 2025 [1]. Interventional Cardiology has benefited from major technical progress resulting in an increase in the number of complex structural procedures (CTO, TAVI, Mitraclip, ASD, etc.). This trend has resulted in greater exposure of doctors to X-rays and therefore to the associated risks to their health.

Today, interventional physicians who are exposed to radiation and who are aware of the limited and piecemeal protection provided by PPE & CPE (Personal and Collective Protective Equipment) are looking for new technologies in terms of radiation protection in cath labs. Studies and training in radiation protection are behind the growing awareness of the risks involved. For example, an interventional cardiologist is exposed to 4 times more radiation than a radiologist, with a cumulative dose of up to 5 mSv/year [2]. A recent study on a group of 43 interventional practitioners suffering from a brain tumour demonstrated that in 85 % of the cases, the malignancy was located on the left, on the side of the X-ray transmitter [3]. For the medical teams led by Professor Guerin at the Laennec University Hospital, an intervention is considered fully successful when it meets its objectives with the patient, this is a prerequisite, but also when the practitioners are not exposed to radiation. Interventional physicians are now able to meet this challenge by systematically using Cathpax® AIR, a new radiation protection cabin.

[1] Source: Interventional Cardiology Devices Market 2021, MarketsandMarkets™

[2] Source: Picano E., et al., The Radiation Issue in Cardiology: the time for action is now. Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2012

[3] Source: A. Roguin: Radiation and your Brain: Possible measures to reduce radiation in your Cath Lab – Endovascular Today vol. 15 August 2016

Cathpax® AIR

Mobile radiation protection cabin for hemodynamic procedures (vascular and peripheral)

The Solution: the concept of a radiation protection cabin providing radiation protection from the feet to the top of the head, allowing the operator to move freely

Cathpax® AIR is the fruit of joint development between a company that has specialized in radiation protection for over 50 years, Lemer Pax, and two interventional cardiologists keen to propose a solution for better radiation protection against repeated irradiation of practitioners putting their health at risk in cath labs, Professor Patrice GUERIN from the Nantes University teaching hospital (France) and Professor David KEANE from the Saint Vincent Hospital of Dublin (Ireland). It was possible to develop this highly independent and ergonomic radiation protection system based on a combination of several factors, such as addressing the ergonomic and physical concerns raised by practitioners, taking the drastic restrictions imposed inside cath labs into account and using the ingenious technical solutions of the Lemer Pax teams stemming from over 50 years of experience in radiation protection.

This design by three teams, with their complementary know-how and each with its own speciality, was essential to reach a compromise between optimum radiation protection (from head to foot) and ergonomic design to respect the work space of the practitioner. The doses received by practitioners, sheltered by Cathpax® AIR, are below the detection threshold. The cabin reduces the practitioner’s exposure by more than 98 % ([4]). In addition, the radiation protection cabin provides optimum protection for the practitioner’s extremities, the left side, the head and the eyes, which are not protected or only very partially protected by the usual PPE and CPE. Lastly, Cathpax® AIR creates a “radiation protected zone” in the cath lab, which also drastically reduces the radiation protection doses for the second operator.

Today, Cathpax® AIR is compatible with any C-Arm model found on the market, it accommodates the most extreme angles during the angiography and it has the necessary mobility to respond to an emergency in the event of circulatory arrest.

[4] 2017, P. Guérin, V. Letocart, T. Manigold, A. Etemadi, F. El Haber – Dosimetric measurements taken during 13 coronary angiograms/Dosimeters placed on the practitioner’s chest.

Cathpax® AIR is compatible with all the interventional cardiology procedures requiring a radial or femoral access route. In particular, the radiation protection cabin is recommended during complex angioplasty procedures, including CTO procedures (which can last several hours), and structural procedures such as aortic or mitral valve replacement (TAVI, Mitraclip) or the treatment of congenital heart disease such as the pulmonary valve replacement procedure which by definition involves irradiation.

Dr Vincent LETOCART

Interventional cardiologist - Nantes University Hospital

Implementation: a radiation protected zone in the cath lab and peace of mind since no risk of being irradiated

The cabin provides optimum protection for the doctors who can work with complete peace of mind while using sufficient radiation sequences and having better image quality, particularly when caring for patients with a high BMI. The psychological comfort of knowing that you are protected from X-rays is a real revolution for practitioners.

Over the last few years, the exposure of cardiologists in cath labs to X-rays has become a matter of increasing concern, especially since this exposure is measured under the protective equipment. Personal and collective protective equipment, which provides only piecemeal and limited protection, is clearly insufficient when it comes to scattered radiation. The arrival of the Cathpax® AIR cabin meets a need: it improves the quality of care patients are entitled to expect and offers practitioners the satisfaction and relief of no longer being irradiated! In addition, the cabin removes the need to wear leaded aprons, which represents a major advantage for people suffering from musculoskeletal disorders. I see every day in my department that it has become difficult to do without it. My colleagues are jealous! Like a "Swiss knife", it can be used and moved very easily from one room to another: in cardiology, electrophysiology, neuroradiology, etc

Prof. Patrice GUERIN

Hemodynamic and Interventional Vascular Center Chief - Nantes University Hospital

However, the movements and habits of practitioners are unchanged and work ergonomics are preserved. Lastly, the possibility of opening the upper glazed part of the cabin allowing easy access to the patient, to the injection point (whether radial or femoral, left or right) and to the intervention equipment while being ideally protected gives practitioners real satisfaction and peace of mind enabling them to focus on their professional gesture and represents a true change of paradigm in their working habits.

Know more about Cathpax® AIR

The results

Operator's exposure reduced by more than 98 %
Radiation protection for the second operator
Work in complete safety and freedom
Unrivalled radiation protection of 1 to 2 mm Pb eq.
Respect of working practices
Compatibility with all procedures performed in interventional cardiology
Asepsis guaranteed

Cathpax® AIR, a new optimal radiation protection solution to protect interventional radiologists, cardiologists and neurologists from exposure to health-threatening X-rays

The challenge: "Propose an optimum radiation protection solution to interventional cardiologists who are increasingly exposed to X-rays"

The Solution: the concept of a radiation protection cabin providing radiation protection from the feet to the top of the head, allowing the operator to move freely

Implementation: a radiation protected zone in the cath lab and peace of mind since no risk of being irradiated

The results

CONTÁCTENOS PARA UN ESTUDIO DE SU PROYECTO

On the same topic

Cathpax® AIR radiation protection cabin in the spotlights during a complex angioplasty Live Case on the initiative of the Italian Society of Interventional Cardiology (GISE).

Cathpax® AIR: a radiation protection cabin intended for interventional procedures

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