CFI Medical's Zero-Gravity Suspended Radiation Protection System Approved in Europe

October 1, 2014—CFI Medical, a Michigan-based manufacturer of radiation protection products, announced CE Mark approval for the Zero-Gravity suspended radiation protection system floor unit. Biotronik, headquartered in Berlin, Germany, will continue to act as the exclusive distributor of Zero-Gravity outside of North America.

According to CFI Medical, the flexible floor unit acts as a single, continuous lead barrier that covers critical parts of the body without exerting pressure. A body shield with 1 mm Pb equivalence and a clear acrylic head shield with 0.5 mm Pb equivalence are suspended from a rail attached to a wheeled base that is parked during use, allowing the clinician to move freely within the catheterization lab while being fully protected by the “floating” Zero-Gravity system.

The Zero-Gravity system was first launched in the United States in 2010. The system was designed to address the physical stress that can be caused by conventional radiation protective apparel and can result in occupational injuries, from orthopedic problems to cumulative radiation doses. Zero-Gravity technology eliminates painful body strain and shields a larger percentage of the body with greater lead equivalency, protecting the health of clinicians working with fluoroscopy and allowing physicians to perform more procedures with less fatigue.                                                                                            

After initial certification of the Zero-Gravity floor unit, three ceiling-mounted configurations will be sequentially submitted for evaluation and certification in the next few months, advised CFI Medical.