During fluoroscopy-guided procedures, a surgeon’s hands are often the closest body part to the radiation source. While protective aprons, thyroid shields, and eyewear have become standard practice, hand protection remains one of the most challenging aspects of radiation safety.
IneoGuard™ Radiation-Attenuating Surgical Gloves have been developed to help address this challenge, combining advanced material science with comfort and dexterity to provide healthcare professionals with a safer alternative to traditional radiation-attenuating gloves.
Advanced Protection Without Compromise
Unlike conventional radiation-attenuating gloves that often rely on natural latex and lead, IneoGuard uses a proprietary blend of synthetic polyisoprene and high-density tungsten. This innovative formulation delivers effective attenuation while eliminating materials commonly associated with allergies and environmental concerns.
IneoGuard™ gloves are:
- Latex free
- Lead free
- Powder free
- MBT free
- DPG free
This makes them an excellent choice for healthcare professionals seeking both radiation protection and improved skin safety.
Designed for Comfort and Dexterity
Creating a radiation-attenuating glove is a significant engineering challenge. Adding dense shielding materials can make gloves stiff, reducing tactile sensitivity and increasing hand fatigue during lengthy procedures.
IneoGuard™ has been specifically engineered to overcome these limitations.
Its soft synthetic polyisoprene formulation, combined with a proprietary high-density tungsten composition, provides:
- Enhanced flexibility for improved dexterity
- Excellent tactile sensitivity
- Comfortable prolonged wear
- Textured fingertips for secure instrument handling
The result is a glove that supports precision without sacrificing protection.
Why Material Choice Matters
Tungsten offers significant advantages over traditional lead-based attenuation materials. With a composition approximately 75% denser than lead, IneoGuard can achieve superior attenuation performance at equivalent glove thickness.
By eliminating lead, IneoGuard™ also helps reduce environmental impact while providing a safer manufacturing solution.
Independently Evaluated Performance
Radiation-attenuating gloves are sophisticated products that must balance multiple competing requirements, including flexibility, mechanical strength, and radiation attenuation.
Comparative evaluations of commercially available radiation-attenuating gloves have assessed characteristics including:
- Dexterity and glove rigidity
- Thickness consistency
- Particle loading for attenuation performance
- Tensile strength and durability
These factors all contribute to how effectively a glove performs in the demanding environment of the operating theatre.
The Importance of Hand Protection
There is no known completely safe dose of ionising radiation. Healthcare professionals performing repeated fluoroscopy-guided procedures can accumulate significant exposure over the course of their careers.
A 2022 study published in the Journal of Orthopaedic Science examined the hands of 104 orthopaedic surgeons and reported concerning findings, including:
- 31.4% were diagnosed with radiation-induced skin injury
- 5.5% required specialised dermatological treatment
- 2.7% underwent surgical removal of pre-cancerous lesions or skin cancer, including radiation keratosis and squamous cell carcinoma
These findings highlight the importance of adopting comprehensive radiation safety practices, including appropriate hand protection where clinically indicated.
A Smarter Choice for Radiation Protection
Modern healthcare demands protective equipment that supports both clinician wellbeing and clinical performance.
By combining a lead-free, latex-free formulation with advanced tungsten technology, IneoGuard™ Radiation-Attenuating Gloves provide an innovative solution that prioritises protection, comfort and sustainability.
For healthcare professionals working in fluoroscopy and other radiation-guided procedures, IneoGuard represents a new generation of radiation-attenuating glove technology, designed to help protect the hands that care for others.