No sense of weight
Places no physical load on the user.
Biomedical
ARK
Weightless Radiation Protection System
A shield against radiation, comfort for the user.
Built around the comfort and safety of healthcare professionals, ARK ends the physical burden of conventional lead aprons and provides full-body protection with almost no sense of weight.
What is ARK, the Weightless Radiation Protection System?
Instead of the heavy lead apron set worn by staff working in radiation areas such as angiography and X-ray, ARK is an ergonomic system that provides full-body protection without the user feeling any weight.
Developed for maximum efficiency in settings with long standing procedures such as interventional radiology and angiography, ARK adapts to every user through its ergonomic structure and adjustable modular design. With its ceiling-mounted fixed model or its floor-standing model with a special anti-tip design, it integrates easily into any clinical setting.
Ergonomic and adjustable
A modular design that adapts to every user.
Full-body protection
Protects the whole body, including the head, neck and torso.
R&D-driven design
Developed in line with clinical needs.
Value Proposition
Problem
Insufficient protection and poor ergonomics in radiation areas
The protective clothing healthcare professionals wear against ionising radiation weighs around 7–10 kg, and in long procedures the weight causes orthopaedic problems such as myalgia.
Solution
An ergonomic system that carries the load off the user’s back: ARK
Because the protective shield is carried by a floor-standing or ceiling-mounted system, users can perform procedures without any load on their back. Defined as a biomedical protective product, ARK is offered to professionals working in angiography units who are exposed to ionising radiation.
Why ARK?
Protection necessity
Exposure to ionising radiation is a concern that needs to be addressed in angiography and radiology laboratories. Prolonged exposure can lead to serious issues such as cancer and genetic disorders.
Why weightless?
Conventional radiation protection imposes excessive weight on the user’s back, making it hard to concentrate during long procedures and leading to orthopaedic diseases such as myalgia with prolonged use.
Ergonomics
The full-body design, with its forward-leaning torso section, increases the user’s control during the procedure. The carrier arm runs from overhead to the back, staying out of the field of view.
Optimised ergonomic design
An ergonomic structure that can be easily adjusted for users with different body types and sizes.
Easy installation
Easy to install thanks to its plug-in structure. It can be re-balanced after worn-out parts are replaced, offering long-term use.
Full-body protection
Its design protects the head and neck area, the torso and even the lower legs.
Full-Body Protection
Protection provided by conventional methods leaves gaps, especially in the head and neck areas. For full protection of the areas where vital organs are located, ARK provides a comprehensive and complete solution.
ARK Models
Ceiling-mounted and floor-standing models are available depending on the room. Different colour options are offered for the fabric section.
Fixed Model
ARK SBT
ARK-SBT-XXX
Ceiling-mounted so it takes up no floor space, it can be used within an area at least two metres in diameter and folded away when not in use.
Product order codes
- ARK-Sbt-Mv· Blue fixed model
- ARK-Sbt-Fy· Fuchsia fixed model
- ARK-Sbt-Sy· Black fixed model
Floor-Standing Model
ARK AYKL
ARK-AYKL-XXX
A protection system that needs no installation, with a special anti-tip design, easy use and all the features of the fixed model.
Product order codes
- ARK-Aykl-Mv· Blue floor-standing model
- ARK-Aykl-Fy· Fuchsia floor-standing model
- ARK-Aykl-Sy· Black floor-standing model
Development continues on protection systems that isolate only the collimator area and on simple stand-type protective models.
Why ARK Is Needed
Angiography units and interventional radiology rooms are radiation areas shielded with lead or equivalent materials. People who work there unprotected and are exposed to radiation may develop infertility, thyroid-related diseases and types of cancer.
Although sub-systems count the radiation scattered from the detector, radiation scattered from the patient’s tissues spreads around the room, and the primary physician is affected most. Since exposure decreases exponentially with distance from the source, the primary physician carries the greatest risk.
As procedures get longer, the load on the physician is felt more and comes back as a health problem. ARK protects every body region that needs protection without the physician feeling any weight.
Radiation exposure (PA chest X-ray equivalent)
20 PA
Mammography
100–800 PA
Computed tomography
10–2000 PA
Radiotherapy
250–3500 PA
Interventional radiology
Timeline
- 2020
Company founded
- 2021
KOSGEB-supported project
- 2023
1st prototype completed, project successfully finished
- 2024
2nd prototype completed, utility model registered
- 2024
Industrial production work on the 4th model started
R&D born from physician feedback
The idea for ARK emerged from the feedback and requests of interventional radiology and cardiology physicians. A presentation was given at the Trabzon Provincial Health Directorate to Provincial Director Dr. Hakan Usta and his engineers, sharing preliminary information about the product.
Partners we have worked with
ARK for your clinic
Let’s adapt ARK to your room together.
Get in touch about the model (ceiling-mounted or floor-standing) and colour options that suit your room.