A method for the accurate manufacture of lead shields

Techniques for the fabrication of field shaping devices have been described in two recent papers (Fordham, Hibbs and Hendrickson, 1969; Edland and Hansen, 1969). The pattern-making technique described here is not original and derives from the same source as that given by Edland. The difference between the method described here and that described by Edland, lies in the end products which in this case are discrete lead blocks for each region to be shielded together with a transparent plastic sheet upon which the required position of the lead shields is defined by wax pencil outlines. Since the provision of lead shields by this method would be a service of the Washington/Alaska Regional Medical Program the apparatus developed had to be sufficiently versatile to include the variety of treatment parameters employed, and the necessary information for the production and use of the blocks would have to be simply and easily relayed.