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Re: Error OLD X-RAY SHOE-FITTING MACHINES
> Does anyone recall the old x-ray shoe-fitting machines that were
> used in the 30's and 40's? Apparently these machines were
> powerful enough to allow the fitter to see the bones of the feet
> and thus, ensure a good fit. I am particularly interested in
> any references anyone may have to these machines,
> especially estimated doses to users. As others may be
> interested please reply to RadSafe. Thanks.
We discussed this several years ago, these are the parts of the thread I kept:
----from me
There were about 10,000 operational shoe-fitting fluoroscopes in the Unites
States in 1953. The units were strongly criticized by the AMA in 1949 (J.
Amer. Med. Assoc. 139:1004, 1949). They were banned by the states in the
early 1970's. No federal agency had jurisdiction over them because they were
not medical devices and not under AEC jurisdiction.
The last reported discovery of a shoe-fitting fluoroscope in use in the United
States was in 1978.
For each use, the dose to the foot was 7,000 - 14,000 mrem, the dose to the
pelvis (testis, ovaries) was 30 - 130 mrem, and the average whole body dose
was 10-50 mrem.
References:
Hempelmann LH, Potential dangers in the uncontrolled use of shoe
fitting fluoroscopes, New England J. Medicine 241, 335-337 (1949)
Williams CR, Radiation exposures from the use of shoe-fitting
fluoroscopes, New England J. Medicine 241, 333-335 (1949)
------ from Robert Nowotny
Richard E. Mould in his book 'A Century of X-rays and Radioactivity
in Medicine', Institute of Physics Publishing, Bristol, 1993, p.107,
grants about half a page to the 'pedoskop'.
He quotes:
Hempelmann LH, Potential dangers in the uncontrolled use of shoe
fitting fluoroscopes, New England J. Medicine 241, 335-337 (1949)
Williams CR, Radiation exposures from the use of shoe-fitting
fluoroscopes, New England J. Medicine 241, 333-335 (1949)
Quoted data are: 50 kV, 3-8 mA, 1 mmAl-Filter with a resulting dose
rate to feet of 0.5-5.8 R/s (typical exposure times of 5-45 s).
-------from George Anastas
Information about she fitting fluoroscopes can be found in one of my
Health Physics "bibles", Radiation Hygiene Handbook, edited by Hanson
Blatz (page 3-34), see also the editorial, Shoe Fitting Fluoroscopes,
J. Am. Med. Assoc., vol 15, pp. 1004-1005, 1949 and Moyers et al.,
Radiation Exposure in She Stores, N.Y. State Department of Labor
Monthly Rev. Divieion of Industrial Hygiene, vol. 31, pp. 33-40,
1952.
{Frank Bradley was a major player at the NYS Dept. of Labor. His
address is in the HPS Membership Directory.}
Page 13-8 of the Handbook contains recommendations and refers to the
work by Hempelman, L.H., Potential Dangers of the Uncontrolled USe of
Shoe-Fitting Fluoroscopes, New England Journal of Medicine, vol.241,
p. 333, 1949. Hanson Blatz also published a text called Introduction to
Radiological Health (I can't find my copy) where, I recall, he had
quite a bit of information about the subject.
---- From Ron Kathren
Although I cut my teeth on shoe fitting fluoroscopes on my first real
job, it was so long ago that I might have trouble remembering things.
However, I do recall that the tubes in most models that we checked were
typically unshielded, and located just about at the gonadal region of the
unsuspecting user. In those days, there was great concern over genetic
consequences of exposure. I recall measuring exposure rates of several R
to even tens of R per hour at the location of the user; operator
locations as I recall were somewhat lower. However, an exposure of 10's
to hundreds of mR to a user was not improbable.
---- From Paul Frame
As I understand it, the shoe-fitting fluoroscope was invented ca 1924
by Clarence Karrer who had a surgical supply and x-ray equipment
business. He sold a few of the things but one of the professional
radiology groups (RSNA) insisted he stop because it "lowered the
dignity of the profession of radiology". Not willing to offend his
best customers, he complied. One of his employees then quit and
started making them himself.
I believe there were 5 manufacturers but the only one I know was
Adrian (out of Milwaukee).
They used a 50 kV tube at 1 to 8 milliamps. As a rule the beam was
filtered with 1 mm of aluminum. The distance from the anode to the
foot varied from 7.5 to 20 cm. Above the foot was the fluorescent
screen which employed leaded glass ( 2mm thick). The timer settings
varied from 5 to 45 seconds but 20 seconds was typical.
Exposure rates varied quite a bit but some numbers I've seen were 7
- 14 rad to the feet (20 sec). The reported exposure rates for the
scattered radiation show the greatest variation: 200 - 700 mR/hr at
two feet from the front of the unit in one report and 30 - 170 mR
per 20 seconds to the pelvis in another. As a kid, I spent more than
20 seconds at a time on these machines. My mother loved them, it kept
me busy while she was trying to select shoes for my brother.
Some references:
NCRP 95; Public Health Report 1953 68 p57
JAMA (1949) 139 p 1004
Am. Ind. Hygiene Quarterly (1948) 9 p 89
Br. Med J. Dec 7, 1957 p1344
New Eng J Med (1949) 241 p 333 and 335
Lancet (1956) 2 p 447
National Safety News (Sept 1950) p 33
John Moulder (jmoulder@its.mcw.edu)
Radiation Biology Group
Medical College of Wisconsin