Radiation and EMI shielding of 3D printed lightweight components for neuroimaging devices

Abstract

The growing demand for miniaturized diagnostic neuroimaging devices, alongside the widespread use of electronics, presents an opportunity to develop lightweight, durable and non-toxic alternative shielding components. This study investigates lightweight shielding solutions for ultraportable neuroimaging toolkit devices for stroke detection, evaluating electromagnetic interference (EMI) and X-ray shielding properties of two commercially available conductive filaments: Koltron G1 and Fili Conductivo. The EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of 3D-printed specimens with varying thicknesses was assessed across a broad frequency range from 10 MHz to 12 GHz, covering Ultra High Frequency (UHF), S-band, C-band, and X-band frequencies. Both materials demonstrated increased SE with thickness, with Koltron achieving a 102 % increase from 1 mm to 4 mm in the 10 MHz to 8.5 GHz range and up to ∼28.5 dB attenuation at lower frequencies. In the X-band, both performed similarly, averaging over 29 dB SE, with less variability in Koltron. X-ray shielding tests confirmed their effectiveness, with Koltron showing ∼65.5 % of lead's shielding performance when normalized for density. These results, combined with the lower weight and ease of processing of conductive thermoplastics compared to traditional metallic shielding materials, highlight their potential as flexible, lightweight, and non-toxic alternatives for enhancing the portability and efficiency of neuroimaging technologies, particularly in environments where conventional shielding methods are impractical, aiming to improve patient outcomes.