Study Published in Journal of the American Heart Association
CINCINNATI (October 22, 2026) – Egg Medical announced the publication of a prospective study in the Journal of the American Heart Association (JAHA) evaluating its EggNest Enhanced Radiation Protection Devices (ERPDs). Conducted at The Christ Hospital Health Network, the real-world clinical study demonstrates that radiation protection allows interventional lab personnel to perform procedures safely without heavy personal lead aprons.
Validating these clinical findings in practice, the Texas Department of State Health Services recently granted a state radiation variance to Methodist Healthcare System of San Antonio.
"The EggNest system protects the entire team so they can choose to go apron-free or wear ultralight aprons that feel like a light vest," said Dr. Santiago Garcia, interventional cardiologist at The Christ Hospital and principal investigator of the study. "This comprehensive data provides interventional teams with an evidence-based pathway to significantly reduce orthopedic strain while enhancing radiation safety."
Key Findings Published in JAHA
- Apron-Free Reduction: The estimated annual collar dose for primary operators dropped from 86.7 mRem with standard shielding to 25.5 mRem with EggNest Complete (). For context, according to the CDC, a 5-6 hour flight yields radiation exposure of ~3.5 mRem.
- Minimal Exposure Across All Roles: With the EggNest Complete ERPD, total effective doses for all lab roles, including primary operators, scrub assistants, and circulating nurses, were 1% of the ICRP annual maximum ().
- Ultralight Apron Performance: Pairing EggNest ERPDs with ultralight () aprons yielded significantly lower annualized radiation doses than wearing traditional heavy () aprons with standard shielding. The primary operator received an annualized EDE-1 dose of 51.4 mRem under 0.5mm lead aprons with standard shielding vs. 1.4 mRem under 0.125 lead aprons with EggNest Complete ().
"The radiation reduction we achieve with EggNest fundamentally changes how we approach lab safety—I feel completely comfortable working apron-free," said Dr. Tim Henry, Medical Director of The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital and past president of SCAI. "It clears the way for a healthier, more sustainable future for operators and staff."
About The Christ Hospital Health Network
The Christ Hospital Health Network consists of an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers and dozens of medical offices throughout the region. For more than 138 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves. Made up of more than 1,300 physicians and 7,600 team members, our mission is to improve the health of our community by providing exceptional outcomes in an affordable way. The Network was recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the #3 hospital in Ohio and named to Newsweek’s World’s Best Hospitals list in 2026.
Lead-Free, Responsibly
Egg Medical emphasizes a flexible, safety-first philosophy: Lead-Free, Responsibly. Modern interventional labs are not one-size-fits-all, and EggNest technology is engineered to support apron-optional workflows where approved—never to force a single standard of practice.
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- The Christ Hospital Health Network Recognized for Digital Health AchievementThe Christ Hospital Health Network is proud to announce its Level 8 achievement in the acute and ambulatory care categories.
- The Christ Hospital Health Network Launches Center for Obesity & Metabolic HealthThe Christ Hospital Health Network has launched its new Center for Obesity & Metabolic Health at 7450 Mason-Montgomery Road in Mason.
- The Christ Hospital Health Network Receives Historic $50 Million DonationGift from The Farmer Family Foundation Will Support the Modernization and Expansion of Key Facilities Designed to Elevate the Patient Experience and Represents one of the Largest Philanthropic Investments in Healthcare in Greater Cincinnati History.
- The Christ Hospital Health Network Recognized for Efforts to Improve Blood PressureThe Christ Hospital Health Network has earned the Silver+ level recognition from the American Heart Association through Target: BP™, a national initiative that supports healthcare organizations treating high blood pressure.
- Doctor at The Christ Hospital Performs First-in-the-Region Robotic Gallbladder Removal SurgeryThe Christ Hospital Health Network recently performed the first-in-the-region Single Port robotic gallbladder removal surgery.
- Look Up! Historic Christ Hospital Tower to Illuminate Cincinnati Skyline During BLINKAs millions of visitors visit Cincinnati for BLINK, a powerful beam of yellow and blue light will rise from The Christ Hospital’s historic cupola on Mt. Auburn campus into the night sky, creating a beacon designed to be visible from miles away.
- The Christ Hospital Health Network Honored for Promoting Well-Being of Healthcare WorkersThe Christ Hospital Health Network earned the Bronze Level recognition from the American Medical Association (AMA) as part of its Joy in Medicine™ Program.
