The beginning of the end of lead aprons.
When Dr. Bob Foster, a triathlete in peak physical health, and one of the nation’s highest-volume interventional cardiologist, suffered a second ruptured disk—an injury that caused a month-long paralysis in one of his legs and left him out of the cath lab for two years—he knew it was time to do something about the heavy lead aprons that he believed were the cause of his injuries.
And he wasn’t alone. In fact, with 60% of ICs suffering from work-related back issues, he soon discovered that many others were looking for a solution too.
At that time, he was faced with only two realistic, yet extreme, options to work apron free—a massive device that inhibited mobility, crowded the cath lab, and only protected the doctor, or, abruptly end his career and retire. Unwilling to consider the latter option, Dr. Foster ordered the device which promised weightless freedom. After giving it an honest and thorough trial, he found it to be extremely restrictive and isolating, preferring even the debilitating apron over the unwieldy device. But with constant fatigue and another serious injury likely, he committed himself to finding an alternative solution.
That solution was Rampart. Together with a team of designers and engineers, he created this fully adjustable and portable system that provides proven, full-bodied, radiation protection for doctors and their technicians, when used as instructed (including lower table lead curtains), all without the need for lead aprons.
With Rampart, interventionalists across the nation and around the globe can finally experience comprehensive, apron-free radiation protection—all so they can do what they are passionate about and what they do best - in a safe and team oriented environment.
Founder Dr. Bob Foster on the Genesis of Rampart
Intervention For Life (IFL) – a testament to innovation, experience, and faith.
Much like its flagship product, Rampart Defender, Intervention For Life (IFL) was established to provide solutions for medical professionals so they can do what they do best, better.
Everyone at IFL works under the same belief—that they have been given, and humbly accept, the burden to identify problems faced by medical professionals, and the talent to solve each problem they discover.
But at its core, IFL is rooted in faith. Faith in its ability to identify these issues and overcome them. Faith that its solutions yield a safer and truly better way to work. And above all, faith that it has the discipline to accomplish all of this with dignity, honesty, resiliency and respect.
