PHOTOTHERAPY APPARATUS

Typical Number in Hospital: 5

Cost Bands: 3

References: 4,10

This term may be applied to physiotherapy apparatus (heat lamps), but it is usually reserved for the treatment of jaundice in the newborn. For this application blue light in the range 420-500 nm oxidizes bilirubin to compounds that can more easily be eliminated from the body. The apparatus normally consists of a group of eight or ten 20-40 W fluorescent lamps spaced 30-40 cm above the unclothed infant, and fitted above the clear plastic hood of an incubator. A plastic cover on the phototherapy lamps serves as a mechanical shield and absorbs ultraviolet light. Light output in the blue range decreases with the age of the tubes and so an elapsed time meter is usually fitted to allow changing of the tubes when output begins to drop.

The infant's eyes are usually protected during this treatment, and a small probe is sometimes used to monitor the cumulative exposure.

In the physiotherapy department a range of actinotherapy schemes may be used employing light in the infrared or ultraviolet region to provide superficial heating of the tissues for relief of pain, muscle relaxation, increase of the blood supply or possibly the elimination of waste products.