Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children

Abstract

Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children, particularly for the cure of babies stricken with neonatal jaundice, characterized by the fact that it comprises a chamber made entirely of transparent material including the bed on which the child is placed and two groups of light sources placed respectively one above and one below the chamber in order to irradiate the entire surface of the new-born child's skin simultaneously in one treatment without having to submit the patient to continual changes of position, in order to obtain complete treatment of his skin and reduce in this manner the whole duration of his treatment.

Description

The present invention is intended for the realisation of an apparatus for carrying out phototherapy of the total skin area of new-born children affected by haemolitic jaundice.

It is to be noted that some years ago phototherapy was introduced for the cure of haemolitic disease of the new-born child, due to prenatal jaundice.

In particular Cremer and Coll in 1958 and since then other investigators have been able to ascertain that by exposing the new-born child's skin to intense light, in paticular to azure light generated by fluorescent tubes, indirect and non hydrosoluble bilirubine, generated by the haemoglobine coming from the walls of the red corpuscles, is changed into hydrosoluble bilirubine which is eliminated either by the hepatic canal or by the renal canal.

Since even today there is much uncertainty about the mechanism through which radiant therapy is able to reduce in vivo the amount of indirect bilirubine, this therapy, as has been said, has been used for some time in pediatric clinics.

The apparatus used up to the present in these cases includes an incubator made of transparent material, provided above with a complex of fluorescent tubes placed parallel between them under a reflecting surface, in order to illuminate from above the new-born child who is in the incubator.

This type of apparatus makes it necessary for the staff to turn the new-born child frequently in order to irradiate with the greatest possible uniformity its skin on all sides. This includes prolonging the duration of the therapy, certain discomfort for the new-born child, difficulty in obtaining really uniform treatment for all parts of its skin, and notable care on the part of the staff concerned.

The purpose of the present invention is to make an apparatus which can irradiate at one time the skin of the new-born child, laid on the bed of the incubator, on both sides, thus avoiding the necessity of manipulating him by turning, in order to expose separately the skin of the upper side and the lower side to luminous radiation.

The apparatus therefore contains a double series of generators of luminous discharge for fluorescent tubes placed respectively above and below the chamber, and these are made entirely of transparent material as is the bed on which the new-born child is laid.

Both series of fluorescent tubes are provided with reflecting surfaces which concentrate the luminous discharge on the new-born child to be treated, and the whole complex is mounted on a mobile trolley which contains on its lower level the electrical apparatus necessary for the correct functioning of the fluorescent tubes, as for example the reactors, the controls and so on.

Naturally the chamber will be provided with instrumentation adapted for the control of internal temperature, of the degree of humidity and also sleeves for the introduction of the arms of the staff concerned, as prescribed for the correct functioning of the apparatus and also to give sufficient aeration to the chamber.

For the rest, the invention will be described here in more detail in the following pages, with the aid of the plans enclosed in one particular form of design construction, shown in a simple manner with non restrictive examples.

In these:

FIG. 1 shows the invented apparatus from a front view.

FIG. 2 shows the second section line II--II of FIG. 1.

The apparatus invented comprises a trolley 1 (FIGS. 1 & 2) provided with self-positioning turning wheels to support it 2, on which a chamber is mounted 3, made entirely of transparent material on the upper level, the lateral surfaces and the lower level.

The bed 4, on which the new-born child to be treated is placed, is made entirely of transparent material, for example, a pack of sheets of transparent plastic material, soft enough not to cause discomfort to the new-born child, yet transparent enough to permit the passage of luminous discharge through it.

Above, the trolley 1 bears two curved arms 5, on which a complex generating luminous discharge is suspended, including a series of fluorescent tubes 6, hanging over a moulded reflecting sheet 7, which concentrates the rays of light generated by the tubes 6 towards the bottom or towards the chamber below 3.

Below, the trolley 1 is equipped with bars 8 fixable at a regulated height on the vertical mountings of the trolley 1, for example in the middle of the regulating screws 9, bars 8 which hold a second complex generating luminous discharge, comprising a series of fluorescent tubes 10, placed above a reflecting moulded sheet 11, which concentrated the luminous rays given off by the said tubes towards the top or towards the bottom level of the chamber 3.

Advantageously it is foreseen that the reflecting sheet should be folded at right angles corresponding to its sides, in order to present to lateral edges 12 -- 12, which prevent the rays of light from violently hitting the eyes of staff carrying out the treatment, who would be more affected by the luminous discharge coming from the lower tubes 10 in comparison with that coming from the upper tubes 6.

The entire auxiliary apparatus, comprising for example the reactors of the fluorescent tubes, the control equipment and so on is contained inside the draw 13, placed on the lower level 14 of the trolley.

The incubator will be provided with a thermometer 15 for measuring the internal temperature, a hygrometer to control the degree of humidity, a receptacle 17 containing distilled water, which ensures a certain degree of humidity, a container 18 for urine collection, sleeves 19 for the introduction of the arms of the staff concerned with the therapy, also having the purpose of ensuring aeration of the chamber.

It is evident that detailed construction particulars of the apparatus, here described and illustrated on the design plans enclosed, will be able to undergo modifications and give place to different types of execution in comparison with what is described here, with the essential characteristics of the apparatus remaining the same, without in this way prescinding from the terms of the patent.

Claims

We claim:

1. Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children, particularly for the cure of babies stricken with neontal jaundice, characterised by the fact that it comprises a chamber made entirely of transparent material including the bed on which the child is placed and two groups of light sources placed respectively one above and one below the chamber in order to irradiate the entire surface of the new-born child's skin simultaneously in one treatment without having to submit the patient to continual changes of position, in order to obtain complete treatment of his skin and reduce in this manner the whole duration of his treatment.

2. Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children, as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the entire complex consisting of the chamber, the two groups of generators of luminous discharge and the relative feeding apparatus is mounted on a mobile trolley with self-positioning wheels.

3. Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children, as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the group of generators of luminous discharge placed under the chamber where the child is situated is provided with a reflecting sheet placed under the generators which concentrates the rays of light towards the top.

4. Apparatus for simultaneous bilateral phototherapy (pan irradiation) of new-born children, as in claim 1, characterised by the fact that the reflecting sheet placed below the luminous generators of the lower group is provided with edges folded towards the top either on one side or on the side opposite the apparatus to prevent the rays of light from directly hitting the eyes of the staff concerned with the therapy.