GB2030694A

GB2030694A - Irradiation equipment in the form of a bed

Info

Publication number: GB2030694A
Application number: GB7838455A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1978-09-28
Filing date: 1978-09-28
Publication date: 1980-04-10
Also published as: GB2030694B

Abstract

Equipment for irradiating a subject, for therapeutic or cosmetic reasons, with electromagnetic radiation having ultra violet and/or infra-red components comprises a bed, on which in use the subject lies, composed of a plurality of channel section elements 11 interconnected with one another and covered by one or a plurality of transparent screens 24 which constitute the support surface of the bed. Within each channel is or are housed one or a plurality of lamps 5 emitting radiation in the required frequency range or ranges, the leads and/or other electrical ancillary equipment for the lamps being carried by the channel elements either in parts of the channels themselves or in subsidiary channels 23 formed in the underside of the elements. The channel elements can be held together by transverse rods 21 passing through aligned holes 20 in longitudinal reinforcing ribs 16, 17 of the elements and through sleeves 22, some of which have legs 27. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Irradiation equipment The present invention relates to irradiation equipment and to elements for use in the assembly of such equipment. In particular the present invention relates to equipment incorporating lamps emitting, in operation, electromagnetic radiation in the ultra violet andior infra-red regions of the spectrum. Such equipment is used to irradiate a subject not only for therapeutic or other health reasons but also for the purpose of acquiring or maintaining a suntan.

The beneficial effects of irradiating a subject with artificial light in the ultra violet and infra-red regions of the spectrum, which constitute components of the sun's natural radiation, are well known, for example in the treatment of certain skin disorders, for which lamps emitting ultra violet radiation are used, and in the treatment of certain muscular complaints, for which lamps emitting infra-red radiation are used. For general purpose sunbathing or tanning use lamps emitting both ultra violet and infra-red radiation are usually employed.

There is a wide variety of equipment for generating such radiation and for directing it at a subject to be irradiated, usually the equipment includes a lamp housing with a reflector for directing the radiation generated by the lamp to irradiate a subject located a certain distance away for example upon a bed or seat upon which the subject lies or sits in order to bathe all or a selected part of the body in the rays emitted. The lamp housing is mounted on a support allowing it to be adjusted in angle to direct radiation in a desired direction. Because it is intended that the subject will be spaced some distance from the lamp these have been made in such a way that the emitted radiation is very intense in order that it shall be sufficiently strong to have the desired effect after having spread in a divergent beam upon transmission to the subject.This has meant that the subject had to wear dark goggles or other suitable protection for the eyes to prevent damage which would result from looking directly at the lamp. High intensity lamps such as those for clinical use run very hot and consequently require some form of forced cooling in the form of fans for directing cooling airoverthe lamp or internally circulated liquid coolant within the housing.

It has recently been proposed to provide a selfcontained device incorporating a support presenting a surface for supporting at least one subject to be irradiated, and in which the lamps are housed within the apparatus and disposed below the support surface in such a way as to direct the emitted radiation through the support surface to the subject supported thereon. The support surface is generally horizontal with the device in a normal position of use, and sufficiently large for a subject to lie out full length on it as on a bed or operating table. The lamps are housed within an enclosure below the support surface and arranged so that the emitted radiation passes through the support surface on to a subject supported thereon.

The advantages of such a device over conventional irradiating equipment of the form described above include compactness and the fact that unsightly and cumbersome arrangements, for supporting the lamps and lamp housings spaced from the subject are no longer required. Moreover, because the subject receives radiation from much closer than is usually practical with conventional arrangements, the lamps need not produce such an intense radiation; no attenuation of the radiation due to divergence of the beam from source to subject is experienced since this distance is very short.Of course, in order to obtain irradiation of the whole of the facing side of the body (front or back depending on the way the subject lies on the support surface at the time) a plurality of lamps are required, but this has the compensating advantage that it permits curvature of the support surface whereby the radiation incident at the skin surface of the subject can be more nearly normal to the surface than was possible with a beam of radiation from a single source spaced from the subject. It will be appreciated that only at the centre of the subject's exposed area would the incident radiation have been normal in the conventional systems, the angle of incidence increasing towards the edges of the exposed "profile"; the effectiveness of the radiation thus diminished in these edge regions unless the subject was constantly moved to change the area exposed.For sunbathing or tanning purposes this is a great disadvantage of the conventional arrangement since extended exposure times, for example in the region of forty minutes or more, are often required. Moreover because the intensity of the lamps need not be so great the requirementforeye protection is reduced when using such equipment.

The transparent or translucent support surface may have any suitable light filtering properties for filtering in a predetermined manner the radiation emitted by the lamps disposed therebelow so that the requirements imposed on the lamps may be reduced. The lamps could be of conventional bulb form, but it has been found more convenient for these to be in the form of elongate tubes, a plurality of these being disposed side by side to provide a suitable area of illumination. The lamps are held in a casing over suitable reflectors so that the radiation generated can be emitted only through the light transmitting support surface.

Although this device has many advantages over conventional irradiation apparatus comprising known "sunråy" lamps it is rather expensive to produce, and maintenance is difficult due to the fact that all the lamps are housed in a single casing necessitating complete dismantling should one lamp fail. The present invention seeks to provide, in one aspect, irradiation equipment of the type incorporating a support surface or bed on which a subject to be irradiated can lie and through which the radiation is transmitted, which is of simple construction allowing it to be produced conveniently and economically.

According to this aspect of the present invention, there is provided irradiation equipment comprising a plurality of parallel interconnected elongate channel section housing elements within which are housed respective sources of electromagnetic radiation which, in operation, emit radiation in the ultra violet and/or infra-red region of the spectrum and over which extends a cover of material transparent to the radiation frequencies of the sources, the cover serving as a support for objects or persons to be irradiated.

The invention also comprehends an element for use in forming such irradiation equipment, the element having at least one elongate channel containing means for supporting one or a plurality of lamps and being formed such that if can be interconnected side by side with a plurality of like such elements with there channels facing in the same direction to form a rigid structure able to support an object or person to be irradiated on a cover extending over the channels.

The interconnection of the elements may be achieved in a number of ways including the provision of cooperating interlocking elements.

Alternatively, and preferably, the elements each have a reinforcing ridge extending along the length thereof and projecting away from the channel in which the lamp or lamps is or are housed. A plurality oftransverse holes are formed in these ribs, and upon assembly of the equipment one or more sets of holes are aligned with one another and one or more connecting rods passed therethrough, with the inter-positioning of spacer sleeves, whereby the ribs are clamped firmly in position.

The channel elements form convenient housings for the lamps and enclose these on three sides so that the radiation emitted in use can only pass through the open side of the channel, being transmitted through the transparent cover. The channel members should, of course, be made of a rigid material so that when they are held together side by side they form a substantially rigid assembly over which the transparent cover can be fitted to complete the device. Instead of a single cover extending over the whole assembly there may be provided a plurality of smaller separate cover strips each extending over only one channel, or over two or more channels but less than the whole width of the assembled device.

Assembly of the device can thus be effected quickly and easily to produce a very rigid subdivided tray-form structure of sufficient strength and rigidity to support thereon the weight of one or more persons to be subjected to irradiation from the lamps. Since the housing channels are elongate in form it is convenient for the lamps to be of elongate tubular form, similar to conventional fluorescent lamps, so that these can extend along the length of each channel. It would be possible, however, to employ a plurality of small bulbs spaced along the length of each channel.The side and bottom walls of the channels which enclose the lamps are of opaque material so that the light rays can only be emitted through the open tops of the channels through the light transmitting cover sheet, the channels may be of an inherently light reflective material (in which case they may be suitably polished) or their surfaces may be provided with a coating of light reflecting material so that light rays incident on the surfaces of the channel are reflected and directed through the open top of the channel.

t,e channel elements are preferably unitary structures which may be extruded, moulded, cast or otherwise formed in one piece of the requisite rigidity. A suitable material is aluminium or aluminium alloy since this is light in weight and not subject to rapid corrosion; moreover it is of sufficient opacity and can be polished to reflect light. Other materials may be used, however, for example many of the modern plastics could be used as they too have sufficient opacity and can be formed with smooth reflective surfaces or provided with suitable reflective coatings.

In use the assembly may rest directly on the floor. Preferably, however, there are provided legs (which may be retractable or removable) and conveniently such legs can be attached to the assembly by means of the aforesaid transverse connecting rods, perhaps replacing all or part of one of the spacer sleeves. In this case the legs could conveniently be pivotable between an erected position extending transverse the general plane defined by the assembly, and a collapsed position lying parallel to the channel elements.

The channel elements from which the assembly is made may be open ended, in which case the open ends can be closed by individual perforated end plates or a common perforated end cover at each end of the assembly. In addition to the lamps the equipment may require other electrical apparatus, such as cooling fans, and the lamps themselves may require starter chokes and/or other associated electrical equipment. It is essential that this be totally enclosed for safety reasons, and for aesthetic reasons it should be totally enclosed without producing any bulky projection.This can be achieved by utilising a part of some of the channels since it will not be necessary for all the lamps to extend the full length of every channel in embodiments of the invention built specifically for the irradiation of the supine human body due to the fact that only the inner channels of the assembly are required to house lamps in the region of the feet and lower part of the legs. Conveniently, then, the assembly is provided with means for indicating which is the "head" end of the support surface and the outer channels at the other end house the associated electrical equipment for starting, running, and perhaps also cooling the lamps. It is possible, of course, that two or more shorter tubes could be used to extend along the length of the inner channels, one or more of these tubes being ommitted at the "foot" end of the outer channels so that only a single length tube is used.

standardising for ease of replacement should this prove to be necessary. Whether full length tubes are used in the central channels, or a plurality of shorter tubes, all the lamps, and all the control elements, are located within and totally enclosed by the assembly of channel elements.

Moreover, the channel elements may advantageously be formed with means defining longitudinally extending housing recesses for receiving the electrical leads and cables connecting the lamps with the control mechar#isms.

Although as so far described each channel element is in the form of a single channel, the elements may also be formed in such a way as do define alone two or more channels parallel to one another or to define channels only when connected to like such elements.

One embodiment of the present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a detail end elevation of two unitary channel elements used in the construction of apparatus according to the invention, which elements are formed to provide two channels each; and Figure 2 is a plan view of assembled apparatus using a plurality of elements such as those illustrated in Figure 1.

Referring now to Figure 1 each element is generally indicated 11, and comprises a base 12 from which project upwardly three parallel flat walls 13, 14, 15 defining between themselves and the base 12 two parallel elongate channels 6,7.

The elements 11 are formed in a one piece extrusion from aluminium alloy and are each about two metres long. A sheet 24 of transparent material, such as glass or acrylic is lodged in rebates 25, 26 in the side walls 1 3, 1 5; the intermediate wall 14 is slightly shorter to allow the sheet 24 to overly it.

Projecting from the base 12 away from the walls 13,14, are two parallel ribs 16,17, extending parallel to the spaced walls 13, 14, 15 which define the channels, at positions intermediate between adjacent walls. Between the two ribs 16, 1 7 is a small channel 23 of partcircular cross-section extending the full length of the member 11, immediately below the intermediate wall 14 sepa rating the two main channels. This part-circular channel is intended to receive the electrical leads and cables which supply lamps 5 which are housed in the main channels 6, 7.

Five of the elements 11 are connected together to form an assembly by two transverse rods 21 extending through aligned holes 20 in the ribs 16, 1 7, with spacer sleeves 22 mounted over the rods being interposed between the ribs 16. 17 of adjoining channel members to provide reinforcement and ensure rigidity of the assembly.

The ends of the rods 21 are threaded and nuts screwed onto each threaded end hold the assembly together. Pivotaily mounted on the rods between the ribs 1 6, 1 7 of the outermost element 11 are short legs 27 which are turnable about the rods 21 between a projecting supporting position as shown in Figure 1 and a retracted position lying alongside the adjacent rib to simplify the packaging, transport and storage of the completed assembly.

In Figure 2 can be seen the general arrangement of five elements 11 providing ten parallel channels in which are housed respective incandescent tubes 5 which emit radiation in the required frequency range for the intended purpose of the assembly. Instead of (or as well as) the individual transparent covers 24 of each element, there is provided a support cover 28 of transparent material such as glass or acrylic of adequate thickness resting upon and supported by the assembly of elements 11. The sheet 28 is supported in a generally horizontal position upon the upper edges of the parallel spaced side walls 13, 14, 15 of the channel elements 18 making up the assembly.

The lamps 5a housed in the central four channels are substantially the same length as the elements 11 so as to be located in positions immediately below a person lying full length upon the table from the feet to the region of the head and neck. The outer tubular lamps Sb and 5c are shorter, the two lamps Sb immediately adjoining the central bank of four lamps being five feet in length and the two outer pairs of lamps 5c being four feet in length, the lamps all being aligned at the head end. Situated within the spaces provided in the channels 6,7 at the ends of the shorter lamps are ten boxes 8 housing the starting and running controls for respective lamps 5a, Sb, 5c.

The lamps are supported in position within the channels in any suitable manner, for example by spring clips (not shown).

The ribs extending alongside the support structure provide extended surfaces assisting the dissipation of the heat from the lamps. Because there is no outer enclosure surrounding the assembly of elements 11 , and because, even where the legs 27 are not used, the ribs support the bases 12 of the elements 11 spaced from the floor there can be an adequate airflow below the support structure to achieve dissipation of the heat generated by the lamps 5 in use to ensure that there is no overheating. Should cooling fans be required, for higher power tubes, the cooling air generated thereby may be directed either along the channels 6, 7 directly over the lamps 5, or alternatively in the channels defined between the reinforcement ribs 1 6, 1 7, in which case the channels 6, 7 can be completely enclosed.

Claims

1. Irradiation equipment comprising an array of parallel interconnected elongate housing elements each having at least one channel therein, within which are housed respective sources of electromagnetic radiation which, in operation, emit radiation in the ultra-violet and/or the infrared region of the spectrum and over which extends a cover of material transparent to the radiation frequencies of the sources, the cover serving as a support for objects or persons to be irradiated by the equipment.

2. Irradiation equipment as claimed in Claim 1, in which the housing elements have cooperating parts by means of which they are secured together.

3. Irradiation equipment as claimed in Claim 1, in which the housing elements each have a reinforcing ridge extending parallel to the length of the or each channel thereof and projecting away from the channel.

4. Irradiation equipment as claimed in Claim 3, in which the reinforcing ridges of the housing elements have respective transverse holes therein receiving rods or bolts extending transversely of the length of the channels for securing the housing elements together.

5. Irradiation equipment as claimed in Claim 4, in which the rods or bolts are surrounded by respective spacer sleeves between pairs of adjacent reinforcing ridges.

6. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the transparent cover is constituted by a plurality of cover strips or elements each extending over one or a plurality of channels.

7. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the sources of electromagnetic radiation are elongate tubular lamps extending at least part way along respective channels.

8. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 6, in which the sources of electromagnetic radiation comprise a plurality of separate lamps or bulbs spaced along at least part of the length of the channels.

9. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claims, in which the housing elements are made of a material opaque to the radiation frequencies of the sources and which is polished to form reflective surfaces along the sides and bottoms of the channels.

10. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 8, in which the side walls and bottoms of the channels in the housing elements are provided with reflective coatings.

11. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which there are provided support legs at least at or adjacent to each corner of the array of housing elements, each leg being pivotable between an erected position and a retracted position.

12. Irradiation equipment as claimed in Claim 11 when dependent on Claim 4 or any claim dependent thereon, in which the legs are pivotally attached to the transverse connecting rods or bolts.

13. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the or each of the channels of the housing elements are open ended and closed by individual or common end cover plates.

14. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein there are further provided cooling fans for the radiation sources, located in at least some of the channels of the housing elements of the array.

15. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which at least the channels of the outermost housing elements of the array house control a nd/or power supply devices for the sources of radiation.

1 6. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which each housing element has at least one elongate recess therein for housing cables for the radiation sources and/or for the control and/or cooling devices therefor.

17. Irradiation equipment as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the housing elements at the sides of the array are provided with cooling fins extending parallel to the length of the channel.

1 8. An element for use in forming irradiation equipment having at least one elongate channel containing means for supporting one or a plurality of lamps therein, the element being so formed that it can be interconnected siide-by-side with other like such elements, with their channels facing in the same direction, to form a rigid structure able to support an object or a person to be irradiated on a cover extending over the channels.

19. An element as claimed in Claim 18, having two channels formed therein and two reinforcing ridges extending parallel to the length of the channels on the side thereof opposite the channels, the ridges projecting away from the channels and each ridge being aligned substantially with the centre line of a respective channel.

20. An element as claimed in Claim 18 or Claim 19, in which there are provided means defining an elongate groove or channel on the side thereof remote from the said radiation source housing channels, for receiving cables leading to the said radiation sources and/or to control devices therefor.

21. Irradiation equipment substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. An element for forming irradiation equipment, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.