IE49495B1 - Medicinal radiation apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Medical radiation apparatus having a source of radiation the emission spectrum (energy distribution over wave-length) of which reaches a maximum in the UVA region (315-400 nm), characterised in that a source of radiation is used in which the emission spectrum maximum lies between 367 and 385 nm and the 50% bandwidth of the emission spectrum is less than 30 nm.

Description

The invention relates to a medicinal radiation apparatus with a radiation source whose emission spectrum (energy distribution over wavelength) has a maximum in the UVA band.

A radiation apparatus for the treatment of psoriasis is known 5 with the assistance from which the causes of this illness, which are located at the lower limit of the germ layer of the skin, are to be killed by UVA radiation. In the older apparatus, the maximum of the emission spectrum was located at 365 nm and at 360 nm in more recent models. Since this necessitates sensitivising the skin by treatment with medicaments, namely, by treatment with melanine recent attempts are in a direction to shift the radiation into the range of shorter waves which are richer on energy.

It is further known to employ UVA radiation apparatus to achieve a tanning effect. Darkening of pigment necessitates resort to radiation below 350 nm and the formation of pigment a radiation below 340 nm.

In addition, there are known medicinal radiation apparatus which emit infrared radiation, primarily in the short wavelength range of infrared radiation. Such apparatus, which are equipped with glowing bodies (light bulbs, quartz rods or the like) are supposed to promote the circulation of blood and to thereby accelerate the healing process, e.g,, of an inflammation. 43495 Furthermore, it is known to provide in a radiation apparatus a source of ultraviolet radiation, e.g., a high-pressure mercury lamp, and a source of infrared radiation, e.g., a quartz rod.

An object of the invention is to provide a medicinal radiation apparatus for the treatment of tissue whose condition has been changed as a result of disease.

The invention accordingly provides medical radiation apparatus having a source of radiation the emission spectrum (energy distribution over wave-length) of which reaches a maximum in the UVA region (315-400nm), wherein a source of radiation is used in which the emission spectrum maximum lies between 367 and 385 nm and the 50% bandwidth of the emission spectrum is less than 30 nm. Preferably the emission spectrun maximum lies between 370 and 380 nm and especially between 370 and 372nm.

It has been ascertained that, quite surprisingly, a radiation treatment with such apparatus leads to very rapid healing of inflammed tissue and that it leads to regeneration of tissue which has undergone disease-induced changes on other grounds, e.g., as a result of mutation, viruses or caricinogenes. This effect is produced not only in the event of inflammations or the like on the surface of the skin or closely adjacent to such surface but can also be achieved in the interior of the body by resorting to surface radiation. Such success is achieved with an ultraviolet radiation which is located in the heretofore disregarded pronouncedly long-wavelength portion of the UVA band. The wavelength of approximately 380 nm appears to constitute an excitation frequency which sets in motion certain self-healing forces. In order to provide sufficient amounts of ultraviolet radiation, the maximum should be located close to this wavelength. Since transmission losses develop during passage through the skin or a tissue which is held in front of the skin, and such transmission losses effect a shift into longer wavelength region, maximum below 380 nm are preferred.

It is advantageous if the decrease of the emission spectrum in a 9 4 9 5 -4direction toward the short wavelength is so steep that, at 350 nm, the relative energy constitutes less than 20% of the maximum.

This guarantees the concentration of UVA radiation energy within the desired range. Furthermore, the development of pigment, darkening of pigment and erythema is reduced to the same extent to which the percentage of radiation below 350 nm is reduced. In this manner, radiation transmissivity of the skin is not influenced and the application time is not limited.

These effects can also be achieved or even improved by a filter which intercepts essentially all of the radiation below 340 nm and preferably below 350 nm.

In order to achieve a directed and energy-saving influencing, the 50% band width of the emission spectrum should not exceed 30 nm and should preferably amount only to approximately 20 nm.

In a preferred embodiment, care is taken to ensure that the radiation source also emits infrared radiation in the range between 5000 and 9000 run. An additional radiation source can be provided for emission of this infrared radiation. Such infrared radiation cf long wavelength corresponds to a very mild temperature, approximately in the range of the body temperature. Surprisingly, by resorting to the combination of this infrared radiation with the claimed UVA radiation, the treatment of diseased tissue can lead to success even more rapidly. In addition, this improves the penetrative effect of the radiation.

Tt is preferable that at least 30% but especially at least 50% - total infrared radiation be located in the range between 6000 and 9000 nm. Therefore, the energy should be concentrated solely . .n the actually effective spectral ranges. -549495 There exist numerous possibilities of generating ultraviolet radiation within the desired range. However, a low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamp is particularly advantageous because, by appropriate selection of fluorescent material, one can achieve that the major part of emitted ultraviolet radiation is within the desired range. For example, the fluorescent material can contain strontium fluoroborate and europium. Another advantage is that this fluorescent lamp can be operated in such a way that it emits infrared radiation in the range between 6000 and 9000 nm.

The radiation source is preferably rod-shaped and is surrounded by a trough-shaped reflector. The reflector increases the density of radiation in front of the apparatus.

It is of great advantage if several rod-shaped radiation sources are disposed closely adjacent to each other and are placed at a short distance from the radiation exit opening of the apparatus. This results in the provision of an apparatus for radiation treatment of the surfaces of body portions. By utilising 5 to 20 rod-shaped radiation sources with a length of 1.50 or 1.80 m, it is possible to accomplish radiation treatments of entire bodies.

Since the radiation generators are expected to furnish only a small amount of heat or no heat at all, the patient can be positioned very close to the UVA radiation source where the density of radiation is correspondingly high. Thus, it is of advantage to include all of the features which allow the patient to be placed close to and in front of the radiation generators. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, care is taken to ensure that the radiation sources which are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane be overlapped by a substantially horizontal body-supporting plate which is permeable to ultraviolet radiation, at least above 350 nm. This automatically results in the establishment of a short distance between the patient and the radiation sources.

Another possibility consists in that the radiation sources which are disposed in a substantially horizontal plane are accommodated in a housing with a downwardly facing radiation exit opening, the housing being movable up and down by a motor and associated controls. Thus, the patient can conveniently enter a radiation cot and the patient or a third party can thereupon lower the housing to a level above and close to his body.

The invention will be described in greater detail hereinafter with reference to the preferred embodiments which are shown in the drawing. There are illustrated in: Fig, 1 the emission spectrum in the ultraviolet range of a radiation source which can be utilised in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 the emission spectrum in the infrared range of a radiation source which can be utilised in accordance with the invention, Fig. 3 a schematic sectional view of a radiation apparatus according to the invention, Fig. 4 a schematic side elevational view of another embodiment of the radiation apparatus.

Fig. 5 the front elevational view of a further embodiment of a radiation apparatus, and Fig. 6 a sectional view of a radiation source which constitutes a fluorescent lamp.

Ultraviolet radiation is divided into UVC radiation up to 280 nm, UVB radiation between 280 and 315 nm, and UVA radiation between 315 and 400 nm. This is followed by visible light up to -7approximately 750 nm. The infrared range of up to 10,000 nm follows thereafter.

Figs. 1 and 2 show a preferred embodiment of the manner of forming the emission spectrum in a radiation apparatus which embodies the . invention. To this end, the relative energy Erel is applied over the wavelength \. It can be seen that a pronounced energy peak 1 is provided in the long wavelength portion of the UVA radiation. The maximum 2 of this energy peak is located in the region a which extends from 367 to 385 nm but is preferably confined by 370 and 380 nm. Here, the maximum 2 is located at 371 nm. The flank 3 of the peak 1 which faces the short wavelength part of the UVA radiation has a steep downward slope so that only a small amount of radiation energy exists below 350 nm. If necessary, one can employ a filter 4 which intercepts at least the major part of radiation below this wavelength. Therefore, pigment coloration, pigment formation and the development of erythema are prevented to a large extent. The downward slope of the flank 5 of the peak 1, too, is relatively steep so that only a small amount of energy is radiated above 400 nm. Thus, one obtains a peak 1 which has a 50% band width 6 of 19 nm. Consequently, almost the entire radiation in the UVA band is concentrated between 360 and 390 nm.

While the radiation in the region of visible light and in the short-wavelength part of infrared radiation is relatively low, a further increase 7 takes place in the long-wavelength part of the emission spectrum, the major part being emitted in the hatched region 8, i.e., between 6000 and 9000 nm.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of the novel radiation apparatus. There is shown a cot 10 wherein a housing 11 rests on a base frame 12 and is overlapped from above by a body supporting plate 13 which is permeable at least to that radiation which is of interest here. -84 9495 In the housing, low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamps 14 are disposed in discrete trough-shaped reflectors 15 in such a way that radiation is emitted upwardly. The tubes containing fluorescent material are so closely adjacent to each other that the spacing therebetween is less than their diameter. The distance between these tubes and the underside of the body supporting plate 13 is also less than their diameter. The supporting plate 13 can also serve as a filter, for example, to intercept radiation below >340 or 350 nm. During treatment, the patient lies down on the 10 supporting plate 13 so that his entire body is exposed to radiation from the peak 1 and range 8.

Fig. 4 shows a radiation apparatus 20 wherein the interior of the housing 21 is equipped in a manner similar to that of the housing 10 but is provided with a downwardly facing radiation exit opening, The housing is suspended on ropes 22 and 23 which are guided to a winding device 27 via pulleys 24, 25 and 26. The winding device can be driven by a motor 28, The latter is provided with a remote control device 29, The housing is disposed above a cot 30 and can be lowered, with the help from the motor 28 and by actuating the 2o remote control device 29, from the solid-line position in which the patient can enter the cot to the broken-line position in which the radiation exit opening is located close to and above the patient.

In the embodiment of Fig. 5, there is shown a radiation apparatus which comprises a bent circular tube 41 containing fluorescent material and constituting a source for emission of UVA radiation and further comprising at its center an additional radiation source 42, e.g., a slightly heated metal plate, which emits infrared radiation in the long wavelength range. Furthermore, this apparatus is equpped with an on- and off-switch 43, a timer clock 44 and indicating lamps 45. Such parts can also be installed in the apparatus 10 and 20. -949485 Fig. 6 shows in section a low-pressure mercury fluorescent lamp 14. A glass envelope 16, which can simultaneously serve as a filter for radiation below 350 nm, carries at its inner side a layer 17 of fluorescent material which contains strontium 5 fluoroborate and europium. The internal space 18 is filled with mercury vapors at less than atmospheric pressure. Electrodes 19 are located at the axial ends. Such a lamp is capable of emitting a spectrum according to Fig. 1. By selection of the auxiliary equipment, it is possible to operate the lamp at such an output that it also emits the desired infrared radiation in accordance with Fig. 2.

Claims (18)

1. CLAIMS :1. Medical radiation apparatus having a source of radiation the emission spectrum (energy distribution over wave-length) of which reaches a maximum in the UVA region 5 (315-400 nm), wherein a source of radiation is used in which the emission spectrum maximum lies between 367 and 385 nm and the 50% bandwidth of the emission spectrum is less than 30 nm.

2. Radiation apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 10 the maximum lies between 370 and 380 nm.

3. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 or 2, wherein the maximum lies between 370 and 372 nm.

4. Radiation apparatus according to claim 1 to 3, wherein the emission spectrum falls off towards the short 15 wave region to such a degree that the relative energy at 350 nm is less than 20% of the maximum.

5. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 4, which comprises a filter which substantially filters out any radiation below 340 nm. 20

6. Radiation apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the filter substantially filters out any radiation below 350 nm.

7. Radiation apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the 50% bandwidth of the emission spectrum amounts to 25 approximately 20 nm. - 11

8. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein the source of radiation additionally emits XR-radiation in the region between 6000 and 9000 nm.

9. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 5 1 to 7, wherein an additional source of radiation is provided which emits IR-radiation in the region between 6000 and 9000 nm.

10. Radiation apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the region between 6000 and 9000 nm contains at least 30% of the total IR-radiation. 10

11. - Radiation apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the region bewteen 6000 and 9000 nm contains at least 50% of the total IR-radiation.

12. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 11, wherein the source of radiation comprises a Hg-low 15 pressure fluorescent lamp.

13. Radiation apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fluorescent material contains strontium fluoroborate and europium.

14. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 20 1 to 13, wherein the source of radiation is rod-shaped and surrounded by a trough-shaped reflector.

15. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 14, wherein several rod-shaped sources of radiation are arranged side by side in tight relationship and at a small 4 9485 - 12 distance from the radiation outlet opening of the apparatus.

16. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the sources of radiation, arranged approximately along a horizontal plane, are covered at a 5 small interval by an approximately horizontal plate which is permeable at least to UV-radiation in excess of 350 nm.

17. Radiation apparatus according to one of the claims 1 to 15, wherein the sources of radiation, arranged along an approximately horizontal plane, are housed in a housing 10 having radiation outlet openings directed towards the bottom, and wherein the housing can be moved up and down by means of a motor and associated control means.

18. Radiation apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3-6 of the accompanying 15 drawings.