Thesis (Ph.D.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Science - Department of Biophysics

The performance of numerous phototherapy devices, developed and marketed, generally has not been adequately tested for irradiance delivery. The safety and efficiency in the operation of these devices remain one of the essential requirements for public health and concern. This thesis investigates the radiometric properties of different therapeutic devices currently used for phototherapy in Egypt. In order to achieve their effectiveness, we have established a standardized radiometric procedure based on evaluating the phototherapy devices through testing their irradiance and uniformity. About 25-50% of all full term neonates and 70-80% of prematurely newborn infants suffer from hyperbilirubinemia during their early days of life.The bilirubin molecule, which is responsible for the yellowness skin appearance of babies with jaundice, is extremely sensitive to optical energy within the spectrum radiation range 400 -500 nm.The effectiveness of phototherapy treatment depends directly on the rate of energy emitted from light source expressed in terms of irradiance W/m2. This effectiveness of neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia treatment depends directly on the wavelength and intensity (irradiance) of the light emitted during phototherapy expressed by spectral irradiance in W/m2/nm, to achieve a therapeutic reduction in the bilirubin concentration in the blood

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