An evaluation of the characteristics and performance of neonatalphototherapy equipment

Abstract

This paper reviews the current state of knowledge and practice in neonatalphototherapy, and assesses methods of evaluating the characteristics andperformance of different equipment.Artificial lighting (usually fluorescent) has been used for the past 30years in the treatment of neonatal jaundice. Widely differing light outputsand spectra are used, making comparison and evaluation difficult forclinicians. Manufacturers of neonatal phototherapy equipment have nostandard for assessing the performance of their equipment, and informationthat is supplied is at best confusing or deceptive to the users. Bestpractice is usually based on empirical data from equipment in use, butthere is wide agreement that present phototherapy is sub-optimal, i.e. does not achieve maximum rate of bilirubin clearance for minimumtherapeutic dose.Several studies in the last ten years have emphasized the importance ofboth the wavelength and intensity of light for optimal phototherapy. Theseare discussed and a technique is proposed for normalizing the output ofdifferent systems to make comparison easier and to enable optimaltreatments to be designed.