| Properties | Details |
|---|---|
| SFDA Classification | Class IIa |
| Purpose of Use | The neonatal light therapy unit is a device used to treat jaundice in newborns with a special type of light. Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes turn yellow as a result of high concentrations of bilirubin in the blood. Bilirubin is a yellow substance in the blood. It is formed by the breakdown of red blood cells. Jaundice in infants usually occurs because the baby's liver is not mature enough to get rid of bilirubin into the bloodstream. |
| Work Location & End-User | Place of work: birth centers, neonatal intensive care unit. End-User: Nursing staff and doctors. |
| Parts & Accessories | • light source • Fluorescent lamps • Compact fluorescent lamps • light-emitting diodes • other parts Some light therapy units consist of a metric clock to record the lamp's life and the infant's treatment time. |
| Operation | Hyperbilirubinemia is treated by exposing patients to visible light in the blue region of the spectrum from 420 to 500 nm. This light oxidizes the bilirubin in the blood to water-soluble products that can be excreted. The level of radiation is controlled by increasing or decreasing the distance between the patient and the light source. Also, the level of radiation can be controlled by light intensity switches. The radiation that reaches the patient during phototherapy is measured with a radiometer with an appropriate frequency range. * The patient's eyes should be closed with an eye mask during exposure to light.  |
| Common Problems | The most common problems with a light therapy unit are: • Insufficient radiation due to dust covering the bulbs of the machine or the end of the lamp life. • The unit is not switching because of a problem with the electrical socket, fuse, or loose contact in the plug. |
| Manufacturers | • Dräger • Bistos • Ningbo David Medical Device |
| Sources | • Saudi Food And Drug Authority • Franks Hospital Workshop • WHO • ScienceDirect • Newborn WHO-CC • Saudi Food And Drug Authority Page |
English (UK) 
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