The ultraviolet

Radiations
By
Faisal Mehboob

Introduction
The electromagnetic energy falls between visible and x rays
Wavelength between 10nm and 400nm

Types
1. UVA Wavelength 315-400nm
2. UVB wavelength 280-315
3. UVC wavelength below 280nm

Production of ultraviolet radiations

The ultraviolet radiations can be produced by the following generators.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

High pressure mercury vapor lamp

Kromayers lamp
Fluorescent tubes
Theraktin tunnel
PUVA apparatus

High pressure
mercury vapor lamp

Construction
U-shaped glass tube
Filled with argon gas at low pressure
Mercury enclosed in it
Sealed at both ends
Electrodes are placed at the ends
The burner is made up of quarts so it could withstand with high
pressure.
Step up transformer used to apply the high p.d

Mechanism
Argon gas ionized
+ve ions moves toward negative terminal and ve ions mover
toward positive terminal.
Collision between the moving ions and argon gas causes further
ionization.
As a result
Glow of discharge is produced
Sufficient heat is produced
Vaporize the mercury
Ionization of mercury takes place
So ultraviolet rays produced by
Ionization of the argon gas
Ionization of the mercury
Vaporization of the mercury
It takes 5 min to reach its peak.

Tridymite formation
Quartz changes its one form to another form of silica called tridymite due to
very high temperature in the burner.
Harmful for the total output of the ultraviolet rays.
Total output of the ultraviolet rays dec as the proportion of the Tridymite
formation increases
1000 hours of ultraviolet rays production that much Tridymite can form that the
whole burner tube needs to be replaced.

Imp point
A variable resistor is used for compensation and resistance is reduced

The Kromayer's
lamp

Advantage of using this lamp

No danger of burn

Reason
It is used in contact with the body tissue as the harmful rays
are absorbed by the circulating water

Construction
The high pressure mercury vapor lamp is surrounded by
circulating distilled water so as to absorb infrared rays .

Uses
To treat sinuses
To treat deep body cavities
Direct contact method can be used to minimize the danger of
burn.

Fluorescent tubes

Advantage
The fluorescent tubes
can produce long waver
ultraviolet rays without
having short waves.
In case of mercury vapor
lamp they produce short
waves too. Which is a
big disadvantage of this
lamp.

construction
Each tube is 120cm long
Made up of glass
Inside of the tube is coated
with special
phoshpor(spectrum of
each tube depends on this
phosphor coating)

Procedure
By process of ionization , a low pressure arc is set up inside
Phosphor is used to absorb short wave ultraviolet rays & then
reemitted at longer wavelengths (main advantage)

Theraktin tunnel

Theraktin tunnel
A semi cylindricular framework
Consist of four fluorescent tubes
Used in a way that an even irradiation of a patient is achieved.
Fluorescent tube with a spectrum of 280-400nm are used.

PUVA APPARATUS

PUVA APPARATUS
UVA used in it
Special fluorescent tubes are used , which mounted
in a vertical battery on a wall or on four sides of a
box totally surrounding th patient.
These types of ultraviolet are given for two hours
Use in case of psoralen drug
Hence name Psoralen-Ultravoilet-A

Techniques of
application

Test dose
Individual patient reaction to the ultraviolet radiations is used to
assess the test dose.
it is similar weather using with Kromayer's lamp, fluorescent tube or
Theraktin tunnel
The only difference occur in distance and timing.

Calculation of the test dose

Flexor part of the forearm is
selected
Wash the area
Three different hole are cut
Size of the middle hole is 2cm *
2cm
And the hole on one side is
smaller and other side is larger
A number of people are tested to
find the average E1 time and
distance
If E1 is determined , E2 , E3 &
E4 can be calculated from it.

E2= E1 TIME * 2.5

E3= E2 TIME * 5
E4= E3 TIME * 10

It actually follows the inverse square

law.
Then this cut out test paper applied to
the patients forearm
Middle hole received the calculated
E2 dose
Small hole receives and exposure
slightly longer then E2
Ant the larger hole receive and
exposure slightly shorter.

Calculation of test dose

by Theraktin tunnel

Calculation of test dose

by Kromayer's lamp

Larger holes of about 4cm

* 4cm are used and placed
on the abdomen
The rest of the body is
screened.

Sine the Kromayer's lamp

is used in contact with the
patients skin so it is used to
calculate the test dose from
the small hole. i.e. 0.25cm
* o.25cm
The indication in this case
is the erythema reaction of
the skin.

Techniques of general
irradiation

Techniques
Washed the patients body part
Explain the procedure to the patient
Position of patient should be comfortable and
should be in maximum exposure.
A thin film of petroleum jelly is used for the soft
structures like eyes, lips, nipples, navel etc
A thick blanket is used to cover rest of the body.

Physiological effects,
indications, danger,
contraindications.

Physiological effects
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

Carcinogenesis(UVC & UVB are involved)

Erythema (produced by wavelength shorter than 315nm)
Pigmentation(it reduce penetration of UVB)
Thickening of the epidermis
Desquamation
Production of vit.D
Effects on eyes(UVB & UVC can lead to conjuntivitis or slow
blindness)
Aging
Antibiotic effects ( E4 dose is mainly used )

Indications
1.Wounds *For infected wounds UVB used by kromayers
lamp with E3 & E4 dose
*For non-infected wounds UVA are used
2.Acne valgaris (E2 dose)
3.Pressure sores
4.Psoriasis (treatment is given by three ways *Goeckerman
Regimen ''UVB with E1 dose *Leeds or infram regimen
''E1 dose *PUVA '' Psorolin is used as a sensitizer in it)
5.Alopecia (E1 used for 10min & E2, E3 for individual
patches)
6.Rickets
7.Counter irritation effect (E3 & E4 are used)
8.Psychological effects

Dangers
I. Cataract formation can occur in eye
II. Overdose
In can be occur from
1. Too long to the exposure
2. Moving the lamp closure to the patient
3. Changing the lamp
4. Use of sensitizers

Contraindications
1.
2.
3.
4.

Acute skin conditions

Hypersensitivity to sunlight
Deep x-ray or cobalt therapy
Skin grafting

SENSITIZERS
Any factor which usually increases the sensitivity to
the ultraviolet is term as sensitizer. for example
1. coal-tar ointment
2. infrared irradiation immediately after the
application of uv rays.
3. certain drugs like i.e.
sulphonamide, insulin, quinine, tetracycline extracts.

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