Infrared-A irradiation lamp with water filter: A new technical concept of a known physical principle and its application in physiotherapy

Author(s): Kelleher, D., Vaupel, P.

Journal/Book: Physikalische Medizin Rehabilitationsmedizin Kurortmedizin. 1993; 3/2: 45-51.

Abstract: A novel device consisting of an infrared-A (= ultrared-A) radiation source equipped with a closed water filter in the radiation path is presented. It allows for comfortable loco-regional heat application in physiotherapy.Preliminary experiments with agar phantoms revealed that heating in the presence of the "hydrocuvette" avoids overheating in the very superficial layers, which would be intolerable for human skin. Concomitantly, heat deposition in deeper layers was improved. This effect could be further enhanced by cooling the phantom surface with an air-stream such that a stratification of the temperature could be achieved.In subsequent studies, temperature distributions were measured in three spatial dimensions of muscle tissue in situ and processed by a computer program resulting in two- and three-dimensional temperature profiles. It could be shown, for example, that therapeutically relevant temperatures =40 °C occurred through the entire muscle mass to a depth of 15 mm.This novel technique has proved to be reliable, is well tolerated and easy to apply. It should therefore be of interest to a large number of potential users for a broad application of heat in physiotherapy.

Keyword(s): Wärmetherapie

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