PEP Home Bili Light

Phototherapy is used to treat hyperbilirubinemia, a common condition in infants, referring to an increase in the amount of bilirubin in the blood. It is characterized by jaundice, a yellowish discoloration of the skin. Phototherapy immerses the patient in a bath of fluorescent light, which breaks up and disperses the excess bilirubin. In the past, clinicians relied on phototherapy units which resembled tanning tables, with the infant placed on a surface illuminated by overhead fluorescent lights. This required the infant to be isolated for long periods of time, with protection pads to shield the eyes from the light.

With the development of flexible fluorescent panels, it was now possible to wrap the infant in the panel during treatment, without eye protection, and still allow the parent to hold the child during part or all of the therapy. Phototherapy units such as the Healthdyne (Respironics) Wallaby and the Ohmeda Biliblanket use this form of flexible panel to wrap around the baby.

PEP Home Bili Light
The PEP (Physician Engineered Products) Home Bili Light does not use a flexible fluorescent panel, but instead incorporates the entire phototherapy system into an easy-to-carry suitcase. Once in the patient's home, the suitcase is opened up, the baby is placed inside the lower part of the case, and the fluorescent lights, which are mounted in the other half of the case, are illuminated, providing up to 4 times as much fluorescence as fiberoptic panels. No dosimeter is necessary, and bulbs can last up to 2000 hours before replacement. The only standard detachable piece is the AC cord. Traditional eye patches are not necessary if using the optional Babyface Shields (#HBL4). Treatment kits are also available which provide a soft surface upon which the baby can rest, along with diapers for male infants (female treatment kit #HBL12; male treatment kit #HBL13, 5/pk.)