NewScITech

Philomeen Engels(25), a student from Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands has developed together with Philips a luminous sleeping-bag to give people with the Crigler-Najjar-syndrome more freedom of movement.

People with the Crigler-Najjar-syndrome miss an enzyme which breaks down the poisonous bilirubine. Too much bilirubine causes a yellow skin and can eventually be lethal. To keep the amount of bilirubine on an acceptable level, the skin has to be exposed to a specific blue light every day for a long time. Sometimes, the skin has to be exposed twelve hours a day. The syndrome decreases the freedom of movement dramatically, because the light therapy involves a converted sunbed.

This week, Philomeen Engels will graduate on the design of the Ledwrap. This sleeping bag consists of two cloths of breathable material. In these cloth there are twelve Ledfoils. The photonic textiles division of Philips developed these Ledfoils, flexible disks with integrated LEDs. When Philips was looking for a medical application of this mobile lightsystem they found Philomeen Engels. The two cloths can be used as a sleeping bag but also as a suit with two trouserlegs. Because the LEDs use a lot of electricity the Ledwrap has to be plugged into a wall plug.

Fortunately, Crigler-Najjar-syndrome is a very uncommon phenomenon. There are only 50 known cases in the US. Despite the little amount of Crigler-Najjar-patients the invention is economically viable. Many new-born babies suffer jaundice the first few days. One out of ten babies have to undergo light therapy. “Other types of LEDs can treat psoriasis”, according to Philomeen Engels.

The Ledwrap has not yet been tested on medical results and Engels also does not know if the LEDs produce too much heat. LEDs with a good light quality are still being produced. A prototype has been positively tested on comfort. Also the Dutch Crigler-Najjar association is impressed. Philiomeen Engels hopes the first Ledwrap will be ready within a year.

By FreshScience