Philips HP3110 sunlamp
QUARTZ-TUBE-APPLICATION
The therapeutic value of integrated
ultraviolet- and infrared treatment was not
undisputed. The effectiveness of
ultraviolet therapy was not proven to
become any better when combined with a
simultaneous infrared therapy. For a
proper treatment of skin diseases the
additional infrared radiation even might
have been a disadvantage due to the
heat that prohibited a short radiation
distance. For other medical indications
the additional warmth might have added
some comfort to the treatment at best
since the wavelength of the infrared
radiation that came with Kanthal quartz tubes was longer than desired for therapeutic
infrared applications. The maximum working temperature of Kanthal for instance was
about 1400K, giving a corresponding maximum for the emission spectrum of about
2100 nanometers. This made a Kanthal element less effective for therapeutic
applications than the specially designed infrared incandescent lamps that operated at
temperatures as high as 2900K and a corresponding wavelength maximum of about
1000 nm. As stated in most user manuals, like that of the Philips HP3110 sunlamp on
display here, application of these quartz tubes was primarily recommended for
cosmetic applications.
