Datex Ohmeda Biliblanket Plus
Datex Ohmeda · Model Biliblanket Plus
For the next generation Phototherapy is used to treat hyperbulirubinemia, 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 of all of the therapy. The phototherapy blanket is an alternative to standard phototherapy, which requires the infant to lie under fluorescent bulbs in a hospital incubator while wearing eye patches to prevent possible damage from the light rays. Infants' eyes are not exposed to light under BiliBlanket therapy, and they can be clothed. The blanket also provides more even lighting. The Ohmeda Biliblanket Plus consists of a halogen lamp in a vented metal housing, which also contains a small fan to disperse heat generated by the lamp. Illumination from the halogen bulb travels through 2400 optical fibers encased in a 1-m-long flexible plastic tube. The optical fibers terminate in a 10 × 15-cm woven pad about 0.64 cm thick. Because the light source is remote, the fiber optic pad generates no heat. The Ohmeda BiliBlanket is similar to the Healthdyne Wallaby, but has a broader fluorescent panel and a long flexible connector tube that attaches to the main unit. Instead of a 2-position switch, a regulator knob allows incremental increases in the luminescence delivered to the panel. A cooling fan and safety thermostat protect the light source and fiberoptic cable from overheating, and an air flow failure alarm alerts users before overheating occurs.
Typical Failure Modes
Compiled for this model from its own documentation and established engineering knowledge for this equipment class - not from a verified service record. Confirm against the manufacturer's service manual.
Low or no irradiance
HighSymptoms: Blue-light output weak or absent, irradiance below the therapeutic level on a radiometer, lamp-hours alarm.
Root cause: LED array / fluorescent tubes / halogen bulb at end of life, a driver / ballast fault, or a fibre-optic pad fault (blanket).
Uneven light field
MediumSymptoms: One section dim, patchy coverage.
Root cause: A failed LED segment or tube, or a damaged fibre-optic pad.
Fan / thermal fault
MediumSymptoms: Overheating, thermal shutdown, loud fan.
Root cause: Failed or blocked cooling fan.
Timer / hour-meter / control fault
LowSymptoms: Treatment timer or lamp-hour meter wrong, controls unresponsive.
Root cause: Control-board fault.
Irradiance meter out of calibration (if a paired meter)
LowSymptoms: Meter disagrees with a reference radiometer.
Root cause: Meter drift - needs calibration.
Serviceable Parts & Consumables
Serviceable items for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Service class and relative cost are estimates, not manufacturer figures; no part numbers are given. Confirm intervals and pricing against the manufacturer.
LED array / fluorescent tubes / bulb
Class Frequent wear itemRel. cost $$R&R Fairly easy
Driver / ballast
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
Fibre-optic pad (blanket units)
Class Frequent wear itemRel. cost $$$R&R Fairly easy
Cooling fan
Class Periodic replacementRel. cost $R&R Fairly easy
Control board
Class Major service partRel. cost $$R&R Moderate
| Part | Service class | Relative cost | R&R difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| LED array / fluorescent tubes / bulb | Frequent wear item | $$ | Fairly easy |
| Driver / ballast | Periodic replacement | $$ | Moderate |
| Fibre-optic pad (blanket units) | Frequent wear item | $$$ | Fairly easy |
| Cooling fan | Periodic replacement | $ | Fairly easy |
| Control board | Major service part | $$ | Moderate |
Relative cost: $ lowest · $$$$ highest service-part cost for this equipment class. Not a price.
Troubleshooting Approach
A starting sequence for this model, compiled from its documentation and engineering knowledge for this equipment class. Follow the manufacturer's service documentation for the actual procedure.
Symptom: Low or no irradiance
- Measure irradiance with a matched radiometer at the manufacturer's specified distance.
- Check the lamp-hours counter and replace the light source if near / past its rating.
- Inspect for failed LED segments or tubes.
- For a blanket, inspect the fibre-optic pad for damage.
- Replace the light source or driver and re-measure irradiance.
Symptom: Uneven or patchy light
- Identify the dim section.
- Replace the failed LED segment / tube.
- For a blanket, replace the fibre-optic pad.
- Confirm even irradiance across the field with the radiometer.
- Log the new lamp-hours baseline.