Chapter 3 ā Illuminator Description
Section 3.1 ā Light System
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Section 3.1 Light System
The INTERCEPT Illuminator provides a controlled dose of Ultraviolet A
(UVA) light for the INTERCEPT pathogen inactivation process. It
contains fluorescent bulbs above and below a clear tray where
blood products are placed.
The tray accommodates the blood product on the left-hand side
and the attached set on the right-hand side. Two of the same set
types may be illuminated at the same time. However, you can only
illuminate one set type at a time. For example, you cannot
illuminate a large volume and a small volume platelet set at the
same time. There are four bulbs above each chamber and four
bulbs below each chamber for every blood product, for a total of
sixteen bulbs.
The correct wavelength of light is controlled by special bulbs and
glass filters that screen out undesired wavelengths. The dose of light
is measured by sensors called photodiodes. There is one sensor for
each two bulbs, so four sensors for each blood product. These
sensors are calibrated when each illuminator is installed and at
prescribed periods after installation.
The illuminator adjusts the time of illumination so the correct light
dose is administered. With use, the amount of light produced by
fluorescent bulbs declines gradually. Illumination time will be the
shortest with new bulbs. As bulbs age, illumination time will
gradually lengthen. The UVA light dose administered to each blood
product is controlled individually, even when two products are in
the illuminator simultaneously.
Bulbs operate in pairs. If a bulb fails, the second bulb in the pair is
automatically turned off as well. The sensor between the two bulbs
measures that they are not on. If a bulb fails during treatment of a
blood product, proper illumination has not occurred. This will be
displayed on the screen and recorded on the treatment record.
Partially illuminated blood products must be discarded. A blood
product must not be illuminated a second time.
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