DOSIMETRY WITH APPLICATION OF THE CIRCADIANE ACTION FUNCTION

The invention concerns a procedure and a dosimeter for the qualitative and/or quantitative regulation of radiation in one for organisms psychologically and/or physically effective wavelength coverage. Use finds this procedure with control of the exposure of organisms with such radiation as well as control of lighting conditions, e.g. on the job.

Beside the well-known Stäbchen and the taps there are further sensors, which are not involved in the Sehvorgang in the eye, but the light dark rhythm register. It could be clarified, to which spectral range these neurons particularly strongly to respond. The photo-sensitive sensors serve the forwarding of light dark signals of optical attractions to the hypophysis and affect so the Melatonin payment in the body. The Melatoninkonzentration is made responsible apart from many neurological illnesses (“depression marker”) also for disturbances in the day night rhythm. With the instrumentation collection of the circadianen action function for the first time the range of the spectrum could be constituted, that the circadianen rhythm of humans (day night rhythm) certainly (Thapan K., J. Physiology 535, 2001, 1, 261-7; Brainhard G.C, J. Neuroscience 21, 2001, 16, 6405-12; Gall D., LIGHT 54, 2002, 11-12, 1292-7.

Not sufficiently and if above all not light of the appropriate falls psychologically and physiologically effective quantum energy on these sensitiven neurons, then this can lead to a disturbance of the Melatonin household, which affects the mental/psychological condition of humans unfavorably. Possible consequences of a Unterversorgung are sleep disturbances, depressions or other psychological diseases. This connection becomes particularly clearly recognizable with the investigation of the phenomenon of the “winter depression”, which evenly straight is diagnosed frequently during the light-poor winter months. After a statistics of the Ministry of Labour in North Rhine-Westphalia 27% of all messages from inability to work decrease/go back to psychological illnesses, whereby in one groß EN number of the cases of the Melatonin Regelmechanismus is made responsible for it.

Physical measuring instruments such as radiometers and lux meters, which can to measure continuously the density of light and seize, if they are equipped with an integration unit, also the lighting (dose), are available on the market. If the lighting situation in an area is to be measured, then one needs a multiplicity of such devices, in order to evaluate the lighting conditions changing in different places of the area. Since the lighting in the daily rhythm and in the change of the seasons changes, long gate times are necessary. The technical expenditure and the costs are accordingly high.

Stationary measurements with radiometers at persons are hardly possible, since these are in constantly changing position to the radiation source.

As alternative to the collection according to device of the lighting conditions dosimeters can be used. In this connection the term dosimeter refers to measuring instruments, which change by the influence of the environment and whose change of the characteristic (e.g. the color, density, conductivity) can be judged or measured visually. Here some examples:

• Personal dosimeters, which respond to natural or artificial UV-RADIATION, consist those of polysulfone foils, under UV exposition a rise of the extinction with 330 Nm show (Kockott D. et al., CIE technical report, 1992).
• When early warning system for light damage to works of art dosimeters become assigned, which consist of photo-sensitive substances, which in a Polyvinylacetat is embedded and laid on on paper (WHERE 00/22389). Light dosimeters, which were developed for museums, to have no purchase to physiologically effective substances or the evaluation of the effect of light on organisms.

Outgoing of it was task of the available invention to make a procedure available and hereby connected a device with which in a simple manner the irradiation of organism controlled and which can be characterized lighting conditions at certain places.

This task becomes erfindungsgemä&szlig by that; e procedure with the characteristics of the requirement 1 as well as that erfindungsgemäß e dosimeter with the characteristics of the requirement 13 solved. The further dependent requirements point favourable further educations out. In the requirements 24 to 26 exemplary uses become erfindungsgemäß EN of procedure defines.

Erfindungsgemäß a procedure for the qualitative and/or quantitative regulation is made available by radiation in one for organisms psychologically and/or physically effective length wave band. This is based on the exposition concerned of an indicator and a that selective into the wavelength coverage anschließ ends evaluation of the change of characteristic of the indicator.

The new procedure serves thus the direct, spectral and temporally integrating valuation of complex lighting conditions. Thus a further study of the light influence on our mental condition is made possible by a simple system. New impulses for the light therapy and the treatment of psychologically patients as well as for the optimization of jobs or for a favorable lighting of breeding places for animals are possible thereby.

With the effect of light on organisms it concerns a relatively slow procedure. Thus it is zweckmäß industrial union, the dosimeter is enough in such a way to expose, until noticeable or spectroscopically easily provable changes are caused. This can happen in individual cases within few days or require with low density of light some months. By controlling of the reactivity of the dosimeter both short time measurements and long-term monitorings are possible. This can over the kind of the indicator, which imbedding of the indicator into a matrix or by wavelengthdependently absorbing filters are made.

Preferably become as indicator coloring materials, pigments and/or other substances, whose spectral sensitivity is aligned thereby preferentially to about DIANE action function. Examples of preferential coloring materials are auramine, Bismarck-brown, Safranin, fat-brown, Melanilgelb, Naphtolgelb, Thiazolgelb, Sudan orange, orange G and Chinilingelb.

About DIANE action function is from the literature admits (Gall D., light 54, 2002, 11-12, 1292). The procedure is turned off purposefully at the psychologically effective range of the circadianen rhythm. This means that the dosimeter fades itself or changes then discoloured, as soon as radiation of this psychologically effective wavelength arises. In the case of missing radiation of this wavelength no change of characteristic of the dosimeter therefore takes place.

Preferably the indicator exhibits a maximum of its spectral sensitivity in the wavelength coverage between 300 and 800 Nm. Particularly preferentially the maximum of spectral sensitivity is with 350 to 800 Nm, particularly preferentially with approx. 450 Nm.

In a favourable further training erfindungsgemäß EN of procedure can be embedded the indicator into a matrix. As matrix substances are applicable, which are permeable in the wavelength coverage concerned for the light. By this fall for example different polymer types, e.g. Polyacrylate, Polyvinylacetate or Polysiloxane.

In addition, it exists the possibility that the indicator is applied directly on substrate. As if preferential substrates are used thereby glass, paper and/or plastic.

Preferably the spectral sensitivity of the indicator becomes by its layer thickness, by compound formation with other components or by use of filters, those the radiation auß erhalb the wavelength coverage of the circadianen action function absorb, adjusted. The filters are out-arranged preferably in such a way with the fact that the wavelengths are faded out below 400 Nm (hypochromer range) and above 550 Nm (bathochromer range).

The evaluation can take place in a variant by means of spectroscopic methods, e.g. IR or UV-vis-spectroscopy. In a further variant it is possible in addition, that the evaluation takes place alone visually, e.g. on the basis a color scale.

Erfindungsgemäß likewise a dosimeter is made available to the qualitative and/or quantitative regulation by radiation in a wavelength coverage psychologically effective for organisms, which exhibits concerned an indicator selective in the wavelength coverage.

Use finds that erfindungsgemäß e procedure as a check of the exposure of organisms with psychologically effective radiation, e.g. of humans (personal dosimeter). This is applicable into all range of the private and vocational life. If one regards one irradiation time t which can be determined, it can be read off with the help of the change of characteristic from the dosimeter whether the person or organism concerned received a sufficient dose circadian effective light.

A further range of application exists in control of the lighting situation in the interior as in the Auß enbereich. So the lighting situation can be used in interiors, e.g. as a check of lamps and lights, during in the Auß enbereich for example the evaluation of the seasonal fluctuations of light and their influence on organisms to be examined can. With the employment that erfindungsgemäß EN dosimeters for the monitoring of lighting conditions in an interior, can be met so for example statements about to what extent the place of residence for organisms represents favorable and/or unfavorable conditions.

On the basis the following figure and the following example is that erfindungsgemäß e article to be more near described, without wanting to limit this thereby.

The figure shows those about DIANE action function after Gall (Gall D., light 54, 2002, 11-12, 1292) using the data of Brainhard G.C, J. Neuroscience 21, 2001, 16, 6405) and Thapan (Thapan K., J. Physiology 535, 2001, 1, 261).

For the Konzeptionierung of the dosimeter for the evaluation of the lighting conditions on the job the process of the relative spectral sensitivity of the effective coloring material is crucial. By determination of these Größ e for selected coloring materials can be found a suitable indicator material. The spectral range can besides by suitable filters be optimized, if the coloring material covers a broader spectral range. Beside the coloring material must also a favorable/suitable concentration of the coloring material be determined. Has crucial influence on the sensitivity of the dosimeter beside the coloring material also the matrix, which functions as substrate. In the development of the light dosimeter for the musealen range it could be shown that the light sensitivity of the dye films can be adjusted by variation of the matrix optimally.

As substrate a simple and thus economical slide from glass, that can by spin-coating serienmäß industrial union to be coated and with a uniform back be provided is, used.