Surgical lighting assembly

Abstract

A surgical lighting assembly (100) includes an upper housing (110) having an upper edge (120) disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of the upper housing, and a lower housing (130) having a lower edge (140) disposed about at least a portion of a perimeter of the lower housing. The upper and lower housings are configured to fit together about their peripheries to define a chamber (250) therebetween. The lighting assembly further includes a light source (270) in the chamber, a sealing member (170) between the perimeter of the upper housing and the perimeter of the lower housing, and a plurality of gripping strips (190). The clamping strip is configured to clamp the upper edge to the lower edge around the perimeter of the housing such that the upper housing is clamped to the lower housing in a sealed configuration.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a surgical lighting assembly for use in a medical environment such as an operating room or surgery suite. In particular, the present invention relates to a surgical lighting assembly having an improved ingress protection (IP) rating. Background Art

[0002] Surgical lights are lighting fixtures designed to be used during surgical procedures to provide illumination to the required area. Due to the specific requirements in the medical or surgical environment, surgical lights are subject to a large number of requirements in terms of their construction and lighting performance. For example, surgical and examination lighting devices must meet many standards in terms of brightness, color rendering, light field diameter, and uniformity of the light generated.

[0003] Another key consideration for surgical lighting is related to how easily the luminaire can be cleaned and sterilized. Since strong liquid disinfectants are often used to sterilize and decontaminate operating rooms, in addition to meeting the required lighting standards, surgical lights should also have good ingress protection (IP) properties to protect internal components from damage during cleaning.

[0004] A well-known surgical lamp head in the prior art is the iLED (RTM) 7 surgical lamp sold by Trumpf Medical, a subsidiary of Hill-Rom. The prior art surgical lamp is also disclosed in CN201589205U and CN209341155U. Summary of the invention

[0005] The present invention provides a surgical lighting assembly as defined in the accompanying independent claim, to which reference should now be made. Preferred or advantageous features of the invention are set out in the dependent dependent claims.

[0006] According to a first aspect of the present invention, a surgical lighting assembly is provided, comprising an upper shell and a lower shell, the upper shell having an upper rim arranged around at least a portion of the periphery of the upper shell, and the lower shell having a lower rim arranged around at least a portion of the periphery of the lower shell. The upper shell and the lower shell are configured to fit together around their peripheries to define a chamber between them. The lighting assembly further comprises a light source arranged in the chamber between the shells, a sealing member located between the periphery of the upper shell and the periphery of the lower shell, and a plurality of clamping strips. The clamping strip is configured to clamp the upper rim to the lower rim around the periphery of the shell so that the upper shell is clamped to the lower shell in a sealed configuration.

[0007] When the upper shell and the lower shell are assembled together around their peripheries, a joint is formed between the shell peripheries.A sealing member is preferably arranged in the joint between the upper shell and the lower shell.

[0008] A surgical lighting assembly may alternatively be referred to as a surgical light head, a surgical light, or an operating light.

[0009] In the prior art, surgical light heads typically have a poor ingress protection (IP) rating. In order to protect the light head housing from the ingress of dust or liquids, the prior art light heads typically include multiple seals at the joints of the housing, and a large number of fasteners (usually screws) that can be tightened to secure the components of the housing together. One disadvantage of this arrangement is that it takes time to open and reseal the light head housing when maintenance is required because each fastener must be manually loosened and then reinstalled. Another disadvantage is that the variable tightness of each fastener can make the seal between the housing components unreliable because some fasteners may be tighter than other fasteners. Other disadvantages are that the use of multiple seals increases the risk that not all seals can be accurately positioned each time the housing is opened and resealed, and that additional time and effort must be spent to align all the seals when the housing is sealed.

[0010] The surgical lighting assembly of the present invention provides a simplified construction which also results in an improved ingress protection (IP) rating.

[0011] Ingress protection levels are defined by the International Ingress Protection Specification - BS EN 60529.

[0012] In the lighting assembly of the present invention, the upper housing is clamped to the lower housing in a sealed configuration due to a sealing member and a plurality of clamping strips located between the periphery of the upper housing and the periphery of the lower housing. The clamping strips provide a mechanical fixation between the upper housing and the lower housing.

[0013] The use of clamping strips rather than screw fasteners provides significant advantages. One advantage of this is that the clamping strips provide a much more uniform clamping pressure than screw fasteners, the pressure of which varies depending on how tightly each screw is screwed into place. The clamping strips also have the advantage of being both simple and quick to apply and remove from the perimeter of the housing so that the lighting assembly can be quickly and easily disassembled and reassembled for repair or replacement of parts if necessary. The clamping strips are preferably removable from and / or separate from the upper and lower housings.

[0014] The upper housing may advantageously be provided as a one-piece molded polymer housing. The lower housing may advantageously be provided as a one-piece molded polymer housing. Due to the manufacturing tolerances involved in molding a polymer housing of the size required for a surgical light head, the perimeter of the upper housing and the perimeter of the lower housing may not always be flush with each other. In such a case, it may be difficult to secure the perimeters of the housings together using screws because the screw seats on each housing may not be perfectly aligned every time. However, by using a clamping strip, the effects of misalignment between the housings due to manufacturing tolerances are minimized because precise alignment of the screw seats is not required and the clamping strip pulls the upper and lower edges together along the entire length of the clamping strip.

[0015] Particularly advantageously, the surgical lighting assembly can achieve an IP54 rating due to the high level of sealing created by the sealing members and clamping strips around the perimeter of the upper and lower housings.

[0016] An Ingress Protection 54 (IP54) rating indicates that the lighting assembly is dust-tight, preventing the ingress of dust sufficient to cause damage, and protects it against splashing water from any angle.

[0017] Preferably, the outer periphery of the upper shell and the outer periphery of the lower shell are fixed together only by the clamping strip, and not by any other mechanical fasteners. Particularly preferably, the outer periphery of the upper shell and the outer periphery of the lower shell are fixed to each other without any screws.

[0018] Each clamping strip may preferably comprise a profile strip configured to fit over the upper and lower edges. In a preferred embodiment, the clamping strip may be a profile strip, for example a metal profile, such as an aluminum profile. The clamping strip may comprise a channel shaped to receive the upper and lower edges and to hold the upper and lower edges together within the channel. Each clamping strip may comprise one or more channels shaped to receive the upper and lower edges, the clamping strip being configured to clamp the upper and lower edges together within the one or more channels.

[0019] Profile strips or profiles are usually formed by extruding plastic or metal material through a die to form a solid length or "strip" of material with a uniform cross-section. The transverse cross-section of the profile is determined by the shape of the die used during manufacture and is the same along the entire length of the resulting profile.

[0020] Each clamping strip may be a profile strip having a uniform transverse cross-section along its length.

[0021] Each clamping strip may consist of a profile strip containing at least one channel shaped to receive the upper edge and the lower edge within the channel and clamp them together.

[0022] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the clamping bar includes a T-shaped channel configured to receive the upper edge and the lower edge therein. The T-shaped channel is oriented with the arms of the T facing inwardly and the stem of the T forming an opening into the channel so that when the clamping bar is in place, the upper edge and the lower edge are received in the arms of the T with the upper edge and the lower edge pointing in opposite directions along the arms of the T-shaped channel.

[0023] The upper edge preferably projects upwardly, in a direction away from the joint between the peripheries of the upper and lower shells when they are assembled together. The lower edge preferably projects in a direction opposite to the upper edge. The lower edge preferably projects downwardly, in a direction away from the joint between the peripheries of the upper and lower shells when they are assembled together.

[0024] The terms "upper" and "lower" as used herein refer to the orientation of a surgical light head during normal use. Surgical lighting assemblies are typically suspended above an area where light is to be illuminated, with light projected downward from the light source onto the area where light is to be illuminated. Thus, in this case, the lower housing is the side of the housing that faces downward toward the area illuminated by the light head, and the upper housing is the side of the housing that faces upward away from the illuminated area.

[0025] The surgical lighting assembly includes an upper edge disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the upper housing and a lower edge disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the lower housing. The location and number of the upper and lower edges may vary while still providing the advantages of the present invention.

[0026] In some embodiments, for example, the upper shell may include a single continuous upper edge extending around the perimeter of the upper shell. Similarly, the lower shell may include a single continuous lower edge extending around the perimeter of the lower shell. The upper shell may include a plurality of upper edges and / or a plurality of lower edges, each upper edge being arranged to extend around a portion of the perimeter of the upper shell and each lower edge being arranged to extend around a portion of the perimeter of the lower shell.

[0027] When the upper and lower edges are continuous, the clamping strip may be resilient and capable of clamping over the upper and lower edges by bending the strip over them and then bending the strip back to its normal shape and clamping the edges together.

[0028] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the upper edge and the lower edge do not extend continuously around the entire periphery of their respective shells. In a preferred embodiment, the upper shell may include multiple upper edges, each of which extends around a portion of the periphery of the upper shell. Similarly, the lower shell may include multiple lower edges, each of which extends around a portion of the periphery of the lower shell. Multiple upper edges can be arranged to have gaps or spaces between adjacent upper edges. Similarly, multiple lower edges can be arranged to have gaps or spaces between adjacent lower edges. The presence of gaps or spaces between adjacent edges can advantageously provide space for the clamping bar to slide over a pair of upper and lower edges from one end. Since the clamping bar does not need to be elastic to be stuck on the edge, it is advantageous to allow the clamping bar to be made thicker and / or harder, which can instead produce a stronger and more reliable clamping force between the shells.

[0029] Preferably, one or more upper edges match one or more lower edges. In other words, the number and position of the upper edges preferably correspond to the number and position of the lower edges, so that when the upper shell and the lower shell are assembled together around their periphery, each upper edge is aligned with the corresponding lower edge.

[0030] The plurality of upper edges may extend around at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90% of the circumference of the upper shell. The plurality of lower edges may extend around at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90% of the circumference of the lower shell. This may advantageously allow the upper shell and the lower shell to be clamped together by the clamping strip over at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90% of the circumference of the shell, which results in extremely effective clamping force and high sealing performance.

[0031] The size and length of the clamping bar can be varied, while still providing high clamping force of the present invention and good intrusion protection characteristics. However, in some preferred embodiments, the length that the clamping bar can have is at least 10cm, or at least 12cm, or at least 15cm. When the clamping bar is in place and the upper edge and the lower edge are clamped together, the shell periphery is clamped on the whole length of the clamping bar. Compared with the single connection point provided by fasteners such as screws, the relatively long clamping bar therefore provides clamping pressure to the shell periphery at least 10cm, or 12cm, or 15cm of every clamping bar. This advantageously produces a very firm clamping effect and a high level of intrusion protection.

[0032] In other preferred embodiments, the clamping bar can be shorter, and multiple shorter clamping bars can be used to replace each longer (10 cm or longer) clamping bar. Compared with longer clamping bars, shorter clamping bars can advantageously be more easily placed in place on the upper edge and the lower edge, and using multiple shorter clamping bars to clamp the upper edge and the lower edge together can provide similar high clamping force around the periphery of the shell. The length that the clamping bar can have is at least 12mm, or at least 14mm, or at least 16mm, so that each clamping bar clamps the shell periphery together along a length of at least 12mm, or at least 14mm, or at least 16mm respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the length that the clamping bar can have is between 12mm and 30mm, preferably between 14mm and 20mm.

[0033] The clamping strip is preferably resilient or spring-type and can be clamped over the upper and lower edges by bending the strip to pass over the upper and lower edges and then bending the strip back to its normal shape and clamping the edges together. The spring-type clamping strip can advantageously be easily applied by hand, without the use of tools, by bending the clamping strip so that it clamps over the upper and lower edges and clamps the edges together.

[0034] The clamping strip may include an upper jaw configured to clamp on the upper edge of the upper shell and a lower jaw configured to clamp on the lower edge of the lower shell. The upper jaw and the lower jaw are preferably interconnected by a clamping strip ridge. A channel for receiving and clamping the upper and lower edges is defined by the inner surface of the upper jaw, the clamping strip ridge and the lower jaw, and the upper and lower jaws define a narrow channel neck forming an open side of the channel. The clamping strip ridge can be elastic so that when a force is applied, the clamping strip can be bent between an open configuration and a clamping configuration, in which the channel neck is widened and the upper and lower edges of the shell can enter the channel of the clamping strip, in which the upper and lower edges are clamped together and held in the channel by the upper and lower jaws of the clamping strip.

[0035] The clamping bar is preferably symmetrical along a lengthwise axis extending parallel to the channel formed in the clamping bar. The upper jaw is preferably a mirror image of the lower jaw so that the clamping bar can be used either upwards or downwards.

[0036] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the upper and / or lower jaws of the spring loaded clamping strip include openings, or recesses, or lugs into which a tool may be inserted to pry the jaws into their open configuration for removal from the upper and lower edges.

[0037] The housing of the lighting assembly can take various shapes within the scope of the present disclosure. Most surgical lights in the prior art are circular in shape, while the iLED(RTM) 7 is hexagonal in shape. The perimeter of the upper housing and the perimeter of the lower housing are preferably matched so that the upper housing and the lower housing can be fixed together around their perimeters.

[0038] However, in a particularly preferred embodiment, the upper shell and the lower shell are in the shape of regular polygons, so that the perimeter of the shell is in the shape of a polygon. Regular polygons include triangles, squares, pentagons, hexagons, heptagons, octagons, nonagons and decagons.

[0039] The lighting assembly preferably includes at least one clamping strip for each side of the polygonal housing. Thus, if the housing perimeter is in the shape of a triangle, the assembly preferably includes at least three clamping strips. If the housing perimeter is in the shape of a square, the assembly preferably includes at least four clamping strips. A pentagonal assembly preferably includes at least five clamping strips, a hexagonal assembly preferably includes at least six clamping strips, and so on.

[0040] Particularly preferably, the lighting assembly comprises two or more clamping bars for each (straight or relatively straight) side of the polygonal shell. For example, the perimeter of the upper shell and the perimeter of the lower shell may be hexagonal, and the assembly may comprise 12 clamping bars, so that each of the six sides of the hexagonal shell is clamped by two clamping bars. Similarly, if the perimeter of the upper shell and the perimeter of the lower shell are octagonal, the assembly may comprise 16 clamping bars, so that each of the eight sides of the octagonal shell is clamped by two clamping bars. The provision of at least two clamping bars for each side of the shell can advantageously provide a very strong clamping force along each side and therefore around the entire perimeter of the shell.

[0041] The plurality of clamping strips are preferably arranged symmetrically and / or regularly around the periphery of the housing. The edges may also be arranged symmetrically around the periphery of the housing to ensure that the clamping strips are symmetrically positioned when clamped on the edges. The symmetrical arrangement of the clamping strips advantageously produces a uniform clamping force around the entire periphery of the housing to ensure that the assembly is reliably sealed.

[0042] The surgical lighting assembly may include a buffer configured to extend around a perimeter of the upper housing and a perimeter of the lower housing. The buffer is preferably configured to cover the joint between the upper housing and the lower housing and to cover the plurality of clamping strips. Particularly preferably, the buffer is formed of an elastic material, such as an elastic polymer material. The buffer advantageously provides shock absorption, which protects the assembly from damage during use. By covering the joint between the housing and the mechanical clamping strip, the buffer advantageously makes the assembly easier to clean, preventing liquids and debris from becoming lodged in and around the sealed joint between the clamping strip and the housing. Although the sealing member and the clamping strip already achieve a level of sealing and intrusion protection, the buffer can provide an additional layer of intrusion protection to prevent dust and liquids from contacting the joint and the clamping strip.

[0043] The bumper may be held in place around the perimeter of the housing by one or more edges on at least one of the housings.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a second upper edge disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the upper shell, and a second lower edge disposed around at least a portion of the periphery of the lower shell. The buffer may include a channel or a pair of channels configured to receive the second upper edge and the second lower edge. In a preferred embodiment, the buffer includes a T-shaped channel, wherein the arms of the T are configured to receive the second edge. The second edge may serve to position the buffer in place on the joint and the clamping strip, and to hold it in place unless sufficient force is applied to pull the buffer out of the second edge. Thus, the second edge may be referred to as a "buffer retaining edge," such that the second upper edge is an upper buffer retaining edge, and the second lower edge is a lower buffer retaining edge.

[0045] The bumper preferably includes a clamping bar channel for receiving the clamping bar when the bumper extends around the outer edge of the housing. The clamping bar channel may be connected to the channel for receiving the second upper edge and the second lower edge (upper bumper retaining edge and lower bumper retaining edge).

[0046] Similar to iLED(RTM)7, the surgical lighting assembly of the present invention may include openings in the upper and lower housings that form a passage through the lamp head extending from the top surface of the lamp head to the bottom surface of the lamp head. The openings may advantageously make the lamp ideal for conventional or laminar airflow systems. When the openings are present, the upper and lower housings are sealed around the openings so that the chamber extends as a ring defined by the openings on the inside and the perimeter of the housing on the outside.

[0047] The upper housing may be sealed to the lower housing about the opening. Alternatively, the assembly may include a separate hollow cylindrical member configured to be connected to the opening in the upper housing at an upper end and to the opening in the lower housing at a lower end. The cylindrical member may be sealingly connected to the upper and lower housings by a plurality of sealing rings and a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as screws. When the cylindrical member is connected to the openings in the upper and lower housings, the hollow center of the cylindrical member forms a passage-like opening through the housing.

[0048] The surgical lighting assembly may include a heat sink disposed on the bottom surface of the upper housing in the chamber. The heat sink is preferably metal and may be formed by a metal ring attached to the bottom surface of the upper housing. The heat sink preferably extends in a ring around the opening through the lamp head so that the heat sink is contained in the chamber when the lamp head is assembled with the housings clamped together. The heat sink may include a plurality of cooling fins configured to disperse heat over the upper housing. This form of heat sink is very effective in absorbing heat from electronic components within the chamber formed between the housings, and dissipating the absorbed heat over the upper housing to increase the efficiency of heat loss to the air outside the lamp head. The arrangement of providing a heat sink within the lamp head housing is advantageously compact and easy to clean.

[0049] The heat sink may preferably be configured to contact the bottom surface of the upper housing over at least 20%, or at least 25%, or at least 30% of the surface area of ​​the bottom surface of the upper housing.

[0050] In addition to the light source located within the chamber defined by the upper housing and the lower housing, various sensors and control electronics for controlling the light source are disposed within the chamber.

[0051] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the upper or lower housing comprises a data connection port connected to the control electronics housed in the chamber. The data connection port advantageously serves as an external service interface for the electronics within the chamber so that data can be exchanged and, for example, software can be updated without having to disassemble the lamp head to access the electronics inside. This significantly reduces the chances of dust and liquid intrusion into the chamber during disassembly and reassembly and reduces downtime of the lighting assembly.

[0052] Similar to iLED(RTM) 7, the lighting assembly of the present invention preferably includes a sterile handle configured to protrude below the lower housing so that a person involved in the surgical procedure, such as a surgeon, can manipulate the lighting assembly using the sterile handle.

[0053] The surgical lighting assembly preferably includes a plurality of handles or grips on the upper housing. Particularly preferably, the plurality of handles are protuberances integrally molded into the housing. These molded handles or grips can advantageously provide non-sterile handling points so that during use of the lighting assembly in a surgical environment, a caregiver with unsterile hands can move the position of the lighting assembly without contacting the sterile handles. This advantageously helps to avoid contamination caused by both sterile and non-sterile hands contacting the same part of the lighting assembly to manipulate the lighting assembly to a desired position. By molding these non-sterile handles as protuberances integral with the upper housing, it can be ensured that these handling points are well separated from the sterile handles under the lower housing, and the handles are easy to clean and do not include any gaps that can hide bacteria.

[0054] The upper housing preferably comprises or consists of a one-piece molded polymer shell.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment, the lower housing comprises or consists of a one-piece molded polymer housing. The molded polymer housing comprises a transparent window for transmitting light from the light source. Preferably, the polymer housing is a polycarbonate housing. By providing the lower housing as a one-piece molded housing, no seal is required between the transparent window and the lower housing surrounding the window. The one-piece molded lower housing is easier to clean, is simpler to assemble and disassemble than the upper housing, and provides a higher IP rating due to fewer joints and seals to prevent dust and liquids from entering the cavity within the housing.

[0056] The lower housing may include a one-piece molded outer shell of a transparent polymer, with a separately molded opaque frame configured to fit over the transparent outer shell such that the transparent window is defined in an aperture of the opaque frame.

[0057] Preferably, the lower housing comprises a polymer shell, particularly preferably a 2k molded polymer shell. Thus, the lower housing can consist of an integral molded polymer shell. 2K injection molding allows the production of two or three different plastic materials in one solid part. This advantageously allows the transparent window to be integrally molded with an opaque part of the lower housing, such as an opaque frame surrounding the transparent window.

[0058] The lower housing preferably comprises a sensor housing integrally moulded into the housing.The sensor housing may contain a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters related to the illumination provided by the light source.

[0059] The light source may comprise a plurality of LEDs.The light source is preferably configured to provide an adjustable light level, an adjustable pattern size and an adjustable colour temperature of the emitted light.

[0060] The housing preferably includes a frame connector configured to connect to the support frame.The support frame may also be referred to as a yoke or arm, and is preferably a multi-jointed frame assembly that is adjustable to support the lighting assembly in a variety of positions and at a variety of angles.

[0061] Preferably, the lower housing includes a frame connector. The upper housing is preferably removable from the lower housing when the lower housing is connected to the support frame. The upper housing can be removed from the lower housing by removing the bumper (if present), removing the clamping strip, and removing any fasteners around the opening through the housing. Because the frame connector is connected to the lower housing, the upper housing can be advantageously removed without having to disconnect the entire assembly from the support frame. This can advantageously speed up repairs and reduce downtime, as well as reduce the risk of damage when installing or removing the assembly from the support frame.

[0062] The frame connector may include a rotatable connection for receiving power and hardwired data transmission from the frame. A hardwired data connection is preferred as a more reliable alternative to WLAN communication systems employed in some prior art lamp heads. The rotatable connection may be provided by, for example, a 9-pin connection that can rotate approximately 360 degrees.

[0063] The frame connector may include a seal configured to prevent intrusion of dust or liquid at the frame connector.

[0064] The sealing member preferably comprises a single strip of resilient material extending around the joint between the periphery of the upper housing and the periphery of the lower housing. By providing the sealing member as a single strip, the step of sealing the housings together when assembling the device is greatly simplified, as only one seal needs to be correctly positioned to seal the assembly around the entire periphery of the housings. This advantageously increases the reliability of the seal, as there are fewer sealing joints through which dust or water intrusion may occur.

[0065] Particularly preferably, at least one of the upper shell or the lower shell comprises a peripheral channel for receiving the sealing member. The peripheral channel preferably extends around the periphery of the shell and is configured so that when the sealing member is received in the channel and the upper shell and the lower shell are assembled together, the sealing member is retained in the joint between the two shells and extends around the entire periphery to provide a continuous seal between the shells.

[0066] Second aspect

[0067] In a second aspect, a surgical lighting assembly is provided, comprising:

[0068] an upper housing and a lower housing configured to fit together to define a chamber therebetween;

[0069] The lighting assembly further comprises:

[0070] a light source in the chamber;

[0071] Wherein the upper housing comprises a one-piece molded polymer housing, and wherein the lower housing comprises a one-piece molded polymer housing including a transparent window for transmitting light from the light source.

[0072] Preferably, the lower housing comprises a polycarbonate shell, preferably a transparent polycarbonate. By providing the lower housing as a one-piece moulded housing, no seal is required between the transparent window and the lower housing surrounding the window. The one-piece moulded lower housing is easier to clean, is simpler to assemble and disassemble than the upper housing, and provides a higher IP rating as fewer joints and seals prevent dust and liquids from entering the cavity within the housing.

[0073] The lower housing may include a one-piece molded outer shell of a transparent polymer, with a separately molded opaque frame configured to fit over the transparent outer shell such that the transparent window is defined in an aperture of the opaque frame.

[0074] Particularly preferably, the lower housing comprises a 2k molded polymer shell. Thus, the lower housing can consist of an integral molded polymer shell. 2K injection molding allows the production of two or three different plastic materials in one solid part. This advantageously allows the transparent window to be integrally molded with an opaque portion of the lower housing (e.g. an opaque frame surrounding the transparent window).

[0075] Similar to iLED(RTM)7, the surgical lighting assembly of the present invention may include openings in the upper and lower housings that form a passage through the lamp head extending from the top surface of the lamp head to the bottom surface of the lamp head. The openings may advantageously make the lamp ideal for conventional or laminar airflow systems. When the openings are present, the upper and lower housings are sealed around the openings so that the chamber extends as a ring defined by the openings on the inside and the perimeter of the housing on the outside.

[0076] The upper housing may be sealed to the lower housing about the opening.

[0077] Alternatively, the assembly may include a separate hollow cylindrical member configured to be connected to an opening in the upper housing at an upper end and to an opening in the lower housing at a lower end. The cylindrical member may be sealingly connected to the upper and lower housings by a plurality of sealing rings and a plurality of mechanical fasteners, such as screws. When the cylindrical member is connected to the openings in the upper and lower housings, the hollow center of the cylindrical member forms a passage-like opening through the housing.

[0078] The housing of the assembly may consist of an upper housing and a lower housing. Alternatively, the housing of the assembly may consist of an upper housing, a lower housing and a hollow cylindrical member configured to surround an opening passing through the housing.

[0079] The third aspect

[0080] According to a third aspect, there is provided a surgical lighting assembly, comprising:

[0081] an upper shell and a lower shell configured to fit together at a joint about their perimeters to define a chamber therebetween;

[0082] The lighting assembly further comprises:

[0083] a light source in the chamber;

[0084] a plurality of fasteners configured to secure the upper housing and the lower housing together about their perimeters; and

[0085] A bumper is configured to extend around a perimeter of the upper shell and a perimeter of the lower shell and cover the plurality of fasteners and a joint between the upper shell and the lower shell.

[0086] The plurality of fasteners are preferably a plurality of clamping strips, as described above with respect to the first aspect. The upper shell and the lower shell preferably include upper and lower edges, respectively, which extend around at least a portion of the shell periphery and can be clamped by the clamping strips to hold the shell periphery together to form a sealed configuration.

[0087] Particularly preferably, the bumper is formed of a resilient material, such as a resilient polymer material. The bumper advantageously provides shock absorption, which protects the assembly from damage during use. By covering the joint between the housing and the fastener, the bumper advantageously makes the assembly easier to clean, preventing liquids and debris from becoming lodged in and around the sealed joint between the fastener and the housing. The bumper may provide an additional layer of ingress protection by preventing dust and liquids from coming into contact with the joint and the fastener.

[0088] The bumper may be held in place around the perimeter of the housing by one or more edges on at least one of the housings.

[0089] In a preferred embodiment, the assembly includes a second upper edge disposed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the upper housing, and a second lower edge disposed around at least a portion of the perimeter of the lower housing. The bumper may include a channel or a pair of channels configured to receive the second upper edge and the second lower edge. In a preferred embodiment, the bumper includes a T-shaped channel, wherein the arms of the T are configured to receive the second edge. The second edge may function to locate the bumper in place on the joint and fastener, and to hold it in place unless sufficient force is applied to pull the bumper out of the second edge.

[0090] The bumper preferably includes a fastener channel or fastener recess for receiving a fastener when the bumper extends around the outer periphery of the housing.The fastener channel may be connected to the channel for receiving the second upper edge and the second lower edge.

[0091] It should be understood that features described in relation to one aspect of the invention may also be equally applicable to all other aspects of the invention. Features described in relation to the first aspect of the invention may be equally applicable to the second and third aspects of the invention, and vice versa. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0092] The present invention will now be further described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0093] Figure 1 A partially exploded view of a surgical lighting assembly according to a preferred embodiment of an aspect of the present invention is shown;

[0094] Figure 2 showing a partial view of the surgical lighting assembly of claim 1, including a light source and control electronics;

[0095] Figure 3 A perspective view showing a surgical lighting assembly according to a preferred embodiment of an aspect of the present invention;

[0096] Figure 4 Shows Figure 3 A top view of a surgical lighting assembly;

[0097] Figure 5 Shows Figure 3 A bottom view of a surgical lighting assembly;

[0098] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A side view of a surgical lighting assembly;

[0099] Figure 7 is a perspective view of a surgical lighting assembly according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted on a support frame;

[0100] Fig. 8Aare a pair of perspective views of a clamping strip according to a preferred embodiment that may be used in the present invention;

[0101] Figure 8B yes Fig. 8A A plan view of a clamping bar;

[0102] Figure 8C yes Fig. 8A and Figure 8B A front view of a clamping bar;

[0103] Fig.8D yes FIG. 8A to FIG. 8C A side view of a clamping bar;

[0104] Fig. 9A is a partial view photograph of a surgical lighting assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0105] Fig. 9B yes Fig. 9A Close-up photos of surgical lighting components; and

[0106] Fig. 9C yes Fig. 9A and Fig. 9B Photo of the front view of the surgical lighting assembly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0107] Figure 1 A partially exploded view of the housing of surgical lighting assembly 100 is shown, with internal components of the lighting assembly, such as the light source and control electronics, omitted for simplicity. Figure 2 The same surgical lighting assembly 100 is shown, including the light source and internal electronics, and is visible via a cross section through lighting assembly 100 .

[0108] The surgical lighting assembly 100 includes an upper housing 110 formed as an integral molded polymer housing. A plurality of upper edges 120 are arranged around the periphery of the upper housing 110, each upper edge 120 extending around a portion of the periphery of the upper housing 110. The number and length of the upper edges can vary. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the figures, the upper housing 110 is hexagonal in shape so that the periphery of the upper housing is formed by six substantially straight sides. Each of these housing sides includes two upper edges 120, each extending over slightly less than half the length of each housing side, with a gap between the ends of adjacent upper edges at the center of the housing side.

[0109] The surgical lighting assembly has a lower housing 130 formed as a one-piece molded polymer shell whose perimeter shape matches the perimeter of the upper housing 110. A plurality of lower edges 140 are arranged around the perimeter of the lower housing. The number and position of the lower edges around the perimeter of the lower housing corresponds to the position of the upper edges relative to the perimeter of the upper housing.

[0110] The upper and lower shells include upper and lower planar abutment surfaces 150, 160, respectively, extending around the periphery of the shells. The upper and lower shells are configured to fit together, with the abutment surfaces of the two shells abutting each other around their peripheries to form a joint.

[0111] The upper and lower shells are shaped so that when the shells are fitted together in contact about their peripheries, a chamber is formed between the upper and lower shells.

[0112] The sealing member 170 is in the form of a strip of resilient polymer material located between the upper and lower abutment surfaces 150, 160 and extending around the entire periphery of the housing so that when the abutment surfaces contact each other, the sealing member is compressed between the abutment members and forms a seal.

[0113] The sealing member 170 is partially positioned within a sealing member channel 180 in one of the abutting surfaces. The sealing member channel 180 is used to hold the sealing member 170 in place around the periphery of the housing, but the depth of the sealing member channel is less than the diameter of the sealing member so that the sealing member will extend out of the channel when uncompressed, but will be reliably compressed when the abutting surfaces are brought together.

[0114] By providing the sealing member as a single strip, the step of sealing the housing together when assembling the device is greatly simplified, as only one seal needs to be correctly positioned to seal the assembly around the entire periphery of the housing. This advantageously increases the reliability of the seal, as there are fewer sealing joints where dust or water intrusion may occur.

[0115] The upper and lower shells are held together by a plurality of clamping bars 190 .

[0116] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, each clamping strip 190 is a "profile" strip formed around the channel, which is mounted on the upper edge and the lower edge so that the upper edge and the lower edge are clamped within the clamping strip 190 and the abutment surfaces are clamped together, as shown. Figure 2 In a preferred embodiment, the clamping strip is a metal profile strip, such as an aluminum profile, but other materials may also be used. The clamping strip may include a channel shaped to receive the upper edge and the lower edge and hold the upper edge and the lower edge together in the channel.

[0117] The upper and lower edges 120, 140 project from the joint in opposite directions, so the clamping bar 190 includes a generally T-shaped channel configured to receive the upper and lower edges therein. The T-shaped channel is oriented with the arms of the T perpendicular to the joint and the stem of the T forming an opening into the channel so that when the clamping bar is in place, the upper and lower edges are received in the arms of the T with the upper and lower edges pointing in opposite directions along the arms of the T-shaped channel.

[0118] The dimensions of the channels in the clamping bar 190 are selected to correspond to the dimensions of the upper and lower edges so that the edges are held tightly together within the clamping bar.

[0119] The number of clamping strips used to hold the housing of the surgical lighting assembly together can vary, but preferably multiple clamping strips 190 are used to provide high clamping force around substantially the entire perimeter of the housing. The number of clamping strips can correspond to the number of pairs of matching upper and lower edges 120, 140.

[0120] Figures 3 to 7 An embodiment of a surgical lighting assembly 100 is illustrated in which the upper and lower shells are hexagonal in shape, such that the periphery of each shell is formed by six substantially straight sides. Preferably, at least one clamping strip should be used to clamp the edge along each side of the hexagonal shell. However, in a particularly preferred embodiment, at least two clamping strips are used on each side of the hexagonal shell, such that twelve clamping strips are spaced around the periphery of the shell. The use of at least two clamping strips on each side advantageously provides extremely high and uniform clamping forces around the periphery of the shell. This in turn ensures that the shell is reliably sealed at all surrounding joints because the clamping strips apply uniform pressure to the sealing member 170 around the entire periphery.

[0121] exist Figure 1 and Figure 2 In the particularly preferred embodiment illustrated in , each clamping strip has a length of 122 mm, so that each clamping strip provides clamping pressure on the housing periphery over a distance of 122 mm. This advantageously produces a very firm clamping effect and a high level of intrusion protection.

[0122] In a preferred embodiment, the upper and lower edges 120, 140 and thus the clamping locations of the plurality of clamping strips are arranged symmetrically around the periphery of the housing. The symmetrical arrangement of the clamping strips advantageously produces a uniform clamping force around the entire periphery of the housing to ensure that the assembly is reliably sealed.

[0123] In a preferred embodiment, each side of the hexagonal housing includes two upper edges and two corresponding lower edges. There is preferably a gap between adjacent pairs of edges, with the ends of the edges exposed at the gaps so that the clamping strip can slide onto the edges and move along the edges until the edge pairs are fully received in the clamping strip.

[0124] The surgical lighting assembly illustrated in the figures advantageously provides an IP54 rating due to the high level of sealing created by the sealing members and clamping strips around the perimeter of the upper and lower housings.

[0125] An Ingress Protection 54 (IP54) rating indicates that the lighting assembly is dust-tight, preventing the ingress of dust sufficient to cause damage, and protects it against splashing water from any angle.

[0126] The outer periphery of the upper shell and the outer periphery of the lower shell are secured together only by the clamping strips and not by any other mechanical fasteners.

[0127] An opening 200 is formed at the center of the surgical lighting assembly 100. The opening is formed at the center of both the upper and lower housings 110, 130, and a hollow cylindrical member 210 is sealingly connected to the opening at the upper end in the upper housing and is sealingly connected to the opening at the lower end in the lower housing. The cylindrical member is connected to the lower housing by a plurality of screws (not shown) and is connected to the upper housing by a plurality of eccentric fasteners (not shown).

[0128] The opening 200 forms a passageway extending through the lamp head from the top surface of the lamp head to the bottom surface of the lamp head. The opening can advantageously make the lamp ideal for conventional or laminar airflow systems.

[0129] The bumper 220 is formed of a continuous ring of elastic polymer material. The bumper 220 is shaped and sized to extend around the perimeter of the upper and lower shells 110, 130 and cover the joint between the upper and lower shells.

[0130] The bumper 220 is held in place around the perimeter of the housing by a second upper edge 230 disposed around the perimeter of the upper housing and within the plurality of upper edges 120 and a second lower edge 240 disposed around the perimeter of the lower housing and within the plurality of lower edges 140. The interior surface of the bumper 220 includes a channel 250 shaped to receive the second upper edge (upper bumper retaining edge) 230, the second lower edge (lower bumper retaining edge) 240, and the clamping strip. The second edge (bumper retaining edge) may function to position the bumper 220 in place on the joint and the clamping strip, and to hold it in place unless sufficient force is applied to pull the bumper out of the second edge.

[0131] The bumper advantageously provides shock absorption, which protects the assembly from damage during use. By covering the joint between the housing and the mechanical clamping strip, the bumper advantageously makes the assembly easier to clean, preventing liquids and debris from becoming lodged in and around the sealed joint between the clamping strip and the housing. Although the sealing member and clamping strip already achieve a level of sealing and ingress protection, the bumper can provide an additional layer of ingress protection, preventing dust and liquids from coming into contact with the joint and clamping strip.

[0132] In use, the upper shell 110 and the lower shell 130 are joined together by aligning the perimeter or the two shells, ensuring that the sealing member 170 is correctly located between the upper and lower abutment surfaces 150, 160, and positioning the clamping strips 190, 390 on the matching upper and lower edges 120, 140. The clamping strips automatically pull the abutment surfaces of the shells together around the perimeter of the shells, which overcomes any shape deviations caused by molding tolerances during the manufacture of the upper and lower shells. This is particularly useful for upper and lower shells formed as an integral molded shell (such as the shell shown in the figure), because the manufacturing tolerances involved in molding such large shells usually result in imperfect alignment between the upper and lower shells. If conventional fasteners are used, this may cause sealing difficulties, but this potential problem can be overcome by combining a sealing member extending around the perimeter of the shell with a clamping strip that provides a large and uniform clamping force over a large area.

[0133] When the upper and lower shells are clamped together, a chamber 260 is formed between the shells. The chamber is completely sealed from the external environment because the joints around the outer periphery of the shells are sealed by the sealing member 170, and the opening 200 through the center of the shells is also sealed around the cylindrical member 210.

[0134] The light source 270 is arranged in the chamber 250 formed between the shells. Various light sources can be used, such as LED light sources known in the art for illumination of the surgical environment. The light source can include a plurality of LEDs. The light source is preferably configured to provide an adjustable illumination level, an adjustable pattern size, and an adjustable color temperature of the emitted light.

[0135] A metal heat sink (not shown) is disposed on the bottom surface of the upper housing 110 in the chamber 260. The heat sink is formed of a metal ring attached to the bottom surface of the upper housing and extending around the opening 200. The heat sink includes a plurality of cooling fins configured to disperse heat above the upper housing.

[0136] In addition to the light source 270 and the heat sink, various sensors and control electronics for controlling the light source are also disposed within the chamber 260 .

[0137] The sensor housing 280 is integrally molded into the lower housing 130. The sensor housing contains a sensor configured to sense one or more parameters related to the illumination provided by the light source.

[0138] A user control panel 295 is also molded onto the lower housing 130. The user control panel 295 includes a plurality of control buttons through which a user can control the lighting settings of the light source 270.

[0139] The outer surface of the upper or lower housing includes a data connection port (not shown in the figure) which is connected to the control electronics housed in the chamber 260. The data connection port advantageously serves as an external service interface for the electronics within the chamber so that data can be exchanged and, for example, software can be updated without having to disassemble the lamp head to access the electronics inside. This greatly reduces the chances of dust and liquid intrusion into the chamber during disassembly and reassembly and reduces downtime of the lighting assembly.

[0140] A sterile handle 300 is attached to a bracket 310 that projects into the opening 200 in the center of the housing. When mounted on the bracket, the sterile handle projects downwardly below the lower housing 130 so that a person participating in the surgical procedure, such as a surgeon, can use the sterile handle to manipulate the lighting assembly.

[0141] A plurality of handles or grips 320 are molded in the upper housing. In the illustrated embodiment, four handles 320 are provided, but other numbers are also possible. The handle 320 is a protuberance integrally molded into the polymer shell of the housing. These molded handles or grips can advantageously provide non-sterile handling points so that during the use of the lighting assembly in the surgical environment, a caregiver with unsterile hands can move the position of the lighting assembly without contacting the sterile handle. This advantageously helps to avoid contamination caused by both sterile and non-sterile hands contacting the same part of the lighting assembly to manipulate the lighting assembly to the desired position. By molding these non-sterile handles into protuberances integral with the upper housing, it can be ensured that these handling points are well separated from the sterile handles under the lower housing, and the handles are easy to clean and do not include any gaps that can hide bacteria.

[0142] In the illustrated embodiment, the upper housing 110 is comprised of a one-piece molded polymer shell. This advantageously reduces the number of joints and sealing points in the housing and makes the upper housing very easy to clean and sterilize.

[0143] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the lower housing 130 is comprised of a one-piece molded polycarbonate housing. The molded polymer housing includes a transparent window 330 for transmitting light from the light source. By providing the lower housing as a one-piece molded housing, there is no need to provide a seal between the transparent window and the lower housing surrounding the window. The one-piece molded lower housing is easier to clean, is simpler to assemble and disassemble than the upper housing, and provides a higher IP rating due to fewer joints and seals to prevent dust and liquids from entering the chamber within the housing.

[0144] The lower housing comprises a 2k molded polymer shell with a transparent window 330 integrally molded with an opaque frame 340 surrounding the transparent window.

[0145] A frame connector 350 is located on one side of the housing and is configured to connect the lighting assembly 100 to a support frame 360. The support frame may also be referred to as a yoke or arm, and is preferably a multi-jointed frame assembly that is adjustable to support the lighting assembly in a variety of positions and at a variety of angles. Suitable support frames 360 are known in the art.

[0146] The frame connector includes a rotatable connection for receiving power and hardwired data transmission from the frame. The hardwired data connection is preferred as a more reliable alternative to the WLAN communication systems employed in some prior art lamp heads. The rotatable connection can be provided by, for example, a 9-pin connection that can rotate approximately 360 degrees.

[0147] In a preferred embodiment, the frame connector comprises a seal configured to prevent the ingress of dust or liquid at the frame connector.

[0148] In the illustrated preferred embodiment, the frame connector 350 is connected to the lower housing 130 , which allows the upper housing 110 to be removed from the lower housing 130 while the lower housing is connected to the support frame 360 ​​.

[0149] The upper housing 110 can be removed from the lower housing 130 by removing the bumper 220, removing the clamping bar 190, and removing the fasteners around the cylindrical member 210. Because the frame connector is connected to the lower housing, the upper housing can be advantageously removed without having to disconnect the entire assembly from the support frame. This can advantageously speed up repairs and reduce downtime, as well as reduce the risk of damage when installing or removing the assembly from the support frame.

[0150] The features of the preferred surgical lighting assembly 100 described above provide a number of advantages over similar surgical lamp heads available in the prior art. For example, the lamp head of the present invention has the following advantages:

[0151] - Improved ingress protection, in particular IP54 due to simplified sealing and clamping around the housing perimeter;

[0152] - Sealing is simpler and more reliable due to the single sealing member and the uniform clamping pressure from the clamping strips;

[0153] - Due to the use of the clamping strip 190, the upper shell and the lower shell are fixed to each other more easily and more reliably;

[0154] - Since the upper shell and the lower shell use a one-piece shell, the lower shell is preferably molded using 2K and is therefore constructed of fewer parts;

[0155] - Contains fewer screws holding the housing together, which makes assembly and disassembly of the lamp cap easier and faster;

[0156] - Improved cleanability, as there are fewer gaskets and seals and fewer joints, making it easier to properly sterilize the lamp head;

[0157] - Because the elastic buffer 220 extends around the edge of the lamp head, it is more stable and better protected against damage;

[0158] - The joints and fixings between the shells are hidden and protected by the buffer, making the device easier to clean and protecting the fixings during use;

[0159] - Improved heat dissipation due to the heat sink in the housing chamber;

[0160] - Convenient molded handle on the upper housing can be used as a non-sterile handle during surgical procedures and can be sterilized quickly and reliably.

[0161] FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D An alternative clamping bar 390 that may be used with a surgical lighting assembly is illustrated.

[0162] and Figure 1 and Figure 2 Compared to the clamping strip 190 illustrated in FIG. FIG. 8A to FIG. 8D The clamping strip 390 in FIG. 1 is shorter in length, but similar to the longer clamping strip 190 , the clamping strip 390 also includes a channel 400 for receiving the upper and lower edges of the housing and clamping them together.

[0163] The clamping strip 390 has a resilient ridge 410 connecting symmetrical upper and lower jaws 420, 430 that are shaped to clamp around the upper and lower edges of the housing. The ridge 410 and the pair of jaws partially surround the channel 400, and the upper and lower jaws 420, 430 are bent inwardly to define a narrow channel neck 440 between them. The channel 400 has a selected width to accommodate the upper and lower edges 120, 140 of the housing, and the pair of jaws are configured to clamp behind the upper and lower edges, hold them within the channel and clamp the upper and lower edges together.

[0164] The clamping strip can be made of a variety of materials, but stainless steel, such as 1.4310, X10CrNi18-8 austenitic stainless steel, is particularly preferred. The steel is preferably heat treated, such as at 300 degrees Celsius for at least 1 hour.

[0165] In the illustrated embodiment, each clamping bar 390 is formed from a single piece of spring-loaded stainless steel.

[0166] The clamping strip 390 is shaped to act as a spring-type clamp so that the resilient ridges 410 can bend resiliently when force is applied. This allows the jaws 420, 430 of the clamping strip to be forced apart so that the clamping strip 390 can be clamped onto the upper and lower edges 120, 140 of the housing and then bend back to its natural closed configuration to clamp the edges together. To help the clamping strip 390 bend open during application, each of the jaws 420, 430 of the clamping strip 390 has an opening lead-in lip 450.

[0167] The upper and lower jaws 420, 430 of the spring-loaded clamping bar 390 each include an opening 460 disposed between the resilient ridge 410 and the flared lead-in lip 450. When the clamping bar 390 is clamped in place on the surgical lighting assembly, a tool may be inserted into the opening to assist in removing the clamping bar 390 from the edge.

[0168] In order to achieve a high clamping force and still allow the jaws to clamp onto the upper and lower edges during assembly, the width of the narrow channel neck 440 is preferably between 75% and 85% of the maximum width of the channel 400 .

[0169] Although the size of the clamping strips 390 can be varied to accommodate surgical lighting assemblies of different sizes, in the illustrated preferred embodiment, each clamping strip has a length of 16 mm so that the upper and lower edges are clamped together over the 16 mm length of each clamping strip 390.

[0170] Preferably at least two shorter clamping strips 390 are used instead of Figure 1 and Figure 2Each of the longer clamping bars 190 illustrated in FIG. 390 provides clamping pressure to the periphery of the housing over its length (over a distance of 16 mm in the illustrated preferred embodiment). Thus, using multiple clamping bars spaced around the periphery of the housing advantageously produces a very secure clamping effect and a high level of intrusion protection.

[0171] Fig. 9A One clamping strip 390 is illustrated clamped in place around the upper and lower edges 120, 140 of the surgical lighting assembly, and the other clamping strip 390 is being clamped in place by the operator. To secure the clamping strip 390 in place, the upper jaw 420 of the clamping strip 390 hooks onto the upper edge 120 of the upper housing 110, and then the operator presses the ridge 410 to force the lower jaw 430 onto the lower edge 140 of the lower housing. When the open lead-in lip 450 of the lower jaw and the lower edge 140 are forced together, the open lead-in lip of the lower jaw abuts the lower edge and helps force the jaws of the clamping strip apart to clamp onto the lower edge 140. Once the jaws of the clamping strip pass over the upper and lower edges, the resilient ridge 410 returns to its rest configuration, and the jaws clamp the upper and lower edges tightly together within the channel 400.

[0172] Fig. 9B The process of removing the clamping strip 390 from a pair of upper and lower edges 120, 140 using a screwdriver is illustrated. In order to remove the clamping strip, its upper and lower jaws 420, 430 must be forced apart so that they can pass over one of the edges. To accomplish this, the end of the screwdriver is inserted into the opening 460 of the clamping strip and wedged under the open lead-in lip 450 of the upper jaw, which forms the outer edge of the opening 460. The screwdriver is then pried back against the portion of the upper edge 120 that extends into the opening 460 to force the open lead-in lip 450 upward and bend the clamping strip 390 into an open configuration in which the upper jaw 420 can pass over the upper edge 120.

[0173] The spring-loaded clamping strip 390 of this embodiment is advantageously easy to apply by hand, such as Fig. 9A As shown in , no tools are required and it can be easily removed using only a tool such as a screwdriver (or other tool that can be used to apply leverage), as shown in Fig. 9B as shown in .

[0174] Fig. 9CThe same surgical lighting device is shown with a long clamping bar 190 positioned next to a pair of shorter clamping bars 390. While both embodiments using clamping bars can achieve excellent intrusion protection, the shorter spring-loaded clamping bars 390 can advantageously be easier to place in place over the upper and lower edges than the longer clamping bars 190. Using multiple shorter clamping bars to clamp the upper and lower edges together can provide similarly high clamping forces around the perimeter of the housing. Fig. 9C As illustrated in FIG. 1 , for example, it is preferred to use at least two shorter clamping bars 390 to clamp the housing the same distance as a single longer clamping bar 190 .

Claims

1. A surgical lighting assembly, comprising: an upper shell having an upper edge disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the upper shell and a lower shell having a lower edge disposed around at least a portion of a perimeter of the lower shell; The upper and lower housings are configured to fit together about their perimeters to define a chamber therebetween; The lighting assembly further comprises: a light source in the chamber; a sealing member located between a periphery of the upper shell and a periphery of the lower shell; and a plurality of clamping strips; Wherein, the clamping strip is configured to clamp the upper edge to the lower edge around the periphery of the shell so that the upper shell is clamped to the lower shell in a sealing configuration.

2. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 1, wherein: Each clamping bar comprises one or more channels shaped to receive the upper and lower edges, the clamping bar being configured to clamp the upper and lower edges together within the one or more channels, preferably wherein: Each clamping strip is a profile strip including a T-shaped channel configured to receive the upper and lower edges therein.

3. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 1 or 2 comprises a plurality of upper edges and / or a plurality of lower edges, each upper edge being arranged to extend around a portion of the periphery of the upper shell, and each lower edge being arranged to extend around a portion of the periphery of the lower shell.

4. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 3, wherein: The plurality of upper edges extend around at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90% of the circumference of the upper shell, and / or wherein, The plurality of lower edges extend around at least 75%, or at least 80%, or at least 85%, or at least 90% of the circumference of the lower shell.

5. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The upper shell and the lower shell are in the shape of a regular polygon, and wherein the lighting assembly comprises at least one clamping strip for each side of the polygonal shell, preferably wherein, The lighting assembly includes two or more clamping strips for each side of the polygonal housing.

6. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The upper and lower edges and the plurality of clamping strips are symmetrically arranged around a periphery of the housing.

7. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a bumper configured to extend around the periphery of the upper shell and the periphery of the lower shell and cover the joint and the plurality of clamping strips, preferably wherein: The buffer is formed of an elastic material.

8. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 7, wherein: The upper shell includes an upper buffer retaining edge arranged around at least a portion of the periphery of the upper shell and a lower buffer retaining edge arranged around at least a portion of the periphery of the lower shell, and wherein the buffer includes a channel configured to receive the upper buffer retaining edge and the lower buffer retaining edge.

9. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The clamping strip has a length between 12 mm and 30 mm, preferably between 14 mm and 20 mm.

10. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The clamping strip includes: an upper jaw configured to clamp on the upper edge of the upper shell body and a lower jaw configured to clamp on the lower edge of the lower shell body, the upper jaw and the lower jaw are connected to each other by a clamping strip ridge, and a channel for receiving and clamping the upper edge and the lower edge is defined by the inner surface of the upper jaw, the clamping strip ridge and the lower jaw.

11. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 10, wherein: The clamping strip is resilient and wherein the clamping strip is configurable between an open configuration for allowing the upper and lower jaws of the clamping strip to pass over the upper and lower edges and a closed configuration in which the upper and lower jaws clamp the upper and lower edges together in the channel.

12. The surgical lighting assembly according to claim 11, wherein: The upper and / or lower jaws of the clamping strip include openings, or recesses, or lugs into which a tool can be inserted to pry the jaws into their open configuration for removal from the upper and lower edges.

13. The surgical lighting assembly of any one of the preceding claims, comprising a heat sink disposed on the bottom surface of the upper housing in the chamber.

14. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: An exterior surface of the upper or lower housing includes a data connection port that connects to control electronics housed in the chamber.

15. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of handles on the upper housing, preferably wherein: The plurality of handles are protrusions integrally molded into the housing.

16. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The lower housing includes a one-piece molded polymer housing including a transparent window for transmitting light from the light source.

17. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a frame connector configured to connect to a support frame, preferably wherein the frame connector includes a rotatable connection for receiving power and hard-wired data transmission from the frame.

18. The surgical lighting assembly of claim 17, wherein: The lower housing includes the frame connector configured to connect to the support frame, and wherein the upper housing is removable from the lower housing when the lower housing is connected to the support frame.

19. A surgical lighting assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: The sealing member comprises a single strip of resilient material extending around the periphery of the upper shell and the periphery of the lower shell, preferably wherein the upper shell or the lower shell comprises a peripheral channel for receiving the sealing member.

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