Operating lamp with interchangeable functional units

Abstract

To provide an illumination device which is suitable for illuminating an operating field.SOLUTION: An illumination device (10) comprises: a base body (12); at least one light module (14); and at least two functional units (16) with functions different from one another, where the at least two functional units (16) are adapted to be optionally connected to the base body (12). Each functional unit (16) is adapted to be connected to the base body (12) and disconnected from the base body (12) in a repeatable manner, so that, depending on the requirement, a predetermined functional unit (16) can be inserted into the base body (12) or replaced by another functional unit (16), each functional unit (16) having a mechanical interface (20). The mechanical interface (20) is configured substantially in the same way across all functional units (16).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an illumination device suitable for illuminating a surgical field.

[0002] Illumination devices for surgical fields are known from the prior art. Some illumination devices have very specialized features for a particular surgery, such as lamps that emit light in a specific spectral range or that can be adjusted in terms of illuminance or the radiation field they generate. However, lamps specially designed for such a specific application may not be usable for other applications, so that, for example, hospitals may have to keep a large number of different lamps on hand to cover the various use cases.

[0003] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device that can be adapted to a particular application.

[0004] According to the invention, this object is achieved by an illumination device suitable for illuminating an operating field, the illumination device comprising: a substrate; at least one light module that emits light and is disposed on the substrate; at least two functional units having different functions from each other, the at least two functional units being adapted to be optionally coupled to a base of the lighting device; Equipped with each functional unit is adapted to be coupled to and detached from the substrate in a repeatable manner so that a given functional unit can be inserted into the substrate or replaced with another functional unit as needed; Each functional unit has a mechanical interface configured in a substantially identical manner across all of the functional units and adapted to engage with a corresponding receptacle on the base so that each functional unit is secured to the base.

[0005] In this context, the term "different functions" may in particular mean that the at least two functional units differ in at least one parameter, as may be the case if the at least two functional units are so-called "spotlights", both of which are adapted to generate focused radiation fields, but which are adapted to generate radiation fields of different sizes at the same distance from the respective functional units.

[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting device that has a basic lighting function, i.e., a lighting unit permanently installed in a base, but that can be expanded to include further functions depending on the application. In this way, one and the same lighting device, which is mounted on the ceiling of, for example, an operating room, can be equipped with a wide range of additional functions and can therefore be used in a wide range of applications.

[0007] The base may have a light-emitting surface through which light emitted by at least one light module can exit the base and a rear surface disposed opposite the light-emitting surface, with a receptacle on the base disposed on the rear surface for connection to a functional unit. This allows for a completely closed, specifically a completely flat, lens to be placed on the light-emitting surface. Specifically, the receptacle may be closed by a flap or lid, which may also have a sealing function. Such a cover may be configured as a separate part from the respective functional units. Alternatively, such a cover may be permanently connected to or integrated with each functional unit, such that each functional unit has its own cover for closing the receptacle. The opening of the receptacle may also serve as a service access for maintaining the lighting device. Of course, it is also conceivable that a receptacle or another similar receptacle is placed on the light-emitting surface.

[0008] In general, it may be a requirement of the lighting device according to the present invention that the base be designed to be liquid-tight so that the liquid disinfectant can disinfect the outside of the base without penetrating into the base and causing defects therein. To ensure that a cover or flap that is fully connected to the base also meets this sealing requirement, the cover or flap may be provided with a sealing unit and / or may interact with a sealing unit provided on the base. Such a sealing unit may be, for example, a sealing cord or a sealing lip.

[0009] Advantageously, at least one functional unit may include an electrical interface, and the receptacle of the base may include a corresponding electrical mating interface adapted to establish an electrical connection between the base and the respective functional unit when the functional unit is placed in the receptacle. This means that the electrical interface provided in addition to the mechanical interface of the lighting device may, for example, be adapted to supply power to the respective functional unit attached to the receptacle and / or to transmit, if necessary, signals generated by the functional unit via the corresponding electrical mating interface to the base of the lighting device and, if necessary, thereafter to an associated control unit. The electrical interface and / or electrical mating interface may also correspond to a part of the mechanical interface and / or receptacle, for example, provided on the mechanical interface and / or receptacle to prevent rotation of the respective functional unit attached to the receptacle.

[0010] In particular, the functional units may have approximately the same weight as one another, which can provide the advantage that the holding device, to which the lighting device or the base of the lighting device is attached so as to be movable in space, can remain in a preset weight-balancing configuration, i.e., when the functional units are changed, there is no need to readjust the weight-balancing configuration of the holding device.

[0011] Thus, at least one functional unit, in particular all functional units, may have a weight of 0.3 kg to 2 kg, in particular 0.7 kg to 1.5 kg, preferably about 1 kg.

[0012] Furthermore, the interfaces of the receptacle on the base and the at least two functional units may be adapted to allow each functional unit to be connected to and / or removed from the receptacle on the base without using tools. Specifically, this means that a user of the lighting device can remove a functional unit connected to the base from the base and connect another functional unit to the base using only their hands. If the above-mentioned cover or flap is configured separately from each functional unit, the user of the lighting device can also open and close this cover or flap using only their hands. Possible user actions for opening the cover or flap (whether the cover or flap is connected to or separate from the functional unit) can be, for example, a rotating action and / or a pressing action. The lid or flap can be pressed against the force of a spring that applies a preload to the flap or lid and / or functional unit inserted in the receptacle in a predetermined direction (e.g., against the direction in which the functional unit is inserted into the receptacle). A corresponding spring element can be arranged, for example, in a receptacle in the base, and following a pressing action performed by the user, for example, a rotational action can be performed in the manner of a bayonet fastening, in order to open the lid or flap.

[0013] For example, a functional unit may be - an optical detection unit for light visible to humans, - ultraviolet optical detection unit, - an optical detection unit for infrared, especially near-infrared radiation; - Laser light emitting unit, a light-emitting unit whose spectrum essentially corresponds to that of at least one light module of the lighting device, and which is adapted in particular to emit light in a focused manner so as to generate an illumination field having a higher illuminance than the illumination field generated by the at least one light module; a light-emitting unit whose spectrum differs from that of at least one light module of the lighting device, in particular having a bluish spectrum in the range of 460 nm to 480 nm and / or a greenish spectrum in the range of 500 nm to 550 nm, and which is adapted to emit light in a focused manner so as to generate an illumination field having a higher illuminance than the illumination field generated by the at least one light module, - a power supply unit adapted to supply power to the lighting device so that the lighting device can be operated autonomously; - a gesture detection unit for detecting a user's gesture, the gesture detection unit being connected to a control unit adapted to assign control instructions to the user's gesture, such that an operating mode of the lighting device is changed according to the user's gesture; a microphone unit adapted to detect sounds, in particular voice commands of the user; may comprise at least two of:

[0014] The power supply unit may be adapted to supply power to the lighting device for 10 to 30 minutes, in particular 20 minutes. In the event of a power outage, for example in an operating room, the lighting device can operate autonomously via the power supply unit, independently of the building's power supply, so that, for example, an ongoing surgery can continue. Instead of or in addition to the power supply unit, the lighting device may be equipped with a battery that is separate from the functional unit, for example, installed in the base. This means that in the event of a power outage, the lighting device can operate with the functional unit rather than the power supply unit.

[0015] The gesture detection unit may comprise a camera adapted to detect hand movements of a user of the lighting device and to send associated signals to the control unit, which means, for example, that the lighting device can be activated, e.g., to adjust the brightness and / or lighting direction and / or focus, without the user having to touch the lighting device.

[0016] The lighting device may also include a data transmission module adapted to transmit and / or receive information about the lighting device, in particular about the at least two functional units, to and / or from a data processing unit located outside the lighting device. Such data transmission can be performed wirelessly, for example, via wireless LAN (WLAN), Bluetooth, short-range wireless communication, mobile Internet, or similar data transmission methods. Data transmission can also be performed wirelessly in the immediate vicinity of the lighting device to a receiver unit located in the lighting device, from which it is transferred via wires to the data processing unit. Data transmission from the lighting device to the data processing unit can, of course, be entirely wired. This is particularly true if the data processing unit is located in the immediate vicinity of the lighting device, for example, in a hospital where the lighting device is installed.

[0017] Data transmitted and / or received via the data transmission module may be e.g. - Indicating the total operating time of each functional unit, and / or - indicating the unique identifier of each functional unit, and / or - transmitting the code of each functional unit, in particular the manufacturer-specific code of each functional unit; and / or - Indicate the charge rate of each functional unit It may be suitable for.

[0018] At least selected data, in particular all data, transmitted and / or received via the data transmission module can be stored in a log file, which can be created or already present in, for example, a memory unit of the control unit. For example, one log file can be used for several, in particular all, functional units used with the lighting device, and another log file can be used for each functional unit used with the lighting device. Via the log file, the total past operating time of each functional unit in each lighting device can be kept up to date, for each functional unit identifiable by a unique code / identification method, for example a serial number.

[0019] Furthermore, the log file can be used to track which functional units have been used in a particular lighting device, when and / or for how long. Of course, alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the log file is stored in a storage unit provided within the lighting device.

[0020] In particular, a control unit of the lighting device can be adapted to receive the code of each functional unit and to evaluate it so that activation of each functional unit in the base of the lighting device is only possible based on an acceptable code, in particular a code stored in a memory unit of the control unit. Based on the evaluation of the transmitted data, it is possible to prevent the use of functional units in the base if functional units not originating from the lighting device manufacturer are inserted into the base.

[0021] Furthermore, if a predetermined total operating time of the functional unit is exceeded, the use of the functional unit in the base can be prevented since the manufacturer does not guarantee correct operation of the functional unit. Regarding the total operating time of the functional unit, a corresponding message can be output at least at predetermined intervals before the total operating time is reached. Such a message can appear on a screen to which the lighting device is operatively connected and / or on the functional unit itself via an LED, for example a colored LED, and / or via an acoustic signal.

[0022] Advantageously, at least one functional unit, in particular all of the functional units, can be adapted to transmit information about the respective functional unit, in particular information about the weight of the respective functional unit, to the lighting device. The information transmitted from the respective functional unit to the lighting device can also be used to adjust the function of a handle connected to the lighting device. For example, turning the handle can focus a spotlight in a spotlighting functional unit, or change the light spectrum in a functional unit that emits light in only one predetermined light spectrum. The width of this spectrum is significantly smaller than the width of the visible light spectrum.

[0023] Furthermore, in particular but not exclusively, the illuminance emitted by a functional unit inserted in the base can be transmitted by the functional unit to, for example, an associated control unit. Since it may be a mandatory requirement for the lighting device that the illuminance does not exceed 160,000 lux at a distance of 1 meter, the control unit can vary the luminous intensity, in particular the luminous flux, of the functional unit and / or at least one light module of the base in order to comply with the mandatory requirement.

[0024] In this context, the lighting device may further comprise a holding device adapted to hold the lighting device so that it can be positioned in space, the holding device being adapted to perform automatic readjustment based on information transmitted from the functional unit to the lighting device, in particular the weight of the functional unit. Thus, when the lighting device is operated with a functional unit having a different weight compared to a previously used functional unit or when the lighting device is operated without a functional unit, the weight balance adjustment arrangement described above can be automatically recalibrated. This can save the time required for a user to perform readjustment. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] The invention will now be explained in more detail on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of a lighting device according to the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the lighting device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] In Fig. 1, a lighting device according to the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The lighting device 10, shown in Fig. 1 in a cross-sectional side view, comprises a base 12 and a plurality of light modules 14 arranged thereon, the light modules 14 being adapted to emit light. Furthermore, in the embodiment shown herein, the lighting device 10 comprises two functional units 16.

[0027] 1, functional units 16 are intended to be optionally inserted into receptacles 18 in base 12. Functional units 16 can be attached to base 12 via mechanical interfaces 20 configured in a substantially similar manner on multiple functional units 16. Mechanical interfaces 20 correspond to receptacles 18, which in the embodiment shown herein are formed as simple, generally cylindrical sections.

[0028] Additionally, removal of a functional unit 16 from the base 12, for example to replace it with another functional unit 16, can be ensured by the mechanical interface 20 and the corresponding receptacle 18. For example, a resilient element, such as a spring, can be provided on the receptacle 18, which preloads each functional unit 16 in a direction that causes it to be removed from the receptacle 18.

[0029] In the illustrated embodiment, the functional unit 16 is coupled to and / or removed from the receptacle 18 of the base 12 without tools by simply inserting it into or removing it from the receptacle 18.

[0030] In a possible embodiment, one of the two functional units 16 can be a spotlight with a more focused illumination field compared to the illumination field of the light module 14 of the base 12. The other of the two functional units 16 can be a laser light emitting unit that projects a specific pattern onto a surface, which in the simplest case is at least one dot. This means that the lighting device 10 can be equipped or converted for a wide range of applications with different requirements.

[0031] In addition to the mechanical interface 20, the lighting device 10 may also have an electrical interface 22. The electrical interface 22 is adapted, for example, to supply power to each functional unit 16 housed in the receptacle 18. It is conceivable that signals generated by the functional units 16 are transmitted via the electrical interface 22 to the base 12 of the lighting device 10 and, if necessary, thereafter to an associated control unit (not shown). For this purpose, the receptacle 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a corresponding electrical mating interface 24. Of course, the electrical interface 22 or the electrical mating interface 24 may also correspond to a portion of the mechanical interface 20 or the receptacle 18 provided on the mechanical interface 20 and the receptacle 18, for example, to prevent rotation of each functional unit 16 mounted in the receptacle 18.

[0032] The lighting device 10 comprises a light-emitting surface 26 through which light emitted by the light module 14 can exit the base 12. Opposite the light-emitting surface 26, the base 12 has a back surface 28. In the embodiment shown herein, the receptacle 18 is disposed on the back surface 28 of the base 12, thereby allowing for insertion or removal of the functional unit 16 on the back surface 28.

[0033] Also shown in Figure 1 is a cover 30, which is inserted into an opening 32 arranged in the rear surface 28. The cover 30 then closes the receptacle 18 and can seal the base 12, in particular fluidly, over the receptacle 18. The cover 30 is constructed as a separate part from the respective functional unit 16. However, it is also possible for the cover 30 to be permanently connected to or integrally formed with the respective functional unit 16. In this way, a separate cover 26 can be provided for each functional unit 16 to close the receptacle 18.

[0034] The cover 30 can be coupled to the receptacle 18 via coupling means (not shown). For example, the receptacle 18 can have protrusions adapted to interact with corresponding recesses on the cover to retain the cover in the receptacle 18. Of course, the recesses and protrusions can be located on other elements of the receptacle or the cover, or on both the receptacle and the cover. For example, the recesses can be configured and the cover 30 can be spring-loaded so that a combination of pushing and rotating actions is required to remove the cover 30 from the receptacle 18. This prevents the cover 30 from being unintentionally removed from the receptacle 18.

[0035] 1 and 2 also show a handle 34, which here is connected to the base 12 of the lighting device 10 on the side of the light-emitting surface 26. The handle 34 can be used to position the base 12 in space. Furthermore, the handle 34 can be used to control the respective functional units 16, for example to change their respective functions. Thus, in the case of a spot-lighting functional unit 16, turning the handle 34 could adjust the focus of the spotlight, and in the case of a functional unit 16 that emits light in only one predetermined light spectrum, the light spectrum could be changed.

[0036] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a lighting device 10 according to the present invention. Two functional units 16 are shown in Figure 2. Each functional unit 16 can be inserted into a receptacle 18 in the base 12 (see the dashed line from the functional unit 16 to the receptacle 18).

[0037] FIG. 2 also shows that at least a portion of the optical module 14 is accessible through an opening on the back surface 28 of the base 12, such that the opening 32 can also serve as an access opening for maintenance and repair of the optical module 14.

Claims

1. An illumination device (10) suitable for illuminating a surgical field, said illumination device (10) comprising: A substrate (12); At least one light module (14) that emits light and is disposed on the substrate (12); At least two functional units (16) having different functions from each other, the at least two functional units (16) being adapted to be optionally coupled to the base (12) of the lighting device (10); Equipped with Each functional unit (16) is adapted to be coupled to and detached from said base (12) in a repeatable manner so that a given functional unit (16) can be inserted into said base (12) or replaced with another functional unit (16) as needed; Each functional unit (16) has a mechanical interface (20), which is configured in a substantially identical manner across all functional units (16) and is adapted to engage with a corresponding receptacle (18) on the base (12) so that each of the functional units (16) is fixed to the base (12).

2. 10. A lighting device (10) according to claim 1, The lighting device (10) is characterized in that the base (12) has a light-emitting surface (26) through which the light emitted by the at least one light module (14) can exit the base (12) and a back surface (28) arranged on the opposite side of the light-emitting surface (26), and the receptacle (18) on the base (12) is arranged on the back surface (28) for connection to a functional unit (16).

3. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, At least one of the functional units (16) may be provided with an electrical interface (22), and the receptacle (18) of the base (12) may be provided with a corresponding electrical mating interface, which are adapted to establish an electrical connection between the base (12) and each of the functional units (16) when the functional unit (16) is disposed in the receptacle (18).

4. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, The lighting device (10) is characterized in that the functional units (16) have approximately the same weight as each other.

5. A lighting device (10) according to the preceding claims, 1. A lighting device (10) characterized in that at least one functional unit (16), in particular all functional units (16), have a weight of 0.3 kg to 2 kg, in particular 0.7 kg to 1.5 kg, preferably about 1 kg.

6. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, 1. A lighting device (10), characterized in that the receptacle (18) of the base (12) and the mechanical interface (20) of the at least two functional units (16) are adapted to enable each functional unit (16) to be coupled to and / or detached from the receptacle (18) of the base (12) without the use of tools.

7. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, The functional unit (16) comprises: an optical detection unit for light visible to humans, UV optical detection unit, Infrared, especially near-infrared optical detection units; Laser light emitting unit, a light-emitting unit of light essentially corresponding to the spectrum of the at least one light module (14) of the lighting device (10), in particular adapted to emit said light in a focused manner so as to generate an illumination field having a higher illuminance than the illumination field generated by the at least one light module (14); a light-emitting unit of light having a spectrum different from that of the at least one light module (14) of the lighting device (10), in particular having a bluish spectrum in the range of 460 nm to 480 nm and / or a greenish spectrum in the range of 500 nm to 550 nm, and adapted to emit said light in a focused manner, in particular so as to generate an illumination field having a higher illuminance than the illumination field generated by the at least one light module (14); a power supply unit adapted to supply power to the lighting device (10) so that the lighting device (10) can operate autonomously; a gesture detection unit for detecting a user's gesture, said gesture detection unit being coupled to a control unit adapted to assign control instructions to said user's gesture, and an operation mode of said lighting device (10) being changed according to said user's gesture; a microphone unit adapted to detect sounds, in particular voice commands of the user; A lighting device (10) comprising at least two of:

8. A lighting device (10) according to the preceding claims, A lighting device (10), characterized in that the power supply unit is adapted to supply power to the lighting device (10) for a period of 10 to 30 minutes, in particular 20 minutes.

9. 9. A lighting device (10) according to claim 7 or 8, 1. A lighting device (10) characterized in that the gesture detection unit comprises a camera adapted to detect hand movements of a user of the lighting device (10) and to transmit associated signals to the control unit.

10. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, 1. The lighting device (10) is characterized in that it comprises a data transmission module adapted to transmit and / or receive information about the lighting device (10), in particular about the at least two functional units (16), to and / or from a data processing unit arranged outside the lighting device (10).

11. A lighting device (10) according to the preceding claims, The data transmitted and / or received via the data transmission module is: indicating the total operating time of each functional unit (16); and / or indicating a unique identifier for each functional unit (16); and / or sending a code of each of said functional units (16), in particular a manufacturer-specific code of each of said functional units (16); and / or Indicating the charge rate of each functional unit (16) A lighting device (10) characterized in that it is suitable for

12. A lighting device (10) according to the preceding claims, 1. A lighting device (10) characterized in that a control unit of the lighting device (10) or the control unit is adapted to receive the codes of each of the functional units (16) and to evaluate the codes so that operation of each of the functional units (16) in the base (12) of the lighting device (10) is only possible based on an acceptable code, in particular a code stored in a memory unit of the control unit.

13. A lighting device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, A lighting device (10), characterized in that at least one of the functional units (16), in particular all of the functional units (16), is adapted to transmit information about each of the functional units (16), in particular information about the weight of each of the functional units (16), to the lighting device (10).

14. A lighting device (10) according to the preceding claims, The lighting device (10) further comprises a holding device adapted to hold the lighting device (10) so that it can be positioned in space, and the holding device is adapted to perform automatic readjustment based on information transmitted from the functional unit (16) to the lighting device (10), in particular the weight of the functional unit (16).

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