Surgical lamp assembly

Abstract

A surgical lamp assembly is disclosed that includes a support configured to be coupled to a headband, a lamp coupled to the support and configured to emit a beam of light along a first optical path, and a mirror movably coupled to the support and disposed along the first optical path. The mirror is configured to redirect a portion of the emitted beam of light along a second optical path.

Description

SURGICAL LAMP ASSEMBLYCROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 756,130, entitled ■ SURGICAL LAMP ASSEMBLY” and filed February 8. 2025, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by this reference in its entirety.BACKGROUNDField

[0002] This disclosure relates to lighting apparatus and, in particular, a surgical headlamp that can be worn under a surgical hood or face shield.Description of Related Art

[0003] Surgeons often wear a high-power headlamp to better illuminate the surgical site on which they are operating, compared to relying on room lights. Protective hoods with face shields, or just a face shield, are used in certain surgical procedures, for example orthopedic surgery', wherein the headlamp projects light through the face shield. Although conventional headlamps for use with face shields often include a shroud around the headlamp, the shroud often separates from the face shield as the surgeon adjusts the position of the headlamp. Light from the headlamp that escapes through this separation may reflect off the face shield and into the surgeon’s eyes or face, interfering with the surgeon’s view of the surgical site.

[0004] In view of the above, there is a need for a surgical headlamp including a means of shielding the projected light to prevent stray light or reflections from a face shield from interfering with the surgeon's view of the surgical site.SUMMARY

[0005] Various embodiments can include a surgical lamp assembly. The surgical lamp assembly may comprise a support configured to be coupled to an item of headgear, a shroud attached to the support, and a lamp coupled to the support and disposed proximate to the shroud. The shroud may comprise an interior having an opening at least partially surrounded by a perimeter configured to form an optical seal with a face shield when the surgical lamp assembly is worn with the face shield. The lamp may be configured to emit a beam of light along an optical path that passes through the opening.

[0006] In various embodiments, the shroud may be configured to be selectably: movable relative to the item of headgear so as to enable formation of the optical seal with the face shield and / or held in a fixed position relative to the item of headgear once the optical seal is formed so as to maintain the optical seal with the face shield. The shroud may be fixedly coupled to the support. The lamp can be repositioned within a range of motion, and repositioning the lamp within the range of motion does not move the shroud relative to the item of headgear.

[0007] The optical path may be disposed entirely within the interior of the shroud until the optical path passes through the opening. A mirror may be movably coupled to the support. The lamp may emit the beam of light along a first optical path. The mirror may be disposed along the first optical path and configured to redirect a portion of the emitted beam of light along a second optical path that passes through the opening. The mirror may be disposed within the interior of the shroud. The mirror may be rotatably coupled to the lamp. The mirror may be rotatable solely about the first optical path. A mirror support may be rotatably coupled to the shroud and fixedly attached to the mirror. The mirror support may be rotatably coupled to the lamp. An inside angle between the first optical path and the second optical path may be within the range of 45-135 degrees. The inside angle may be within the range of 75-105 degrees. The inside angle may be approximately 90 degrees. The shroud may comprise a flexible portion configured to urge the perimeter to form the optical seal with the face shield when the surgical lamp assembly is worn with the face shield.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] Aspects of the disclosure are herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and are for purposes of illustrative discussion of aspects of the disclosure. The description and the drawings, considered alone and together, make apparent to those skilled in the art how aspects of the disclosure may be practiced.

[0009] Fig. 1A depicts a surgeon wearing a conventional surgical headlamp assembly under a protective hood.

[0010] Fig. IB depicts a conventional surgical headlamp assembly.

[0011] Fig. 2 defines a coordinate system relative to a surgeon, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0012] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a surgeon wearing an exemplary embodiment of a surgical lamp assembly under a protective hood, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0013] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary surgical lamp assembly, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0014] Fig. 5 is a top view of certain components of the surgical lamp assembly of Fig. 5, in accordance with the present disclosure.

[0015] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary surgical lamp assembly, in accordance with the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0016] This description is intended to illustrate exemplary7embodiments of the disclosure and not to exhaustively specify all permutations, combinations and variations thereof. Features illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be incorporated into other embodiments, and features illustrated with respect to a particular embodiment may be deleted from that embodiment. In addition, numerous variations and additions to the various embodiments suggested herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the instant disclosure and do not depart from the instant disclosure. In some instances, well-known structures, interfaces, and processes have not been shown in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the invention. It is intended that no part of this specification be construed to effect a disavowal of any part of the full scope of the invention.Problem

[0017] Surgeons often wear a high-power headlamp while they are operating in order to better illuminate the surgical site on which they are operating. In certain types of procedures, e.g., orthopedic surgery7, the surgeon often wears the surgical headlamp under a protective hood that has a transparent face shield. A conventional headlamp is worn in front of the surgeon’s forehead and points forward, i.e., generally above and aligned with the surgeon's line-of-sight (LOS). Conventional headlamps have a drawback in this situation, however, in that the light projected by the headlamp reflects off the face shield into the surgeon’s eyes. Conventional headlamps may include a shroud that is attached to the lamp in order to block this reflected light. While the shroud may contact the face shield in certain positions of the lamp, movement of the lamp away from this position creates a gap between the shroud and the face shield thatallows light to be reflected into the surgeon’s eyes. Furthermore, to fill the gap by extending the shroud would increasingly block the surgeon’s view of the surgical site and surgical suite. Solution

[0018] The problem described above is addressed by the surgical lamp assembly disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, the shroud is fixedly positioned relative to the surgeon’s head and therefore remains in contact with the face shield while the lamp position can be adjusted. In certain embodiments, the lamp itself is fixedly attached to the headband worn by the surgeon, and therefore fixedly positioned relative to the surgeon’s head. In certain embodiments, the lamp points laterally, with respect to the surgeon’s line-of-sight (LOS), and a small, movable mirror is used to redirect the light projected by the lamp.Terminology

[0019] Unless otherwise defined herein, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. The terminology7used in the description of the disclosure herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects or embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. References to techniques employed herein are intended to refer to the techniques as commonly understood in the art, including variations on those techniques or substitutions of equivalent techniques that would be apparent to one of skill in the art.

[0020] As used within this disclosure, the term “light” means electromagnetic energy having a wavelength within the range, or band, of approximately 10 nm to approximately 1 mm, wherein “ultraviolet” (UV) light is generally associated with the range of approximately 10-400 nm, also referred to as the UV band, “visible” light is generally associated with the range of approximately 400-750 nm, also referred to as the visible band, and “infrared” (IR) light is generally associated with the range of approximately 750 nm-1 mm, also referred to as the IR band. A plurality of the UV band, visible band, IR band, and other bands having defined wavelength ranges, are referred to as a spectral group.

[0021] As used within this disclosure, the term “optical” refers to aspects of elements that manipulate any portion of the frequency band of light as defined herein.

[0022] As used within this disclosure, the terms “perpendicular.” “parallel,” and the like are considered to be precise, i.e., exactly 90-degree or zero-degree angles, when defining a coordinate system but approximate when defining a physical orientation of an item to anotheritem or to a coordinate system. For example, and in certain embodiments, an optical path is considered parallel to an axis of a coordinate system if the angle between the optical path and the axis is less than 15 degrees. In certain embodiments, the optical path and the axis are considered parallel when the angle is less than 10, 5, or 2 degrees or other small angle. Similarly, for example and in certain embodiments, an optical path and an axis are considered perpendicular when the angle between the optical path and the axis are within 15, 10, 5, or 2 degrees of 90 degrees or comprises another small angular deviation from 90 degrees.

[0023] As used within this disclosure, the term “continuous’7refers to an aspect that does not have significant gaps in functionality, although there may be local reductions in the functionality that are small and not significant. For example, a “continuous optical seal” may have an area of reduced contact pressure or even a short gap that is positioned such that the intended function of the intended seal is not significantly affected.

[0024] Fig. 1 A depicts a surgeon 10 wearing a conventional surgical headlamp assembly 110 under a protective hood 100. The hood 100 comprises a transparent face shield 102. The headlamp assembly 110 has a headlamp 130 that is attached to a headband 120 worn by the surgeon 10 under the hood 100. A shroud 150 is attached to the headlamp 130. Adjustment of the position of headlamp 130 will move the shroud 150. In certain positions of the headlamp 130, the shroud 150 touches the face shield 102. In certain positions of the headlamp 130, however, there will be a gap between the shroud 150 and the face shield 102 that allows light to escape the shroud 150 and be reflected from the face shield 102 into the eyes and face of the surgeon 10. The headlamp 130 is connected by a cable (not visible in Fig. 1) to a belt pack (not visible in Fig. 1) that provides power and controls the intensity of the light emitted by the headlamp 130.

[0025] Fig. IB depicts a conventional surgical headlamp assembly 110. The headband 120 and support 105 are components of a conventional surgical helmet worn by the surgeon to support the hood 100 away from the head of the surgeon 10. The headlamp 130 and attached shroud 150 are hingedly attached to the headband 120 and rotate only in a vertical plane aligned with the surgeon’s LOS. The headlamp assembly 110 includes a handle 132 that is connected to the headlamp 130 and enables the surgeon 10 to adjust the vertical angle of the headlamp 130.

[0026] Fig. 2 defines a coordinate system 200 relative to a surgeon 10, in accordance with the present disclosure. The coordinate system 200 comprises a vertical axis (VA) 202 directedapproximately vertical upward and a forward axis (FA) 204 that is perpendicular to VA 202 and approximately parallel to a LOS 12 of the surgeon 10 when standing up straight and looking straight ahead. A lateral axis (LA) 206 is defined as the cross-product VA x FA, as is known in mathematics for three-dimensional (3D) Euclidean space. The VA 202, FA 204, and LA 206 may also be referred to as Z-axis 202, Y-axis 204, and X-axis 206.

[0027] A lamp 212 may be attached to a headband 120. A beam of light 214 may be emitted by the lamp 212. The beam of light 214 has a centerline 216. While the beam of light 214 shown in Fig. 2 is conical, the shape of the beam of light 214 can be any of an oval, a rectangle, or other geometric shape. Likewise, the centerline 216, which is shown in Fig. 2 as the axis of symmetry of the conical beam of light 214, is only an example of a reference line for the beam of light 214.

[0028] Fig. 3 provides a cross-sectional side view of a surgeon 10 wearing an exemplary embodiment of a surgical lamp assembly 300 under a protective hood 100. The surgical lamp assembly 300 comprises a lamp 330 movably coupled to a support 320 that, in turn, is fixedly coupled to the headband 120. In certain embodiments, the lamp 330 is rotatably coupled to the support 320 via a hinge 350, limiting the angular motion to a plane defined by Y-axis 204 and Z-axis 202. In certain embodiments, the support 320 is separable from the headband 120, i.e., the surgical lamp assembly 300 may be removable from the headband 120. In certain embodiments, the support 320 is coupled to a different element of a surgical helmet (with reference to Fig. IB).

[0029] The surgical lamp assembly 300 comprises a shroud 310 that partially surrounds the lamp 330. The shroud 310 has a front opening 312 that is proximate to the inside surface of the face shield 102 when the protective hood 100 is being worn. In certain embodiments, the shroud 310 has a perimeter 314 that contacts the face shield 102 when the protective hood 100 is being worn. The perimeter 314 may define the front opening 312. In certain embodiments, substantially the entire perimeter 314 is in contact with the face shield 102. In certain embodiments, the shroud 310 is fixedly coupled to the headband 120 and the perimeter 314 forms a continuous optical seal between the shroud 310 and the face shield 102 while the surgical lamp assembly 300 and hood 100 are worn by the surgeon 10.

[0030] In various embodiments where the lamp 330 is movable with respect to the support 320 while the shroud 310 is fixedly positioned relative to the support 320, lamp 330 may be movable within the shroud 310. Lamp 330 is shown in a first angular position that projectslight beam 332, with centerline 334, through the face shield 102. The lamp 330 is also shown in a second position 340 that is rotated relative to the position of lamp 330 and projects a light beam with centerline 344. In certain embodiments, the light beam emitted by lamp 330 is completely enclosed by the shroud 310 over the full range of angular motion of the lamp 330, e.g., both the first angular position of lamp 330 and second position 340, until the light beam passes through the face shield 102.

[0031] In certain embodiments, a light-sensitive detector (not shown in Fig. 3) is provided as part of surgical lamp assembly 300. In certain embodiments, the detector may be fixed relative to the shroud and configured such that its field-of-view (FOV) includes a portion of the opening 312. In certain embodiments, the detector may be fixedly attached to the lamp 330 such that its FOV remains aligned with the FOV of the projected light beam 332 as the lamp 330 is adjusted. In certain embodiments, the shroud 310 comprises a flexible portion (not shown in Fig. 3) that is configured to urge the perimeter to form the optical seal with the face shield 102. In certain embodiments, this flexible portion has a corrugated form may comprise a resilient flexible material, similar to a boot that surrounds a constant velocity (CV) joint of a car. In certain embodiments, this flexible portion comprises a compressible foam. In certain embodiments, this flexible portion comprises a flexible flange that may bend to maintain contact with the face shield 102 as the shroud 310 moves relative to the face shield 102.

[0032] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary surgical lamp assembly 400, in accordance with the present disclosure. The surgical lamp assembly 400 comprises a support 420 that may be configured to be attached by arms 422 and clips 424 to an item of headgear worn by the user, including but not limited to a headband, cap, helmet or hood support frame, protective glasses, and / or surgical magnifiers. In certain embodiments, the surgical lamp assembly 400 may comprise a shroud 410 that is fixedly coupled to the support 420. In certain embodiments, the lamp 430 may be fixedly coupled to the support 420. In this manner, the lamp 430 or a portion thereof may be positioned outside of an FOV of a surgeon. In certain embodiments, the lamp 430 may be rotatably coupled to the shroud 410. The shroud 410 has an opening 412 that is at least partially surrounded by a perimeter 414. In certain embodiments, the perimeter 414 has a small gap, for example along a top edge positioned away from the surgeon’s eyes, such that light that escapes from the shroud through this gap does not reach the surgeon’s eyes. In certain embodiments, the perimeter is configured to form an optical seal with a face shield of a hood when the surgical lamp assembly 400 is worn under the surgical hood, e.g., as shown in Fig. 3.

[0033] Lamp 430 may emit a beam of light along an axis 432. In certain embodiments, a mirror 440 may be disposed along the axis 432 such that the portion of the light beam between the lamp 430 and the mirror 440 is entirely contained within the shroud 410. In certain embodiments, mirror 440 comprises a planar reflective surface. In certain embodiments, the reflective surface is concave, e.g., configured to create a collimated beam of light from an incoming divergent beam of light. In certain embodiments, the reflective surface is convex, e.g., configured to provide a beam of light with a wider dispersion than the incoming beam of light. In certain embodiments, axis 432 intersects the reflective surface of the mirror 440 at point 442, whereupon the beam of light from the lamp 430 is redirected from axis 432 to axis 434 which may pass through the opening 412 of shroud 410 and subsequently through the face shield (not shown in Fig. 4). In this manner, a beam of light emitted by a lamp 430 positioned outside of the FOV of the surgeon may be redirected, e.g., by the mirror 440, generally along a LOS of the surgeon. When the surgical lamp assembly 400 is worn under a surgical hood with the perimeter 414 in contact with the face shield, the beam of light and all reflections of the beam of light from the face shield or other surfaces are contained within the shroud 410 except those which pass through the face shield.

[0034] In certain embodiments, mirror 440 is coupled to a mirror support 450 that is movable relative to the axis 432. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 450 is rotatable about axis 432. In certain embodiments, a handle 456 is fixedly coupled to the mirror support 450 so as to enable the user to adjust the position of the rotatable mirror support 450, thereby steering the axis 434 in the Y-Z plane. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 450 comprises a collar 452 that is fixedly attached to the housing of lamp 430 and a flange 454 that may couple the mirror 440 to the collar 452. In certain embodiments, the collar 452 is rotatable relative to the lamp 430. In certain embodiments, the lamp 430 may be fixedly attached to the shroud 410 or to the support 420 while the mirror support 450 rotates about axis 432 and the collar 452 rotates with respect to the lamp 430 and the shroud 410.

[0035] In certain embodiments, a light-sensitive detector (not shown in Fig. 4) is provided as part of surgical lamp assembly 400. In certain embodiments, the detector may be fixed relative to the shroud and configured such that its field-of-view (FOV) includes a portion of the opening 412. In certain embodiments, the detector may be fixedly coupled to the mirror 440 such that its FOV remains aligned with the axis 434 as the mirror support 450 is rotated.

[0036] Fig. 5 is a top view7of various components of the surgical lamp assembly of Fig. 4, in accordance with the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the flange 454 holds themirror 440 at an angle 444 to the plane of rotation of collar 452, which causes the axis 434 to be redirected at an inside angle 436 relative to the axis 432. In certain embodiments, angle 444 is half of inside angle 436. In certain embodiments, inside angle 436 is in the range of 45-135 degrees. In certain embodiments, inside angle 436 is in the range of 75-105 degrees. In certain embodiments, inside angle 436 is in the range of 85-95 degrees. In certain embodiments, inside angle 436 is approximately 90 degrees. In certain embodiments, axis 434 moves within a plane defined by Y-axis 204 and Z-axis 202 when collar 452 is rotated about axis 432. In certain embodiments, axis 434 comprises an X-axis 206 component, e.g., the intersection point 442 (FIG. 4) is displaced laterally from the left-right center plane of the face of the surgeon and axis 434 extends at an angle to the Y-Z plane so as to illuminate a surgical area that is on the Y-Z plane at a distance from the surgeon’s eyes.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary’ surgical lamp assembly 600, in accordance with the present disclosure. The surgical lamp assembly 600 comprises a support 610. The support 610 may be configured to attach to a headband 120 or other component worn by a surgeon, e.g., a helmet, that is fixedly oriented with respect to the head of the surgeon. In certain embodiments, the support 610 is configured to be removably attached to the headband 120 in a fixed position and / or orientation. The surgical lamp assembly 600 comprises a shroud 640. The shroud 640 may be fixedly attached to the support 610. The assembly may comprise a lamp 620 that is coupled to the support 610. In certain embodiments, the lamp 620 is fixedly attached to the support 610. In certain embodiments, the lamp 620 is rotatably attached to the support 610. In certain embodiments, the lamp 620 is coupled to a controller 624 and a power supply 626 that control the operation and / or intensity of the lamp 620.

[0038] A minor assembly 630 may be partially disposed within the shroud 640. The mirror assembly 630 comprises a mirror 632 that receives light beam 622 emitted by lamp 620 and redirects the light to form a light beam 634. The mirror 632 may be coupled to a mirror support 636. The mirror support 636 may be coupled, in the example of FIG. 6, directly to the lamp 620. In certain embodiments, the minor support 636 is movable with respect to lamp 620. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 636 is rotatable with respect to lamp 620. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 636 is directly coupled to the support 610, thereby indirectly coupled to the lamp 620. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 636 is movable with respect to the support 610. In certain embodiments, the mirror support 636 is rotatable with respect to support 610. In certain embodiments, a handle 638 is coupled to the minor 632 to facilitate repositioning the mirror 632 by the surgeon, e.g., rotating the mirror support 636 withrespect to the lamp 620 by the handle 638, to illuminate an area of interest to the surgeon. In certain embodiments, a motor and a motor-control module (not shown in Fig. 6) are coupled between the mirror support 636 and the support 610 such that the user can reposition the mirror 632 using the motor-control module.

[0039] In summary, the disclosed apparatus and methods describe embodiments of a surgical lamp assembly that prevent light from being reflected from the interior surface of a face shield of a surgical hood into the eyes of the surgeon wearing the lamp assembly and hood. Certain embodiments of the lamp assembly reduce the obstruction of the FOV of the surgeon by positioning the lamp outside the FOV and using a small mirror to redirect light from the lamp generally along LOS of the surgeon.Exemplary Embodiments

[0040] Al. A surgical lamp assembly, comprising a support configured to be coupled to a headband; a lamp coupled to the support and configured to emit a beam of light along a first optical path; and a mirror movably coupled to the support and disposed along the first optical path, the mirror configured to redirect a portion of the emitted beam of light along a second optical path.

[0041] A2. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, wherein the shroud is configured to be selectably one of: movable relative to the item of headgear so as to enable formation of the optical seal with the face shield; and held in a fixed position relative to the item of headgear once the optical seal is formed so as to maintain the optical seal with the face shield.

[0042] A3. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, wherein the shroud is fixedly coupled to the support.

[0043] A4. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, wherein: the lamp can be repositioned within a range of motion; and repositioning the lamp within the range of motion does not move the shroud relative to the item of headgear.

[0044] A5. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, wherein: the optical path is disposed entirely within the interior of the shroud until the optical path passes through the opening.

[0045] A6. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, further comprising: a mirror movably coupled to the support; wherein: the lamp emits the beam of light along a first optical path; and the mirror is disposed along the first optical path, the mirror and configured to redirect a portion of the emitted beam of light along a second optical path that passes through the opening.

[0046] A7. The surgical lamp assembly of A6, wherein: the mirror is disposed within the interior of the shroud.

[0047] A8. The surgical lamp assembly of A6, wherein: the mirror is rotatably coupled to the lamp.

[0048] A9. The surgical lamp assembly of A6, wherein: the mirror is rotatable solely about the first optical path.

[0049] Al 0. The surgical lamp assembly of A6, further comprising: a mirror support rotatably coupled to the shroud and fixedly attached to the mirror.

[0050] Al l. The surgical lamp assembly of A10, wherein: the mirror support is rotatably coupled to the lamp.

[0051] Al 2. The surgical lamp assembly of A6, wherein: an inside angle between the first optical path and the second optical path is within the range of 45-135 degrees.

[0052] A13. The surgical lamp assembly of A12, wherein: the inside angle is within the range of 75-105 degrees.

[0053] A14. The surgical lamp assembly of A13, wherein: the inside angle is approximately 90 degrees.

[0054] Al 5. The surgical lamp assembly of Al, wherein the shroud comprises a flexible portion configured to urge the perimeter to form the optical seal with the face shield when the surgical lamp assembly is worn with the face shield.

[0055] Headings and subheadings, if any, are used for convenience only and do not limit the invention.

[0056] Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean ‘“one and only one” unless specifically so stated, but rather “one or more.” Use of the articles “a” and “an” is to be interpreted as equivalent to the phrase “at least one.” Unless specifically stated otherwise, the terms "a set" and “some” refer to one or more.

[0057] Terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “right,” “front,” “rear” and the like as used in this disclosure should be understood as referring to an arbitrary frame of reference, rather than to the ordinary gravitational frame of reference. Thus, a top surface, a bottom surface, a front surface, and a rear surface may extend upwardly, downwardly,diagonally, or horizontally in a gravitational frame of reference without limiting their orientation in other frames of reference.

[0058] Although the relationships among various components are described herein and / or are illustrated as being orthogonal or perpendicular, those components can be arranged in other configurations in some embodiments. For example, the angles formed between the referenced components can be greater or less than 90 degrees in some embodiments.

[0059] Although various components are illustrated as being flat and / or straight, those components can have other configurations, such as curved or tapered for example, in some embodiments.

[0060] Pronouns in the masculine (e.g., his) include the feminine and neuter gender (e.g., her and its) and vice versa. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “operation for.”

[0061] A phrase such as an “aspect” does not imply that such aspect is essential to the subject technology or that such aspect applies to all configurations of the subject technology'. A disclosure relating to an aspect may apply to all configurations, or one or more configurations. A phrase such as an aspect may refer to one or more aspects and vice versa. A phrase such as an “embodiment” does not imply that such embodiment is essential to the subject technology or that such embodiment applies to all configurations of the subject technology'. A disclosure relating to an embodiment may apply to all embodiments, or one or more embodiments. A phrase such as an embodiment may refer to one or more embodiments and vice versa.

[0062] The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example or illustration.” Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs.

[0063] All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the various aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known or later come to be known to those of ordinary' skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether such disclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in the case of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “step for.” Furthermore, to the extent that the term “include,” “have,” or the like is used in the description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprise” as “comprise” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.

[0064] Although embodiments of the present disclosure have been described and illustrated in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation, the scope of the present invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A surgical lamp assembly, comprising:a support configured to be coupled to an item of headgear;a shroud attached to the support, the shroud comprising an interior having an opening at least partially surrounded by a perimeter configured to form an optical seal with a face shield when the surgical lamp assembly is worn with the face shield; and a lamp coupled to the support and disposed proximate to the shroud and configured to emit a beam of light along an optical path that passes through the opening.

2. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud is configured to be selectably one of:movable relative to the item of headgear so as to enable formation of the optical seal with the face shield; andheld in a fixed position relative to the item of headgear once the optical seal is formed so as to maintain the optical seal with the face shield.

3. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud is fixedly coupled to the support.

4. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein:the lamp can be repositioned within a range of motion; andrepositioning the lamp within the range of motion does not move the shroud relative to the item of headgear.

5. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein:the optical path is disposed entirely within the interior of the shroud until the optical path passes through the opening.

6. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, further comprising:a mirror movably coupled to the support;wherein:the lamp emits the beam of light along a first optical path; andthe mirror is disposed along the first optical path and configured to redirect a portion of the emitted beam of light along a second optical path that passes through the opening.

7. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein:the mirror is disposed within the interior of the shroud.

8. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein:the mirror is rotatably coupled to the lamp.

9. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein:the mirror is rotatable solely about the first optical path.

10. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 6, further comprising:a mirror support rotatably coupled to the shroud and fixedly attached to the mirror.

11. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 10, wherein:the minor support is rotatably coupled to the lamp.

12. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 6, wherein:an inside angle between the first optical path and the second optical path is within the range of 45-135 degrees.

13. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 12, wherein:the inside angle is within the range of 75-105 degrees.

14. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 13, wherein:the inside angle is approximately 90 degrees.

15. The surgical lamp assembly of claim 1, wherein the shroud comprises a flexible portion configured to urge the perimeter to form the optical seal with the face shield when the surgical lamp assembly is worn with the face shield.

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