Operating Light Touchless Temperature Sensor Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgeons and surgical personnel face challenges in monitoring tissue damage due to excessive heat radiation from operating lights, which can cause tissue drying or burning, especially during long surgeries where increased light intensity is needed to counteract eye fatigue, and existing solutions like temperature sensors require additional structural components and operations.
Innovation Solution
An operating light with a touchless temperature sensor, such as an infrared sensor or thermal imaging camera, integrated into the light head, which detects temperature changes and adjusts light intensity or alerts personnel to prevent tissue damage, using a central mechanical and electrical interface for easy attachment and alignment with the light field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If the operating light emits heat radiation to illuminate the surgical site, then the illumination intensity is improved, but the tissue temperature increases causing drying or burning
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism by integrating a temperature sensor that continuously monitors the tissue temperature and provides real-time data to a control unit. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the light intensity to maintain it within a safe range, thus preventing tissue damage while ensuring adequate illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating light system performs self-monitoring and self-adjustment of light intensity through the integrated temperature sensor and control unit. The system automatically detects temperature changes and regulates its own output without requiring external intervention, enabling it to serve itself in preventing tissue damage.
2Measurement precision
If a temperature sensor is integrated into the operating light, then the temperature monitoring capability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the temperature sensor, control unit, and light source into a single integrated operating light device. The temperature sensor is positioned within the light head to directly monitor the tissue temperature at the illumination site, merging the measurement and control functions with the illumination function in one unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The operating light device is designed to perform multiple functions: illumination, temperature monitoring, and automatic light intensity regulation. This multi-functional design allows a single device to replace what would otherwise require separate instruments, thereby improving measurement capability without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
3Illumination intensity
If the light intensity is increased to counteract eye fatigue during long surgeries, then the visibility is improved, but the tissue drying and burning risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of light intensity based on real-time temperature conditions. The control unit continuously monitors tissue temperature and automatically modulates the light output accordingly, allowing the system to adapt its illumination level dynamically rather than operating at a fixed intensity. This enables high visibility when needed while preventing excessive heat accumulation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the risk of tissue damage by automatically monitoring and adjusting the light intensity based on temperature readings, providing real-time alerts and ensuring safer surgical conditions without the need for additional components or operations.
Implementation Method 1
the temperature sensor is an infrared temperature sensor
Implementation Method 2
the temperature sensor is a thermal imaging camera
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An operating light (1) is provided. The operating light (1) comprises a light head (3) including at least one illuminant for illuminating a surgical site (10) and a temperature sensor (4) attached to a component of the operating light (1) for detecting a temperature in the surgical site (10) in a touchless manner.