Overhead Light Positioning via Converging Beam Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical personnel in operating theaters face challenges in manually positioning overhead lights to ensure optimal alignment and distance from the operating area, leading to uncertainty about the correct placement of the light beam, which affects optical performance.
Innovation Solution
A medical lighting device with a system comprising multiple light sources arranged in angularly offset positions, generating converging or disjoint light beams to visually assist operators in determining the correct positioning of the overhead light relative to the operating area, ensuring optimal optical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If medical personnel manually position the overhead light without assistance, then the device complexity is reduced, but the positioning precision and alignment accuracy deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary alignment system consisting of multiple light sources that project reference light spots onto the operating area. These light spots serve as visual mediators between the overhead light position and the target surgical site, enabling medical personnel to achieve precise positioning without complex automated control systems. The light sources are arranged in angularly offset positions and converge at a specific distance to form overlapping light spots, providing intuitive visual feedback for correct positioning.
2Reliability
If a single light pointer is used for alignment, then the device complexity is minimized, but the reliability deteriorates when the light beam is obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is segmented into multiple independent light sources arranged in angularly offset positions around the overhead light axis. Each light source projects its own reference light spot onto the operating area. This segmentation ensures that if one light beam is obstructed or blocked, the other light sources continue to provide alignment reference, thereby improving reliability without requiring complex redundant systems.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the alignment system have specialized functions: multiple light sources are positioned at specific angular offsets to create distinct light spots in different locations on the operating area. When the overhead light is at the correct distance, these light spots converge and overlap at the target point. This local differentiation provides robust alignment guidance even when certain light paths are blocked, as other light spots remain visible.
3Illumination intensity
If the overhead light is positioned too close or too far from the operating area, then the ease of operation is improved, but the illumination quality and optical performance deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time visual feedback through the convergence behavior of multiple light spots projected onto the operating area. When the overhead light is at the optimal distance, the light spots from angularly offset sources converge and overlap at the target point. When the distance is incorrect, the light spots remain separated or diverge. This feedback mechanism guides medical personnel to adjust the overhead light position intuitively, achieving optimal illumination quality without complex measurement tools.
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
The device allows for precise manual positioning of the overhead light, providing visual cues to operators about the correct distance and alignment, ensuring optimal illumination and maintaining functionality even if one light beam is obstructed, thus enhancing operational efficiency and optical performance.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source for generating a first light beam and a second light source for generating a second light beam, in that the light sources are arranged on the overhead light in angularly offset positions so that the first and second light beams converge at a point on the operating area when the predetermined distance is reached
Data Source
AI summary
A medical lighting device for illuminating an operating area has an overhead light providing axial illumination and is movably mounted over the operating area and movable manually towards or away from the operating area, and a system for assisting adjustment of a proper lighting position for the overhead light relative to the operating area in such a manner as to position the overhead light at a predetermined distance from the operating area. The system comprises a first light source for generating a first light beam and a second light source for generating a second light beam, the light sources arranged on the overhead light in angularly offset positions so that the first and second light beams converge at a point on the operating area when the predetermined distance is reached, and otherwise when not at that distance the two light beams form two light spots that are disjoint.