Surgical Light Alignment Using Locating Beams and Distance Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical lights often fail to provide optimal illumination due to variations in distance and angle from the object being illuminated, leading to shadows and excessive light overlap, which can cause eye fatigue and dehydration.
Innovation Solution
The surgical light system includes distance sensors to adjust light attributes based on distance, locating lights to align the light source for optimal illumination, and sensors to prevent light overlap, ensuring consistent and safe light intensity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If multiple surgical lights are used to illuminate the surgical site, then the overall illumination coverage is improved, but excessive light overlap occurs causing eye fatigue and dehydration
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical lighting system incorporates sensors that detect the presence and intensity of overlapping light beams from multiple lights. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adjust light output or alert operators to reduce the number of active lights, preventing excessive illumination that causes eye fatigue and dehydration while maintaining adequate coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts lighting parameters such as intensity and beam angle based on the number of active surgical lights and their spatial arrangement. By changing these parameters in response to detected light overlap conditions, the system optimizes illumination coverage while preventing harmful excessive brightness that leads to eye fatigue and dehydration.
2Illumination intensity
If the light housing is moved closer to the object to increase illumination intensity, then the light intensity is improved, but shadows increase due to angle variations
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical light housing incorporates adjustable positioning mechanisms that allow dynamic adjustment of the light beam angle and direction. As the light housing is moved closer to the surgical site, the angle of incidence can be dynamically adjusted to maintain optimal illumination while minimizing shadow formation, ensuring consistent lighting conditions regardless of distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically adjusts lighting parameters such as beam angle, focal point, and intensity distribution based on the detected distance between the light housing and the surgical site. When moved closer, the system changes these parameters to prevent excessive shadow formation while maintaining high light intensity, resolving the contradiction between intensity and shadow reduction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the light housing is positioned at various distances from the object, then the adaptability to different surgical scenarios is improved, but the illumination consistency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The surgical lighting system incorporates distance sensors and automatic adjustment mechanisms that dynamically adapt lighting parameters based on the detected distance between the light housing and the surgical site. This allows the system to maintain consistent illumination quality across various distances, preserving both adaptability to different surgical scenarios and illumination consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses distance sensors to provide feedback on the position of the light housing relative to the surgical site. Based on this feedback, the control system automatically adjusts beam angle, focal point, and intensity to compensate for distance variations, ensuring consistent illumination quality while maintaining the ability to adapt to different surgical scenarios.
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 system optimizes illumination by adjusting light attributes and alignment, preventing shadows and excessive light overlap, thereby enhancing visibility and safety in surgical environments.
Implementation Method 1
measuring a distance from the light housing to the object to be illuminated with the at least one distance sensor
Implementation Method 2
providing a light housing emitting light therefrom
Data Source
AI summary
A method of locating light includes providing a housing have a plurality of first light sources therein, the housing further including a plurality of second light sources, the housing further having a handle for changing a position of the housing; illuminating an object with light emitting from the housing from the first light sources; grasping the handle of the housing; turning on the second light sources; illuminating the object with light from the second light sources, with the light from each of the second light sources extending along a line; adjusting a position of the housing to have the second light sources form a point at an area of interest on the object; releasing the handle; and turning off the second light sources.