Surgical Light Field Diameter Control via Tiltable Sources

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing operating room lights fail to maintain a constant light field diameter when the working distance changes, as they rely on rigidly arranged parallel light sources that cannot adjust the light field diameter effectively.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates multiple light sources with different diameters and a control device to individually adjust their luminous intensities, and tiltable light sources to maintain a preset relative illuminance at a predetermined diameter, ensuring the light field diameter remains unchanged despite changes in working distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the working distance changes, then the light field diameter changes, but the surgical illumination requirements require constant light field diameter

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of working distanceVSAvoidlight field diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the light sources tiltable rather than rigidly fixed. The light sources can be individually tilted to adjust their emission angles, allowing the system to adapt to different working distances while maintaining a constant light field diameter. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between working distance adjustability and light field diameter constancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the emission parameters (angles and intensities) of multiple light sources based on the working distance. By individually adjusting the tilt angles and luminous intensities of each light source, the system maintains the preset relative illuminance at the predetermined diameter regardless of working distance changes. This parameter adjustment strategy resolves the contradiction between distance variability and illumination consistency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Shape

If multiple light sources with different diameters are used, then the light field diameter can be maintained constant, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight field diameterVSAvoidnumber of light sources and control mechanisms
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the illumination system into multiple independent light sources, each with its own tilt adjustment mechanism and intensity control. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each light source's contribution to the overall light field, enabling precise control over the light field diameter while distributing the complexity across modular components rather than requiring a single complex mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes each light source multi-functional by enabling both tilt angle adjustment and intensity control for each individual source. This universality allows the same type of light source to perform multiple functions (adjusting coverage area, adjusting brightness, compensating for distance changes), reducing the need for specialized components and thereby managing device complexity more effectively.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Illumination intensity

If the luminous intensity is adjusted to maintain constant illuminance, then the central illuminance remains unchanged, but the light field diameter changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentral illuminanceVSAvoidlight field diameter
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by introducing tilt angle adjustment as an additional degree of freedom. Instead of merely adjusting intensity (which only affects brightness), the system dynamically adjusts both the tilt angles and intensities of multiple light sources. This dynamic control allows independent management of light field diameter (via tilt angles) and central illuminance (via intensity adjustment), resolving the contradiction between maintaining constant illuminance and preventing light field diameter changes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP2673557B1Surgical light and method for illuminating a surgical site
Publication Date: 2016.08.24 TRUMPE MEDIZIN SYSTEME GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2673557B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2673557B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2673557B1 patent drawingFigure 3a

AI summary

A surgical light (1) for illuminating a surgical site arranged at a selected distance comprises light sources in a light body (2) which produce illuminated fields of different diameters (d1, d2) on the surgical site. The diameter (dx) at which a preset relative illuminance of an illuminated field (18) resulting from the illuminated fields is obtained can be varied by individually controlling the light intensities of the light sources. The distance between the light body (2) and the surgical site is detected and the light sources (5, 6) are controlled such that the diameter (dx) at which a preset relative illuminance of the resulting illuminated field (18) is obtained remains substantially unmodified when the distance between the light body (2) and the surgical site is modified.