Surgical Light Sensor Integration for Item Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tracking surgical instruments and items during procedures are either unreliable or costly, leading to risks of post-surgical infections and additional surgeries due to items left inside patients.
Innovation Solution
A surgical light system equipped with a sensor attached to its light head, which generates an illuminated area and detects items using RFID tags or machine vision, ensuring no items enter or remain in the surgical wound by adjusting its detection volume to match the illuminated area and signaling any anomalies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If expensive tracking systems with multiple directional antennas and RF transceivers are deployed, then item tracking capability is improved, but system cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the tracking sensor with the surgical light fixture, merging two separate functions (illumination and tracking) into a single integrated device. This eliminates the need for separate tracking systems with multiple antennas and transceivers, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining tracking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical light fixture is designed to serve multiple functions: providing illumination for the surgical site and simultaneously performing item tracking through an integrated sensor. This multi-functionality reduces the overall number of devices needed in the operating room, addressing the complexity issue while maintaining reliable tracking.
2Ease of operation
If sensors are placed far from the surgical site to avoid disturbing operating personnel, then operator comfort is improved, but detection range and effectiveness decrease
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the sensor into the surgical light fixture that is already positioned over the surgical site, the system achieves close proximity detection without requiring separate sensor placements that would disturb operating personnel. The light fixture's position provides optimal detection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The surgical light fixture serves as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between the need for close detection and the need to avoid disturbing personnel. Since the light fixture is already necessary for illumination and is positioned by the surgical team, it provides a convenient mounting point for the sensor without additional disturbance.
3Device complexity
If manual counting and identification of instruments by operating room nurses is performed, then system cost is reduced, but reliability and accuracy of item tracking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated tracking and identification of surgical items without requiring manual counting or identification by operating room nurses. The sensor automatically detects items with RFID tags, providing reliable tracking data without human intervention, thereby eliminating the trade-off between cost and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of counting and identifying instruments with an automated sensor-based detection system using RFID technology. This substitution provides accurate, real-time tracking without the errors and limitations of manual methods, while remaining more cost-effective than complex electronic tracking systems.
4Reliability
If multiple separate sensors are deployed to cover the surgical area, then detection coverage is improved, but system cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates multiple sensor functions into a single integrated sensor unit mounted on the surgical light fixture. This single sensor is positioned to cover the illuminated surgical area, eliminating the need for multiple separate sensors while maintaining comprehensive detection coverage.
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 provides a cost-effective and reliable method to ensure all items are removed from the surgical site, reducing the risk of post-surgical complications and infections, without disturbing operating personnel.
Implementation Method 1
the sensor is configured to identify items used in surgery
Implementation Method 2
A surgical light system equipped with a sensor attached to its light head, which generates an illuminated area and detects items using RFID tags or machine vision
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical light is provided, the surgical light comprising a light head including at least one illuminant configured to generate an illuminated area on a surgical site, and a sensor attached to the light head, wherein the sensor is configured to identify items used in surgery, and the sensor is attached to the light head such that a detection volume of the sensor is directed to the illuminated area.