Surgical Light Variable Field Geometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surgical lights struggle to adapt to complex or changing wound areas, particularly those with non-circular shapes, leading to uneven illumination that can blind surgeons or inadequately illuminate the wound.

Innovation Solution

The surgical light system allows independent energization of lights within each group, enabling geometric adjustment of the light field to match the shape of the wound area, with a central control unit connected to each light, allowing for customizable light field geometry and multiple illumination levels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If all lights in a group are brightened or darkened uniformly to adapt to changing wound areas, then the entire illumination area is evenly adjusted, but this causes over-illumination of skin areas adjacent to elongated wound areas and insufficient illumination of the wound area itself

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to wound area changesVSAvoidillumination uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The surgical light system divides the illumination system into multiple independently controllable light groups (first light group and second light group), where each group can be adjusted separately. This segmentation allows selective brightening or darkening of specific light groups to match the shape and size of the wound area, preventing over-illumination of adjacent skin areas while ensuring sufficient illumination of the wound area itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables different illumination intensities to be applied to different spatial regions by independently controlling individual light groups. Lights can be selectively activated or dimmed based on the local requirements of the wound area geometry, creating non-uniform illumination distribution that matches the actual wound shape rather than applying uniform illumination across the entire illumination plane.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple light groups with different focal planes are used to illuminate complex wound areas, then adaptability to various wound shapes is improved, but the device complexity increases due to multiple lights and control requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to wound shapesVSAvoidlight group configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination system is segmented into multiple light groups with different focal planes (first focal plane and second focal plane), allowing the system to adapt to wound areas at different depths and distances. Each light group targets a specific focal plane, enabling flexible adjustment to match complex three-dimensional wound geometries while maintaining manageable system architecture through clear functional separation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each light group is designed to serve multiple functions: they can independently adjust illumination intensity, target different focal planes, and be selectively activated based on wound area requirements. This multi-functionality allows a single light group to adapt to various wound shapes and positions, reducing the need for additional specialized components and simplifying the overall device complexity.

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

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 reliable, uniform illumination adaptable to various wound shapes, preventing over-illumination or under-illumination, and allowing optimal visualization of the surgical site.

Implementation Method 1

lights (2a, 2b) which (in a switched-on/energized state) generate a light beam bundle (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight emission: Light

Data Source

PatentEP3335526B1Surgical light having a variable light field geometry
Publication Date: 2021.12.08 KARL LEIBINGER MEDIZINTECHNIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3335526B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3335526B1 patent drawingFigure 4~8

AI summary

The invention relates to a surgical light (1), comprising a plurality of lights (2a, 2b) associated with a light group (5, 8), which lights (2a, 2b) each produce a light beam (4) extending along a longitudinal axis (3) and are oriented and are arranged in relation to each other in such a way that the longitudinal axes (3) of the light beams (4) of the lights intersect in a common focal plane (6, 9), wherein the lights (2a, 2b) of the light group (5, 8) can be supplied with current independently of each other such that a light field geometry (18) produced by the lights (2a, 2b) in an illumination plane (7, 17) arranged at a distance from the focal plane (6, 9) can be adjusted.