Surgical Lighting Element with Conductive and Insulating Layers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical lighting solutions face challenges in balancing brightness, heat management, and compactness, often requiring bulky lighting for adequate illumination or weaker lights for sleek designs, which compromises on one or more of these factors.
Innovation Solution
A light emitting device comprising a base, a conductive layer, an insulating layer, and a light emitter with conductor elements extending through the layers, allowing for efficient electrical coupling and heat management, enabling bright and focused illumination while maintaining a compact profile.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If brighter lighting elements are used to illuminate the surgical target, then illumination intensity is improved, but the device profile becomes bulkier
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting device is divided into multiple LED elements arranged in a specific pattern, allowing the light output to be distributed across multiple smaller sources rather than requiring a single large bulb, thus maintaining brightness while reducing overall device profile
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from traditional linear or single-point light sources to a two-dimensional array of LED elements, enabling more efficient use of space and allowing the light to be concentrated in the desired direction without increasing the device's longitudinal profile
2Illumination intensity
If brighter lighting elements are used to illuminate the surgical target, then illumination intensity is improved, but heat generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful heat generated by high-intensity lighting into a manageable parameter by incorporating thermal management features in the PCB design, including heat sinks and thermal pathways that conduct heat away from the LED elements, thus allowing high illumination intensity without excessive heat generation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters of the lighting system by using multiple lower-power LED elements instead of a single high-power source, and by controlling the duty cycle and intensity of individual LEDs to maintain overall illumination while reducing peak heat generation
3Length of stationary object
If sleeker device design is implemented, then device profile is improved, but illumination intensity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by directing light from specific LED elements in specific directions based on the requirements of the surgical field, using optical elements and reflectors to concentrate light where needed while keeping the overall device profile sleek and compact
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the lighting device universal by designing it to work effectively in various surgical configurations and positions, allowing the same compact device to provide adequate illumination for different surgical procedures and anatomical locations through adjustable LED activation patterns
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 solution provides a compact and efficient surgical lighting system that maintains intensity and reduces heat, addressing the limitations of existing technologies by integrating conductive and insulating layers for effective electrical and thermal management.
Implementation Method 1
a conductive layer, wherein at least a portion of the conductive layer is coupled atop the base
Implementation Method 2
an insulating layer, wherein at least a first portion of the insulating layer is coupled atop the conductive layer and a second portion of the insulating layer is coupled atop the base
Implementation Method 3
a light emitter
Data Source
Figure 1A~1C
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A
AI summary
Surgical lighting must balance various needs of a user: the light must be bright, but not too thermally hot; directed at a target, but not shining elsewhere; be robust, yet compact. Often much of these myriad needs must be accomplished by ever small illumination elements placed into devices requiring ever lower profiles. However, current surgical illumination options require the use of bulky lighting elements if the desire target is to be illuminated or, conversely, use weaker lighting elements for sleeker designs.