Surgical Lighting Head With Remote Laser Source

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical lighting devices face challenges in providing optimal lighting conditions, including color temperature variability, heat dissipation, and light homogeneity, often resulting in bulky structures and inefficient light transmission due to the use of LEDs, which require frequent maintenance and cause light losses.

Innovation Solution

The use of remote laser radiation sources coupled with small-diameter optical fiber harnesses and phosphor elements to produce white light of variable color temperature, allowing for a compact and efficient lighting system with adjustable illumination spot size and color temperature, integrated into articulated supports.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If LEDs are used as light sources to generate high luminous flux, then illumination intensity is improved, but device volume increases due to large-diameter optical fiber bundles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveluminous fluxVSAvoiddevice volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is extracted from the lighting head and placed remotely, connected via optical fibers. This allows the lighting head to be compact while the light source can be positioned elsewhere, resolving the contradiction between needing high luminous flux and maintaining small device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple optical fibers are bundled together in a harness, with smaller diameter fibers nested within the overall bundle structure. This allows efficient light transmission while maintaining a compact fiber optic harness that can be integrated into the lighting system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Ease of manufacture

If LEDs are used as light sources, then ease of manufacture is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to frequent maintenance needs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidmaintenance frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses laser diodes which, while having higher initial cost, offer significantly longer operational life and lower maintenance requirements compared to LEDs. The remote positioning and fiber optic connection allow for easier replacement if needed, offsetting the higher initial investment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Volume of moving object

If optical fibers are used to conduct light from remote sources, then device volume is reduced, but light transmission efficiency deteriorates due to light losses

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice volumeVSAvoidlight transmission loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses small-diameter optical fibers with optimized properties for laser light transmission. By matching the fiber characteristics to the laser source properties, light transmission efficiency is maximized while maintaining compact device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Loss of energy

If conventional light sources are placed in the lighting head, then light transmission efficiency is improved, but device volume increases due to heat dissipation requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight transmission efficiencyVSAvoidlighting head volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is extracted from the lighting head and placed remotely, eliminating the need for heat dissipation structures in the lighting head. This resolves the contradiction between maintaining high light transmission efficiency and reducing device volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

5Adaptability or versatility

If laser light sources are used with phosphor elements, then color temperature variability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecolor temperature variabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses different phosphor materials with specific emission characteristics to convert laser light to white light at different color temperatures. By selecting appropriate phosphors, the system can vary color temperature while maintaining relatively simple device architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 enables a compact, efficient, and maintainable surgical lighting system that provides homogeneous illumination with adjustable color temperature and spot size, reducing maintenance needs and improving comfort and operational efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

at least one phosphor element (15) is arranged at an output of the at least one optical fiber bundle (9) to convert the laser light radiation into a beam of white light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotoluminescence: Photoluminescence

Data Source

PatentEP2927560B1Surgical lighting apparatus with offset laser source

Publication Date: 2016.05.04 MAQUET SAS

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Figure 3~5
Figure 6

AI summary

An operating lighting device (1) comprises a laser light source (6a, 6b), a lighting head (4) located away from the light source, and a fiber optic light guide (11) interposed between the light source and the lighting head to conduct the light from the laser light source to the lighting head. A phosphor element (15) is interposed between the light guide and a lighting output of the lighting head to convert the laser light radiation into white light at the output of the lighting head.