Multi-Unit Surgical Lighting for Maximum Irradiance Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing illumination devices used in medical settings, such as operating tables, risk overheating patients due to excessive radiant energy, potentially causing burns or tissue desiccation, despite compliance with standards like IEC 60601-2-41 that limit maximum irradiance.

Innovation Solution

An illumination device comprising multiple illumination units with independent control, a signal processing control unit, and sensors to predict and manage maximum total irradiance, ensuring it does not exceed safety thresholds by adjusting light intensity and distribution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If the illumination intensity is increased to provide good visibility for medical treatment, then the illuminance improves, but the patient's body temperature increases and risk of burn injuries worsens

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveilluminanceVSAvoidradiant energy heating

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device is divided into multiple independently controllable illumination units (first illumination unit, second illumination unit, etc.), each with adjustable irradiance levels. This segmentation allows different regions to be illuminated at different intensities, providing good visibility where needed while reducing radiant energy exposure to sensitive areas of the patient's body.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements local quality control by allowing different illumination units to operate at different irradiance levels based on the specific medical procedure requirements. The control unit enables selective adjustment of each illumination unit's output, ensuring high illuminance only where necessary for the medical treatment while maintaining lower irradiance in other areas to minimize heating risk.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the maximum irradiance is limited to comply with safety standards, then patient safety improves, but the visibility and effectiveness of medical treatment may deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepatient safetyVSAvoidvisibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination device implements dynamic control through a control unit that continuously monitors and adjusts the irradiance of multiple illumination units. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to optimize visibility for medical treatment while continuously ensuring compliance with safety standards (IEC 60601-2-41). The control unit can adaptively balance illuminance and irradiance limits based on real-time conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by allowing independent adjustment of various parameters including irradiance levels, color temperature, and illumination duration for each illumination unit. The control unit enables modification of these parameters to achieve optimal visibility while maintaining safety compliance. Different parameter combinations can be selected based on the specific medical procedure requirements.

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

Effectively reduces the risk of patient injury by preventing excessive irradiance, maintaining safety without user intervention, and optimizing illumination based on user specifications.

Implementation Method 1

The light sources are attached to a support (carrier) and are preferably implemented as LEDs

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight emission from LED sources: Light Emitting Diode

Implementation Method 2

The illumination inevitably supplies the patient's body with radiant energy and thereby heats the patient's body

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadiant energy absorption and heating: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12538395B2Illumination device and illumination process with limitation of maximum irradiance

Publication Date: 2026.01.27 DRAGERWERK AG

AI summary

An illumination device and process illuminate a surface of an object. The device includes plural illumination units and a signal processing control unit. Each illumination unit illuminates the surface with a maximum irradiance, wherein the device illuminates the surface with a maximum total irradiance that depends on the maximum irradiances of the illumination units. The device captures a maximum total irradiance user specification of the device or units. The control unit controls the maximum irradiance of each illumination unit independently and responds to the user specification by predicting the maximum total irradiance of the device operated according to the user specification, compares the predicted maximum total irradiance with a specified upper threshold and if greater than the upper threshold, controls one or more illumination units depending on the user specification such that the actually achieved maximum total irradiance is less than or equal to the upper threshold.