Surgical Illumination Array with Louvers to Reduce Glare
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional surgical lighting systems often result in glare and shadowing due to the positioning of surgical instruments and overhead lighting, which can hinder the surgeon's view and reduce surgical efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An illuminating surgical device featuring an array of LEDs with anharmonic spacing and a louvered layer oriented at specific angles to direct light efficiently, reducing backscatter and enhancing illumination of the surgical field.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If overhead lighting is used to illuminate the surgical field, then the surgical area receives illumination, but shadowing and glare occur due to surgical instruments and surgeon's body blocking the light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the illumination system into multiple independent LED elements arranged in an array, each emitting light from a different position and angle. This segmentation allows light to reach the surgical field from multiple directions simultaneously, eliminating shadows cast by single-point overhead lighting while reducing glare through distributed light sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from conventional overhead (vertical) lighting to a distributed array of LEDs positioned at various angles and depths around the surgical field. This multi-dimensional arrangement illuminates the surgical area from multiple spatial dimensions, preventing shadowing by instruments and the surgeon's body that occur with single-direction overhead lighting
2Object-affected harmful factors
If surgical instruments are repositioned or overhead lighting is adjusted to avoid shadowing, then shadowing is reduced, but surgical efficiency and time are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent pre-configures the LED array with specific geometric arrangements and optical characteristics before the surgical procedure begins. The system is designed to inherently eliminate shadowing through its multi-point light distribution pattern, so no real-time repositioning of instruments or lighting adjustments are needed during surgery, maintaining surgical efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination system automatically adapts to the surgical environment and instrument positions through its distributed LED array design. The multiple light sources self-adjust to illuminate around obstacles without requiring manual intervention from the surgeon to reposition instruments or adjust lighting, thus maintaining surgical workflow and efficiency
3Illumination intensity
If tightly directed light is used from overhead source, then illumination is focused on area of interest, but optical artifacts such as shadowing and glare increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LEDs with different beam angles and optical characteristics positioned at various locations in the array. Each LED provides localized illumination with appropriate spread for its specific position, creating focused illumination on the surgical area while minimizing glare and optical artifacts through locally optimized light distribution patterns
4Object-affected harmful factors
If wearable headlight is used to provide unobstructed illumination, then clear view is achieved, but additional equipment and complexity are introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the illumination system directly into the surgical device or surgical site infrastructure, merging the lighting function with the existing surgical equipment. This eliminates the need for separate wearable headlights while providing unobstructed illumination, as the LEDs are positioned to illuminate from locations that do not interfere with the surgeon's workflow or require additional personal equipment
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 effectively reduces glare and shadowing, improving the surgeon's visibility and efficiency by providing a diffuse and uniformly illuminated surgical field, thus minimizing the need for repositioning instruments and adjusting lighting.
Implementation Method 1
an array of louvered devices to direct light from individual illuminating elements of the array of illuminating elements toward a target surgical field
Implementation Method 2
a top side of one or more louvers of an array of louvered devices may be coated with a light-absorbing coating to reduce backscatter illumination from adjacent illuminating elements
Data Source
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AI summary
Embodiments of claimed subject matter are directed to an illuminating surgical device comprising an array of illuminating elements and an array of louvers to direct light from the individual illuminating elements toward a surgical field.