The present invention relates to the surgical lighting arts. It finds particular application in conjunction with providing ambient lighting for use in operating room (OR) settings and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention also finds application in conjunction with providing soft, uniformly distributed ambient lighting in other settings and applications and is not limited to the aforementioned surgical lighting embodiment.
Typically, in an operating room setting, large, high lumen output lightheads are used to illuminate the surgical site. One or more lightheads are suspended on articulated arms connected to the structural ceiling above the surgical table. Additionally, ambient lighting is often employed in the room during certain procedures where the larger lightheads are to be switched off so that the surgeons, nurses, and other support staff can observe video monitors and the like without the glare induced by the surgical lightheads. The ambient lighting enables the personnel to see and move about in regions of the room apart from the operating table.
In some present OR lighting systems, smaller lights are mounted on the upper portions of the surgical lighthead support arms to provide ambient lighting. However, systems of this type typically do not lend themselves well to ambient lighting for surgical applications because the light is usually directed at the ceiling or wall resulting in a non-uniform distribution of light throughout the room. Being largely directional in nature, these lights tend to illuminate some areas of the room, while leaving other portions of the room in darkness. Also, directional light can be inadvertently positioned in such a manner as to disrupt the vision of surgeons, nurses, or anesthetists. Further, the lighthead may need to be moved during a procedure, requiring a non-sterile nurse to move the lighthead, consuming both the nurse's time, and the surgeon's time.
The present invention provides a new and improved ambient lighting method and apparatus that overcomes the above-referenced problems and others to generate a soft, uniformly distributed ambient light that is particularly useful in surgical operating room applications.
According to one aspect of the invention, a lighting system is provided. The system includes a support hub and a lighthead including a first light emitting component. An arm assembly is adapted to support the lighthead in a selected position relative to the support hub. An ambient light includes a second light emitting component, the light emitting component is carried by the support hub and is spaced from the arm assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a medical device suspension system is provided. The system includes a support tube. An arm assembly is mounted for rotational movement of the arm assembly relative to the support tube by a spindle. The arm assembly supports an associated medical device at a distal end thereof. A canopy assembly is mounted to the tube above the spindle. At least a light emitting portion of an ambient light is mounted to the canopy assembly adjacent its periphery.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of fitting an ambient light to a medical suspension system is provided. The method includes mounting a canopy extension to a canopy of the suspension system. The canopy extension supports, at least in part, a light emitting portion of the ambient light.
One advantage of at least one embodiment of the present invention is the provision of a diffuse ambient lighting system.
Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the present invention is that the ambient light remains stationary, even when the lightheads are repositioned.
Another advantage of at least one embodiment of the present invention is that the ambient light may be retrofitted to an existing light system.
Still further advantages and benefits of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment.
The invention may take form in various components and arrangements of components, and in various steps and arrangements of steps. The drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments and are not to be construed as limiting the invention.
With reference to
With reference also to
The length of the drop tube 34 extending below the cheeseplate 30 is adjustable, by means of a wedge lock 42. The wedge lock 42 includes a frustoconical collar 44, which is removably received within a similarly shaped weldment 46, rigidly attached to or integrally formed with the cheeseplate 30. The weldment 46 has a central bore 47, which is shaped to receive the drop tube therethrough. A nut 48 is threaded on to a lower end of the collar 44, below the weldment 46, thereby drawing the collar into a clamping relation on the drop tube 34.
With continued reference to
In one embodiment, best shown in
With reference once more to
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), a generally circular fluorescent light is radially spaced from the drop tube and inscribes an almost complete circle. Operating components for the fluorescent tube, such as electrical connections and/or a ballast, are optionally mounted on the cheeseplate. In another alternative embodiment (not shown), a plurality of fluorescent tubes, which may be arcuately shaped or linear, are arranged in an annulus or approximation thereof.
In yet another alternative embodiment (not shown), the light emitting component includes a matrix of LEDs, arcuately arranged in an annulus around the drop tube.
As best shown in
The canopy extension 70 is removably mounted to an upper end 71 of a peripheral edge or upwardly curving lip 72 of the canopy 50. In the illustrated embodiment, an annular housing 73 of the canopy extension 70 is mounted to the lip 72 by fasteners 74. In the embodiment shown in
Additional or alternative fasteners are also contemplated. For example, in an alternative embodiment of a canopy extension 70′ shown in
The canopy extension 70, 70′ may be a single annular curved body, or may be formed in two or more segments, each defining an arc-shaped portion of the canopy extension, which are secured together to form an annular body during assembly using clamp members, rings, drilling, tapping, or other suitable means. The ambient light 28 can thus be retrofitted onto an existing surgical lighting system 10 without the need for removal of the support hub 33 from the structural ceiling.
As shown in
As can be seen from
In the embodiment of
As shown in
In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the canopy extension is dome shaped, and has a generally circular base portion which engages the corresponding base portion 53 of the canopy. One or more apertures are formed in the canopy extension base portion, similar to apertures 54, 55 in the canopy, which are suitably sized for snugly receiving the central drop tube 34 and any auxiliary tubes 56 therethrough.
In yet another embodiment (not shown), the canopy extension is integrally formed as one piece with the canopy 50.
In a yet still further embodiment (not shown), the canopy and canopy extension are formed in two or more arcuate sections each section comprising an arcuate portion of the canopy and an arcuate portion the canopy extension, integrally formed therewith. The segments are clamped together, by suitable fixing members, such as screws, bolts, or the like, around the drop tube, and then held in vertical position by the clamp rings 57, 58.
The canopy extension 70, 70′, or at least the outer peripheral wall 84, 94 thereof, is formed from a transparent or translucent material, which is light transmissive to the light emitted from the light emitting component 60. For example, the canopy extension 70, 70′ and optionally also the canopy 50, is formed from a frosted, white or light colored plastic, which diffuses the light passing through it, so that the light is distributed generally uniformly throughout the room.
The location of the light emitting component 60 of the ambient light 28 around and close to the central support tube 34 distributes the ambient light generally uniformly throughout the surgical room. The centralized location of the ring-shaped ambient light emitting component 60 eliminates the need for a non-sterile nurse to manipulate the light 28 or otherwise redirect it during operations, as is the case where an ambient light is mounted to one of the articulating arms, and thus is often moved when the arm is repositioned.
With reference once more to the embodiment of
The light source 100 may be mounted to the cheeseplate 30, as shown in
Assembly of the canopy extension 70 is readily achieved, preferably as follows. The canopy extension housing 73 is preferably formed from a resiliently flexible material and has a narrow slit 106 in its inner and outer walls, as illustrated in FIG. 5. By grasping ends of the canopy extension housing 73 adjacent to the slit 106, the canopy extension can be pulled into a C-shape, allowing the light emitting component 60, comprising woven fiber optic element 68, to be fed into the cavity 86. The light pipe 102 passes through a suitably sized hole (not shown) in the inner wall 83 of the canopy extension 70. After installing the light emitting component 60 in the cavity 86, the canopy extension housing 73 is allowed to return to its original annular shape and the gasket 87 is fitted to the upper end 76 of the housing 73 to form the canopy extension 70. This latter step may be carried out before or after positioning the canopy extension housing 73 around the canopy 50.
When it is desired to fit the canopy extension 70 to the canopy 50, the light pipe 102 is fed through the hole 104 in the canopy and the hooks 75 are mounted to the lip 72 of the canopy. A free end of the light pipe 102 has a suitable connector which allows it to be snap fit into a corresponding connector on a housing for the light source 100, thereby bringing the free end of the light pipe 102 into alignment with the light source 100. It will be appreciated that where the light emitting component 60 includes a fluorescent tube, bank of LEDs, or other light emitting component which does not employ a separate light source 100, the light pipe is replaced with suitable electrical wiring for connecting the light emitting component with a source of power (not shown).
The ambient light 28 thus provides a centrally located lighting system, which illuminates the operating room uniformly. It avoids direct and harsh lighting, and reduces the chance of adversely affecting the vision of personnel in the operating room. The lightheads need not be moved when ambient light is needed. Although a woven fiber optic panel 68 provides relatively uniform light, the canopy extension 70, 70′ optionally utilizes well known light softening techniques, such as frosting, to soften and homogenize the light, allowing more uniform light to emanate into the operating room while softening any direct bright spots.
In operation, the surgeon or other operating room staff member switches on one or more of the lightheads 14, 16 using a switch 120, which may be mounted on the lighthead, as shown in
Where an ambient light 28 is to be retrofitted to an existing system, the light emitting component 60 is mounted to the canopy extension 70, 70′ and the extension fitted to the canopy 50. Electrical connections to a source of power are made, as appropriate. If a separate light source 100 is used, this is mounted to the cheeseplate 30 and a suitable hole 104 drilled in the canopy for receiving the light pipe 102 therethrough.
The invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding detailed description. It is intended that the invention be construed as including all such modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/359,516, filed Feb. 25, 2002.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20030161152 A1 | Aug 2003 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60359516 | Feb 2002 | US |