Guide to LED Surgical lamps – History and Technology Developed
A Surgical lamp also called OT light or Operating lamp is used to illuminate a local area or cavity during surgeries and different medical procedures in a healthcare system. The surgical lamps are used in operating rooms, emergency rooms, labor rooms, ambulance surgery rooms, etc., precisely in all kinds of procedures in healthcare needing high-intensity and focused light for deep illumination.
Surgical lamps enhance the healthcare practitioner’s surgical efficiency as they focus on illuminating small and different contrast objects during various procedures and incisions. All healthcare procedures are critical, and hence the focus, temperature of light, its efficiency brings a lot of difference to the procedures undertaken.
Surgical lamps assembled in a surgical lighting system consist of single or multiple domes, suspended over an arm that can move to any degree and want as needed by the healthcare practitioners. The design of surgical lighting system quality of manufacturing with advancement in the technology has improved to a considerable degree for a focused and exclusive experience for the healthcare practitioners.
History of LED OT light
In the early 1850s, natural light through windows built in the ceiling panel of operating rooms was used to aid healthcare practitioners in surgical procedures. The drawback of this arrangement was the dependency of healthcare practitioners on weather conditions and adequate natural light in daylight. Also, the impact of shadows was huge. So a nurse or doctor's hand or head shadow could come in between, obstructing the view.
Over time mirrors were used around the four corners of the room to reflect the sunlight towards the operating table. But this approach, along with some convenience in visibility, also enhanced the heating problems. Moreso, the heating problems didn’t find any solution even with the usage of optical condensers.
Over the 1880 and early nineteenth century, electrical lights made their way to operating rooms. However, the early technology had too much heat radiation and was heavy, bulky with fundamental issues of health practitioners still being the same.
Over time, technology moved to halogen lights/incandescent lights, which gave a characteristic yellow light with the same problems of heat and shadows.
From halogen lights/incandescent lights, the technology has evolved to the current LED surgical lighting system technology. As a result, the surgical lighting systems used in today's practices and procedures have improved performance and efficiency.
We can say that certainly from then to now; there has been a complete revolution in technology. For example, LED surgical lighting system have negligible heating and an unwavering focus to aid the health practitioner by illuminating deep cavities or local areas for clarity.
Further, the lighting systems have different needs for different practitioners per the surgery complications, time duration, and clarity needed. In the overhead lighting system, the flexibility to illuminate different areas can be enhanced through arms rotation and focus pattern per the need. Single, double and Triple Dome can aid the end-user practitioners in Hospital operating room.
Technology upgradation from incandescent lamps to LED Surgical lamps
Experience of Natural light
Better and cool colors through LEDs give the ability to visualize objects under natural light conditions. As per Electro technical Commission (IEC), the Natural colors of things are best visualized under bright daylight. Thus, lighting devices are compared to the reference value of 100 or CRI. It determines the quality of light in surgical lights.
As per the International Electro technical Commission (IEC), the color rendering index (CRI) should be between 85 and 100. And LED surgical light technology has improved to a degree when CRI
close to 100 can be manufactured and thus, tissue can be seen from cold white to warm tones to create differentiation.
Further additions like phosphors can be used to change the color of LED surgical light.
Engineering Marvel
A single light dome can be used for various surgeries, including endoscopy, a deep cavity, etc., without straining the eyes of the end-user in hospital operating rooms.
The Manufacturers have enhanced designs to create shadow-less patterns and controls for dimming options to adjust focus and lighting patterns as per the need of end-users in the hospital operating room.
Suspension arm designs have also been improvised to make the surgical lights move across the complete rotational axis with minimal dangling and drifting.
The eye fatigue has been reduced for hospital operating room end users with the ability to control the illumination as required by procedure and preference of surgical teams to perform to their fullest.
LED Surgical lights now are a sustainable solution that utilizes end-user or customer requirements along with technological advancement to reduce the ecological footprint for a safer and simpler future.
Cost is optimal
The cost has come down drastically with minimal power consumption needed. For example, 48 LEDs in a LED surgical lamp will need 48 watts/unit as compared to halogen bulbs that need at least 150 watts for each bulb. This reduces the power consumption to almost 50%.
Sustainability in surgical lamps
Sustainability concerns and regulations across the globe are shifting across industries for cleaner technologies that save cost and are also good for the environment. The global surgical lights industry shifting to long-lasting and energy-efficient LEDs is an example.
Further, sustainability concerns for reducing carbon footprint and renewable resource usage added to the faster adoption of LEDs surgical lights. There is also greater awareness and need from regulators, investors, and government for cleaner technologies like LED that has a longer life with minimal energy consumption and is suitable for eyes when flickering is controlled through designs and usage of good quality material by the manufacturer.
Quality Manufacturing in LED OT lights
LED lights are easy on the pocket since they are energy efficient. However, there is also a downside if manufacturers ignore it. Spending long hours under LED lights and bulbs can lead to profound health implications, such as migraines. A March 2019 indicative study by a laboratory-based in Delhi, titled Impact of Flicker in LED lights on Human Eye and Health in General, suggests some ramifications. The study suggests that “exposure to flicker emitted by LED light leads to poor eye health, and its prolonged usage may cause significant problems to human health”.
In the study, respondents were exposed to five LED lights from leading manufacturers over several days. At the end of nine days, it was found that close to 40 respondents who were exposed to the light complained of headache and eye strain, which was not attributable to any other physical factors. Also, 24% of the total respondents felt stressed, while 22% felt anxious.
The result from the study suggests that.
Even low frequency harms human beings.
The key observation made by the study was that respondents who were exposed to the light with the least flicker rate got fewer headaches compared to those exposed to a high flicker rate.
According to US Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the healthiest light is one that does not flicker, like natural daylight. However, even at a 100-400 Hz frequency, many LED luminaires adversely affect people, especially the human eye. In addition, flicker in specific industrial settings can cause performance issues and even accidents.
Hence, quality focusing on removing these ill effects can make all the difference. And manufacturers can focus through design considerations to make a difference through it.
LED OT lights today have enhanced features, quality, and efficiency!
At Hospedia Medicare, we provide Innovative Solutions in Surgical Lights and are Professionals with over 33 years in Medical Lighting solutions. We provide high-quality, cost-effective, and reliable products to our customers in India and overseas. With a single-minded focus on Customer Satisfaction, We focus on creating world-class surgical lighting solutions from our modern and sustainable manufacturing facilities.
Know more by writing to us at sales@hospediamedicare.com