Surgical lighting control and video system

• US 20030142204A1
• Filed: 01/15/2003
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Sterilizer Company (Steris Corporation)
• Inventors: Petrucci, James A., Drabinski, Terry A., Keselman, Yury, Rus, Steven H., Jesurun, David, Greszler, Alan J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,321,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/804 Surgical or dental spotlight

Abstract

A surgical light system (10) includes a lighthead (44) coupled to a suspension arm (41′) adapted for mounting to a surface (14) of a surgical room. A bulb (130) is disposed in the lighthead. A processor (120) in the lighthead is operatively coupled with the bulb for controlling an intensity of light of the bulb and is adapted to generate a lighthead status signal representative of a first status of the lighthead. A control apparatus (32, 34) is in operative communication with the processor (120) in the lighthead. The control apparatus receives the lighthead status signal and selects a set of control algorithms from among a group of algorithms based on the lighthead status signal for controlling the lighthead. The lighthead status signal includes information regarding a size of the lighthead, an intensity of light from the bulb, a condition of the bulb, a level of current applied to the bulb, a level of current applied to the bulb, a level of voltage applied to the bulb, an internal temperature of the lighthead, and the presence of one or more of a video camera, a surgical task light, and a controllable ambient light. A human-readable display device (160) is provided for displaying information relating to the lighthead status signal. Several levels of redundancy are provided in the control system to minimize the potential loss of control due to failures. In that regard, the lightheads are operable when the control apparatus (32, 34) fails.

Claims

1. A surgical light system (10) comprising:

a lighthead (44) coupled to a suspension arm (41′

) adapted for mounting to a surface (14) of a surgical room;

a bulb (130) in said lighthead;

a processor (120) in said lighthead operatively coupled with the bulb for controlling an intensity of light of the bulb and being adapted to generate a lighthead status signal representative of a first status of said lighthead; and

,

a control apparatus (32, 34) in operative communication with said processor in said lighthead, the control apparatus receiving said lighthead status signal and selecting a set of control algorithms from among a group of algorithms based on said lighthead status signal for controlling said lighthead.

2. The surgical light system according to claim 1 wherein said first status of said lighthead includes a least a one of:

a size of said lighthead;

an intensity (154) of light from said bulb;

a condition of said bulb;

a level of current (150) applied to said bulb;

a level of voltage (150) applied to said bulb;

an internal temperature of said lighthead;

a presence of a vide camera;

a presence of a manual surgical task light; and

,

a presence of a controllable ambient light.

3. The surgical light system (10) according to claim 2 wherein:

said control apparatus (32, 34) is adapted to generate a query signal; and

,

the processor (120) is adapted to generate said lighthead status signal in response to receiving said query signal.

4. The surgical light system (10) according to claim 3 further including a serial data communication link (36, 80, 82) for carrying said query signal and said lighthead status signal between said processor and said control apparatus.

5. The surgical light system (10) according to claim 4 wherein said control apparatus (32, 34) includes an LCD display (160) for displaying said first status.

6. The surgical light system (10) according to claim 1 wherein:

the control apparatus is adapted to generate a command signal; and

,

the processor in the lighthead is adapted to control the intensity of light in accordance with the command signal.

7. The surgical light system according to claim 1 wherein said processor in said lighthead is adapted to:

receive program code from said control apparatus; and

,

execute said program code.

8. The surgical light system according to claim 7 wherein said control apparatus is adapted to determine an operational compatibility of said processor in said surgical light system based on said lighthead status signal received;

and,

when the processor is not compatible for use in the surgical light system, download said executable program code to the processor.

9. The surgical light system according to claim 1 further including a camera associated with said lighthead and operatively coupled with said control apparatus, the camera generating an image signal adapted for conversion by an associated video monitor device to a human readable image, the control apparatus including means for controlling functions of said camera including white balance, picture freeze, time display, and date display.

10. The surgical light system according to claim 9 wherein the control apparatus is adapted to detect a presence of said camera and route said image signal to a port on the control apparatus adapted for connection to the associated video monitor device.

11. The surgical light system according to claim 1 further including:

a first light intensity control button on said lighthead and a second light intensity control button on said control apparatus, said processor being responsive to both said first and second light intensity control buttons.

12. The surgical light system according to claim 1 further including a surgical video camera device (100) adapted to generate a video signal, wherein:

said processor (120) in said lighthead is adapted to generate a video camera present signal; and

,

said central apparatus (32, 34) is adapted to receive the video camera present signal and select a camera control algorithm from said group of algorithms for controlling said surgical video camera device (100).

13. The surgical light system according to claim 12 further including a human readable display (160) for displaying information relating to said lighthead status signal and to said video camera device.