METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MAXIMIZING THE OUTPUT OF SURGICAL LIGHTS

• US 20170030573A1
• Filed: 08/01/2016
• Published: 02/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Andrew Schultz, Dustin R. Campbell, James K. Alexanderson
• Inventors: CAMPBELL, Dustin R., ALEXANDERSON, James K., TIMOSZYK, Wojciech K., SCHULTZ, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 11,153,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/205 for operating theatres
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/88 Sonar systems specially adapted for specific applications seismic or acoustic prospecting or detecting G01V1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/115 by determining the presence or movement of objects or living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

Adjustment of a surgical light is provided to optimize viewing an object. First, a distance between the surgical light and the object being viewed can be measured and the light output from the surgical light can be adjusted depending on the distance. Second, the surgical light can be moved to optimize the direction of light emitted from the surgical light according to the position of light from visible locating light sources. Third, the light emitted from a pair of light assemblies can be adjusted to ensure that the intensity of the light at an area of overlap of the light assemblies stays below a predetermined level to help prevent eye fatigue and dehydration and excessive radiation of a wound at the area of overlap.

Claims

1. A method of illuminating an object comprising:

providing a light housing emitting light therefrom, the light housing including at least one distance sensor;

moving the light housing relative to the object to be illuminated;

measuring a distance from the light housing to the object to be illuminated with the at least one distance sensor; and

altering attributes of the light emitted from the light housing depending on the distance measured by the at least one distance sensor.

2. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring includes emitting ultrasonic waves from the at least one distance sensor.

3. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the step of measuring includes emitting infrared light from the at least one distance sensor.

4. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the step of altering attributes includes adjusting an intensity of the light emitted from the light housing.

5. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the step of altering attributes includes adjusting an angle of the light emitted from the light housing.

6. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the step of altering attributes includes turning off at least one source of light within the light housing.

7. The method of illuminating the object of claim 1, wherein:

the at least one distance sensor includes a plurality of distance sensors.

8. The method of illuminating the object of claim 7, wherein:

the step of measuring includes measuring the distance from the light housing to the object to be illuminated with each of the distance sensors and determining the distance using a longest distance measurement measured by the distance sensors.

9. A surgical light comprising:

a housing;

at least one light source within the housing and emitting light from the housing, the light emitted from the housing substantially converging on a focal area; and

at least two locating lights emitting visual locating light along a line, the lines of visible locating light substantially uniting at the focal area.

10. The surgical light of claim 9, wherein:

the housing includes a handle; and

the at least two locating lights turn on when the handle is grasped.

11. The surgical light of claim 10, wherein:

the at least two locating lights turn off a certain time after the handle is released.

12. The surgical light of claim 11, wherein:

the certain time is at least 5 seconds.

13. The surgical light of claim 11, wherein:

the visual locating light comprises laser light.

14. A method of locating light comprising:

providing a housing having a plurality of light sources therein, the housing further including at least two visible locating light sources;

illuminating an object with light emitting from the housing from the light sources;

illuminating the object with visible locating light emitted from the at least two locating visible locating light sources along a plurality of lines; and

adjusting a position of the housing to have the visible locating light form a point at an area of interest on the object.

15. The method of locating light of claim 14, further including:

turning off the at least two locating visible locating light sources a certain time after the step of adjusting the position of the housing.

16. The method of locating light of claim 15, wherein:

the certain time is at least 5 seconds.

17. A method of locating light comprising:

providing a housing have a plurality of first light sources therein, the housing further including a plurality of second light sources, the housing further having a handle for changing a position of the housing;

illuminating an object with light emitting from the housing from the first light sources;

grasping the handle of the housing;

turning on the second light sources;

illuminating the object with light from the second light sources, with the light from each of the second light sources extending along a line;

adjusting a position of the housing to have the second light sources form a point at an area of interest on the object;

releasing the handle; and

turning off the second light sources.

18. The method of locating light of claim 17, wherein:

the step of turning off the second light sources happens a certain time after the step of releasing the handle.

19. The method of locating light of claim 18, wherein:

the certain time is at least 5 seconds.

20. The method of locating light of claim 17, wherein:

the light from each of the second light sources is laser light.

21. A surgical light comprising:

a first light housing connected to a first light housing arm, the first light housing emitting first visible light;

a second light housing connected to a second light housing arm, the second light housing emitting second visible light;

the first light housing emitting an overlap signal;

the second light housing having a sensor for sensing the overlap signal; and

a control system adjusting the first visible light and/or the second visible light when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light.

22. The surgical light of claim 21, wherein:

the overlap signal comprises a beam of infrared light.

23. The surgical light of claim 21, wherein:

the overlap signal comprises a grid of light.

24. The surgical light of claim 23, wherein:

the overlap signal is infrared light.

25. The surgical light of claim 21, wherein:

the first light housing includes a plurality of first light emitting assemblies emitting the first visible light;

the second light housing includes a plurality of second light emitting assemblies emitting the second visible light;

the control system lowers an intensity of all of the first light emitting assemblies and/or the second light emitting assemblies when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light.

26. The surgical light of claim 21, wherein:

the first light housing includes a plurality of first light emitting assemblies emitting the first visible light;

the second light housing includes a plurality of second light emitting assemblies emitting the second visible light;

the control system lowers an intensity of only the first light emitting assemblies and/or the second light emitting assemblies that are emitting light at the overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light.

27. A method of adjusting light emitted from a surgical light comprising:

providing a first light housing connected to a first light housing arm;

providing a second light housing connected to a second light housing arm;

emitting first visible light from the first light housing;

emitting second visible light from the second light housing;

emitting an overlap signal from the first light housing;

providing the second light housing with a sensor;

sensing the overlap signal with the sensor; and

adjusting the first visible light and/or the second visible light when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light.

28. The method of adjusting light emitted from the surgical light of claim 27, wherein:

the overlap signal comprises a beam of infrared light.

29. The method of adjusting light emitted from the surgical light of claim 27, wherein:

the overlap signal comprises a grid of light.

30. The method of adjusting light emitted from the surgical light of claim 29, wherein:

the overlap signal is infrared light.

31. The method of adjusting light emitted from the surgical light of claim 27, wherein:

the first light housing includes a plurality of first light emitting assemblies emitting the first visible light;

the second light housing includes a plurality of second light emitting assemblies emitting the second visible light;

adjusting the first visible light and/or the second visible light when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light comprises lowering an intensity of all of the first light emitting assemblies and/or the second light emitting assemblies.

32. The method of adjusting light emitted from the surgical light of claim 27, wherein:

the first light housing includes a plurality of first light emitting assemblies emitting the first visible light;

the second light housing includes a plurality of second light emitting assemblies emitting the second visible light;

adjusting the first visible light and/or the second visible light when the sensor senses overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light comprises lowering an intensity of only the first light emitting assemblies and/or the second light emitting assemblies that are emitting light at the overlap of the first visible light and the second visible light.