US 6,601,985 B1 · Medical lighting systems using electrodeless metal halide lamps and fiber optic light pipes

Abstract

A medical lighting system is provided using electrodeless metal halide lamps and fiber optic light pipes to provide illumination to a plurality of medical appliances from a remote light source. In a first embodiment, multiple surgical lightheads and light utility outlets are illuminated from a remote lighting source. The single light source is further used in conjunction with multiple surgical lightheads, light utility outlets, and surgical task lights in operating or examination rooms. In a further embodiment, a remote metal halide lamp provides task lighting to an examination room in combination with standard incandescent ambient lighting. In further embodiments, multiple operating and/or examination rooms are supported by a single remote light source. By locating the light source remote from the end light consumers and providing optical fibers therebetween reduced size, heating, and other benefits are enabled in medical examination or operating rooms.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An illumination system for use during a surgical procedure performed at a surgical site in an operating room, the illumination system comprising:

a single lighting center disposed at a location removed from said medical operating room, the single lighting center including a light source located within a housing;
a plurality of fiber optic light conductors extending from said single lighting center, each of the plurality of fiber optic light conductors having a distal end spaced apart from the lighting center and a proximal end held relative to said housing to receive light from said light source for conducting the light towards the distal end;
at least one lighthead within said medical operating room, the at least one lighthead being adapted to direct light emitted from a distal end of a first fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors towards said surgical site within said operating room;
and,
at least one light utility outlet disposed within said operating room, the at least one light utility outlet carrying a light emitting distal end of a second fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors and including a mechanical attachment interface for selective mechanical connection to an associated light consuming medical accessory used during said surgical procedure.

2 more elements

An illumination system for use during a surgical procedure performed at a surgical site in an operating room to provide both ambient lighting and task lighting withing said operating room, the illumination system comprising:

a single lighting center disposed at a location removed from said medical operating room, the single lighting center including a light source located within a housing;
a plurality of fiber optic light conductors extending from said single lighting center, each of the plurality of fiber optic light conductors having a distal end spaced apart from the lighting center and a proximal end held relative to said housing to receive light from said light source for conducting the light towards the distal end;
a light array within the operating room, the light array including a set of lighting modules disposed in a substantially regular array within a fixture, each of the lighting modules of said set of lighting modules carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends of said fiber optic light conductors towards said surgical site within the operating room to provide task lighting within said operating room;
and,
an ambient light member in said operating room, the ambient light member including a set of ambient light fixtures each carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends to within said operating room to provide ambient lighting within said operating room.

2 more elements

An illumination system for use during surgical procedures performed at a plurality of surgical sites in a plurality of operating rooms to provide both ambient and task lighting withing said operating rooms, the illumination system comprising:

a single lighting center disposed at a location removed from said medical operating rooms, the single lighting center including a light source located within a housing;
a plurality of fiber optic light conductors extending from said single lighting center, each of the plurality of fiber optic light conductors having a distal end spaced apart from the lighting center and a proximal end held relative to said housing to receive light from said light source for conducting the light towards the distal end;
a first light array within a first operating room, the first light array including a first set of lighting modules disposed in a substantially regular array within a first fixture, each of the lighting modules of said first set of lighting modules carrying a distal end at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends of said fiber optic light conductors towards a first surgical site within the first operating room;
a second light array within a second operating room, the second light array including a second set of lighting modules disposed in a substantially regular array within a second fixture, each of the lighting modules of said second set of lighting modules carrying a distal end at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends of said fiber optic light conductors towards a second surgical site within the first operating room;
a first ambient light member in said first operating room, the first ambient light member including a first set of ambient light fixtures each carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends to within said first operating room to provide ambient lighting within said first operating room;
and,
a second ambient light member in said second operating room, the second ambient light member including a second set of ambient light fixtures each carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends to within said second operating room to provide ambient lighting within said second operating room.

4 more elements

An illumination system for use during medical procedures performed at first and second examination sites in first and second examination rooms to provide both ambient lighting and task lighting, the illumination system comprising:

a single lighting center disposed at a location removed from said first and second examination rooms, the single lighting center including a light source located within a housing;
a plurality of fiber optic light conductors extending from said single lighting center for receiving light from the lighting center into a proximal end and emitting light from a distal end;
a first surgical task light system disposed within said first examination room, the first surgical task light system having a first elongate support arm with a flexible end carrying a distal end of a first fiber optic light conductor and being adapted for manual manipulation into a plurality of positions relative to said first examination room for directing light emitted from the distal end of the first fiber optic light conductor towards said first examination site within said first examination room;
and,
a second surgical task light system disposed within said second examination room, the second surgical task light system having a second elongate support arm with a flexible end carrying a distal end of a second fiber optic light conductor and being adapted for manual manipulation into a plurality of positions relative to said second examination room for directing light emitted from the distal end of the second fiber optic light conductor towards said second examination site within said second examination room;
and,
a first ambient light member in a ceiling of said first examination room, the first ambient light member including a first set of ambient light fixtures, each of the first ambient light fixtures carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends into said first examination room to provide ambient lighting;
and,
a second ambient light member in a ceiling of said second examination room, the second ambient light member including a second set of ambient light fixtures, each of the second ambient light fixtures carrying a distal end of at least one fiber optic light conductor of said plurality of fiber optic light conductors to direct light emitted from said distal ends into said second examination room to provide ambient lighting.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Medical lighting systems using electrodeless metal halide lamps and fiber optic light pipes

Life of this patent

Medical lighting systems using electrodeless metal halide lamps and fiber optic light pipes

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20