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THINKING OF BUYING …
an indication of how accurately it shows the subject's true color. It is
measured in degrees Kelvin (°K), with higher numbers representing
whiter light and, as a result, more realistic color, since any tints in the
illumination can affect the subject's appearance. Color temperatures
of 4,000°K to 6,000°K (the range of many LED lights) approximate natural daylight. Higher temperatures than that are slightly bluer. In comparison, halogen bulbs have a slight yellow tint in their 3,000ºK range.
What else can my LED do?
As a purchase, surgical lighting is a decision that's made for the
long term. Those in the market for OR lights are most often equipping a
newly constructed OR or undertaking a wholesale renovation project.
In either one of those situations, there's a lot of technology being
installed at once, and many of the latest surgical lighting units offer
more than just bright light.
Several LED lighting systems are available with optional in-light
cameras, which feed an overhead view into an integrated OR's video
imaging system for clinical reference or educational purposes. The
integrated OR often incorporates equipment booms into lighting systems for technology connectivity, or at least keeping cords off the
floors. And an OR hosting endoscopy, laparoscopy or other procedures that rely on video monitors to see the surgical site might value
light-dimming or ambient lighting functions, which enable the surgeon
an optimal view of the screen while allowing the rest of the surgical
team to handle their tasks and see their way around the room.
Equipment planners note that when surgical lighting is installed as
part of a multi-component integrated OR, it is common to purchase
each piece and work through the installation with a single vendor, due
to the technical and economic benefits it usually brings. If your plan
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | J U N E 2013
