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light," says Dr. Cohen.
"Not 2 inches across,
but 6 or 7 inches."
Preferably, this field
of light should be a
consistent, even spot,
not brighter in the
center and dimming
on the edges.
The source of this
light is another factor
to consider. Most headlights use either filament-lit bulbs (such as
halogen or xenon bulbs) or solid-state technology (light-emitting
diodes), and longevity and the cost of replacement components can
play a part.
"Traditional halogen bulbs delivered slightly yellow light and were
not as bright," says Dr. Archer. In contrast, "xenon was incredibly
white, but it cost $500 to $600 per bulb.
"LEDs go 20 years," he adds, "but as we've seen in overhead lights,
the problem with LEDs is they don't give off as focused a beam. They
need reflectors. LEDs are bright but diffused light."
Since the point of headlights is to focus an intense beam of light
directly where you're looking, without the repositioning required by
overhead OR lamps, the ideal device should be stable. "You want
something that doesn't move around very much," says Dr. Cohen, and
remains in place without drifting or frequent readjustment.
3. Comfort and ergonomics
The brightness of the light may be the leading factor in choosing a surgi-
cal headlight, but as wearable equipment, its design must take the wear-
V I S U A L I Z A T I O N
CENTER OF ATTENTION "Headlamps create
a focused, intense beam of light, right where
you need it," says Guy Voeller, MD, FACS.
Guy
Voeller,
MD,
FACS
