Surgical Light Tracker
Problem statement
During an operation, one of the main priorities for a surgeon is maintaining total focus on the procedure while in the operating room. However, every time they adjust their overhead light to reposition it to where it is needed, they must break focus and take their hands away from the operating site. A study by Knulst et al. shows that the surgical light is adjusted over 200 times during a standard procedure [1]. Not only is this a distraction from the operation, it also creates a sterility risk. The surgical light is located outside of the sterile field within the operating room, and so the only sterile part of the light is the disposable cover on its handle. With constant readjustments during the operation, the quality of the sterile cover can deteriorate over time. The development of a light that can reposition itself is necessary to solve both the problem of readjustment and sterility. Our solution, the development of a proof-of-concept light with articulated joints that can reposition itself using a camera and motion-tracking system, will improve the sterility of the operating room, and reduce the burden of being distracted by light placement on the surgeon.
[1] A. J. Knulst, R. Mooijweer, F. W. Jansen, L. P. S. Stassen, and J. Dankelman, ‘Indicating shortcomings in surgical lighting systems,’ Minimally Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies, vol. 20, no. 5, pp. 267-275, 2010. doi:10.3109/13645706.2010.534169
Team members
James Ballard – leader
Jinglun Qu – communicator
Benjamin Johnson – accountant
San Widodo – admin
Client
John White
Retired Engineer