Patentamt êJEuropaisches European Patent Office © Publication number: Q 056 505

Office européen des brevets g *]

® EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(g) Dateof publication of patent spécification: 22.07.87 (jjj) Int. Cl.4: F 21 M 1/00 (fl) Application number: 81300165.8

(22) Dateoffiling: 15.01.81

(54) Electricallyfocusedsurgical light.

(43) Date of publication of application: ® Proprietor: AMERICAN STERILIZER COMPANY 28.07.82 Bulletin 82/30 2222 West Grandview Boulevard EriePA 16512 (US) (45) Publication of the grant of the patent: 22.07.87 Bulletin 87/30 Inventor: Fisher, Kenneth J. 3020 McKee Road Erie,PA. 16506 (US) (m) Designated Contracting States: Inventor: Miller, William R. AT DE FR GB SE 4950 Wolf Road Erie, PA. 16505 (US) (§) Références cited: GB-A-704409 (74) Représentative: Newens, Léonard Eric et ai US-A-2 005 194 F. J. CLEVELAND & CO. 40/43 Chancery Lane US-A-2 896 066 London WC2A 1JQ (GB) US-A-3493 806 US-A-4 025 778 US-A-4037 096 m o m

note: vvitmn nme months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall CL be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been LU paid. (Art. 99(1 ) European patent convention). ^ouner Press, Leamington Spa, England. activate one filament or the other. This provides a means for the pattern size to be changed by This invention relates to filament type electric remote control without anyone having to physi- lamps and particularly but not exclusively to cally touch the lamp itself. surgical lamps or lights. The present invention is summarised in the A known filament type electric lamp is sum- characterising portion of Claim 1. By switching on marised in the precharacterising portion of Claim the light sources at different distances from the 1 and is known from US-A-3 493 806. reflector, the pattern of light from the lamp on to In US-A-3 493 806 there is described an an object on a surgical table can be changed. incandescent light for use in automobiles, By energizing one or the other of the filaments, including a tubular bulb having a main filament the focus and, therefore, the pattern size can be and a dipping filament, the main filament being changed electrically. As a side benefit to this positioned at the focal point of a single fixed arrangement, in the event a filament should burn parabolic reflector with corresponding light rays out during a surgical procedure, the light could be projected as a horizontal beam, the dipping fila- switched over to another filament and the surgi- ment being axially spaced from the main fila- cal procedure continued without having to pause ment. Screen means are located on the exterior to relamp the light. (In particular, there are some surface of the bulb so as to prevent those rays countries that require such standby lighting capa- from the dipping element which would be bility in surgical lighting.) reflected upwards, from striking the reflector. The present invention envisages the use of a It is also known from US-A-4 037 096 to have bulb with two or more filaments spaced a pre- an illuminator for surgical lighting comprising a determined controlled distance apart relative to single light source contiguously located along the the axis of the optical system. Since two or more axis of symmetry of the illuminator, and multiple filaments can be placed within the lamp, a reflectors arranged such as to project light rays in multiple of patterns can be achieved by expand- a converging light pattern of uniform light inten- ing the number of lamps. The design allows for sity. dual filament capability in small lamp envelope In the specialized lighting utilized for surgical packing configurations. Previous designs were of procedures, it is frequently desirable to be able to the standard incandescent variety, which were adjust the pattern size of the light pattern on the bulky and suffered from shortcomings of lumen wound site depending upon the particular proce- depreciation and reduced life. The lamps dure being used and/or the progress of the oper- employed herein are the frosted, low voltage type ation during the surgical procedure. using the multiple filament technology to over- The light disclosed herein provides an improve- come these negative attributes. Also, the asso- ment over the surgical lamp shown and United ciated small envelope approximates a point States Patent No. 4 037 096 and United States source and allows it use in multi-reflective Patent No. 4 025 778. The latter patent shows a systems offering a greater range in pattern/focus plurality of lights that are arranged mechanically selection. The curvature of the reflector may be to change the position of the focus of the lights. parabolic with the filaments located between the This requires complex apparatus and con- reflector and the focal point of the reflector, so siderable physical effort. that the rays of light come to focus at a finite Thus the conventional means of accomplishing point. a change in focus and/or a change in pattern size A cluster of lights could contain one or more is by mechanical movement of the bulb relative to multi-filament lamps within the cluster. There- the reflector or reflectors of the optical system. fore, by switching to the rearmost filament on the This normally involves utilization of a lever or multi-filament lamps and switching off some of levers located on the light itself in order to initiate the lamps, a small pattern of high intensity can be physical lamp source displacement. Since the obtained. By switching to the other filament and lever or levers are not sterilized prior to the switching on additional lamps, a large pattern of surgical procedure, it would be a break in tech- high intensity can be formed. This design com- nique if any of those individuals who are scrub- pares with hitherto multicluster systems which bed and gloved should touch such levers to vary decrease overlap of fixed light projections from focus or pattern. Thus, such focus means are in- the various lamps and hence pattern size by convenient. To provide for remote operation of switching off lamps. Consequently intensity is focus would require a very cumbersome motor decreased as the pattern becomes smaller. drive being mounted on the light. A derivative of this system has applicability to It is an object of the present invention to pro- the field of photographic lighting. It is well known vide a means for controlling the pattern size and/ that the two principal types of lighting used by or focus of such surgical lighting without the photographers are "Flood" and "Spot". At requirement for mechanical movement thereby present, the photographer has to buy two differ- facilitating remote operation and control. ent bulbs for these two applications and change It is a further object of the present invention to bulbs when the lighting requirements or the provide a means of electrically controlling the subject change. pattern size of a surgical light by the utilization of With the present invention having two light a multiple filament bulb with suitable means to sources displaced a certain distance apart, the lamp can be switched from Spot to Flood and those skilled in the art and will be referred to back to Spot again electrically. Thus, a means is herein generally as filaments. The tungsten halo- disclosed of electrically switching a bulb from gen material has been found to be a desirable "Flood" to "Spot" for maximum flexibility in type filament because of its compact size, photographic lighting. approximating a point source with two or more The invention will now be described by way of filaments spaced a controlled distance from each example only with particular reference to the other. It will be noted that the first light source 15 accompanying drawings, wherein: is spaced from the first reflector 12 between Figure 1 is an illustrative view of a surgical light reflector 12 and focal point 20 and spaced from embodying the present invention in use. the second light source 16. The second filament Figure 1A is a view of a surgical light with a 16 is shown spaced from the first filament 15 and multi-filament lamp embodying the present the focal point 20. invention. The multi-filament lamp 12' may have a frosted Figure 2 is a side diagrammatic view of a cluster glass envelope, to obtain patterns which are free of multi-filament lights. of voids or shadows and preclude filament imag- Figure 3 is a top view of the cluster of lights ing at the pattern site. A clear lamp may also be shown in Figure 2. employed in conjunction with faceted reflector 12 Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of the lights of and/or variable stepped Fresnel lenses to provide Figures 2 and 3 with the lamps energized to form the desired diffusion of light. a small pattern of light. The handle 17 may be a removable, sterilizable Figure 5 shows the lights of Figures 2 and 3 handle of a type familiar to those skilled in the art energized to form a large pattern of light. which may be grasped by the hand of the Figure 6 is a schematic wiring diagram of an operator to adjust the surgical light to the desired example of switching connections to the several position. filaments. When the first filament 15 of the surgical light of Now with more particular reference to the Figure 1A is energized, a typical light ray 26 will drawings, Fig. 1 shows surgical lights 110 and be reflected by reflectors 12, 13 and 14 through 110' supported by means of suitable arms on the paths 27, 28 and 29 in a large pattern size onto an ceiling of the hospital room to provide adjustment object. When second filament 16 is energized, the of the position of the light. A surgical table T is ray of light from the filament 16 may be reflected shown below the lights on which a patient may be through paths 30, 31, 32 and 33 to give a smaller supported which for purposes of illustration, will light pattern size on an object. Energizing other be considered to be the object on which the light filaments could result in an intermediate pattern patterns are to be projected. size, a smaller pattern size or a larger pattern size, The light switch panel D is supported at any thus by energizing the filaments 15 or 16, selec- convenient position on the wall near the surgical tively different pattern sizes of light are obtain- table where it will be readily accessible to the able. operator. The lamps in Lights 110 and 110' can be In the embodiment of the invention shown in switched to energize all the filaments of the lamps Figure 2 through 5, we show a surgical light 110 of both Lights 110 and 110', or part of the made up of light elements 111, 112, 113, 114,115 filaments of each lamp to give a large light and 116 arranged in a circle and supported on pattern, a small light pattern or any combination frame 117 by brackets 118 supported on yoke 119 of large and small light patterns that may suit the which may be attached to a suitable supporting particular requirements of the operator. The word surface such as a wall W or ceiling C above a surgical light is intended to include dental lamps surgical table T. The table T may support an and lights used in other areas of the health care object such as a patient P. Each of the lights 111 field. through 116 has a reflector 120. Reflectors 120 are The surgical light 10 shown in Figure 1A has a concave and have a focal point 121 in accordance housing 11 which may be supported on a suitable with good lighting practice. Lenses 122 are pro- bracket. The housing 11 supports a first source vided which may be frosted, clear or color reflector 12, a lamp 12', second reflector 13 and corrected. Each of the light elements 111 through third reflector 14, the handle 17 is attached to the 116 has a lamp 121 which is shown by way of lamp housing by suitable structure. example as having a plurality of filaments 123, Source reflector 12 has a focal point 20 and an 124 and 125 spaced from each other and spaced axis of symmetry 42, which will be understood by from the focal point 126. Each of the light those skilled in the art. The filaments which can elements 111 through 116 could have two or be any suitable light sources will preferably be more filaments and they are shown with these spaced from the focal point of reflector 12. The filaments by way of example only. The filaments reflector 12,13, and 14 may have a plain reflecting 123 and 124 are spaced from the focal point and surface, a diffusing type reflector surface or a from the reflector a different distance along the faceted surface. Lamp 12' contains the first light axis of symmetry 142 and the reflectors 120 are so source 15, the second 16 and could contain three directed that when the filaments 124 are ener- or more light sources. Light source 15 and 16 gized, the light is directed into a relatively small could be made of any suitable material used for pattern 128 on the object T at a relatively high filaments or light generating elements familiar to intensity. Only part of the filaments 124 need be energized when the small pattern size is desired reflector (12) to said third reflector (14), said third because the pattern size being smaller only a reflector (14) being disposed to direct light onto portion of the light is required to result in the an object whereby a relatively small light pattern same pattern intensity. or a relatively large light pattern can be selectively When the filaments 123 of the lights are ener- directed onto said object by selectively energising gized by closing switch S2, they direct light onto said first or said second light source. an object in a relatively large pattern, indicated at 2. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 wherein said 127, and in order to provide a higher intensity light sources comprise tungsten halogen fila- pattern of light over the large pattern area 127, ments. other filaments of lamps may be energized by 3. A lamp as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the closing switch S3 for example. light source means includes three or more light Any suitable number of light elements can be sources. provided in the surgical light 110, and the light 4. A light source comprising a cluster of fila- elements 111 through 116 can be supported in ment type electric lamps as claimed in any pre- any practical configuration or any practical ceding claim. number of lights can be used, in any desired 5. A light source as claimed in Claim 4 having at pattern each light in the array having several least six said electric lamps disposed generally in filaments and each light reflector aimed at the a circle. same area on an article on a surgical support, each of the light elements 111 through 116 being arranged about the axis of symmetry 142. The lights can be used for flood lights, dental 1. Elektrische Glühlampe (10) mit einer lights, photography lights or under application Reflexionseinrichtung (12, 13, 14), die einen requiring variable focus or variable pattern size. ersten Reflektor (12) beinhaltet, der eine konkave The dual filament lamp can be utilized in a Form mit einem Fokus (20) und einer Symmetrie- multilamp arrangement with other single or multi achse (42) hat, einer Lichtquelleneinrichtung, die filament lamps to provide pattern size variation eine erste Lichtquelle (15) und eine zweite Licht- from a large diameter flood effect to a smaller quelle (16) beinhaltet, einer Einrichtung, welche diameter spot effect. In addition, a combination die erste Lichtquelle und die zweite Lichtquelle flood/spot capability exists to provide large auf der Symmetrieachse und in vorbestimmten pattern exposure with secondary spot lighting Abständen von dem ersten Reflektor und im simultaneously. In such a manner, large surface Abstand zueinander abstützt, wobei die eine incisions can be lighted while also providing Lichtquelle näher an dem ersten Reflektor als die depth of illumination into smaller surgical andere und im Abstand zu dem ersten Reflektor cavities. Any variation from total flood or total angeordnet ist und mindestens eine der Licht- spot to flood/spot combination can be performed quellen in einem vorbestimmten Abstand von by selective electrical energization of the proper dem Fokus abgestützt ist, und einer Einrichtung filaments. zum wahlweisen Einschalten der ersten Licht- quelle und der zweiten Lichtquelle, dadurch ge- kennzeichnet, daß die Reflexionseinrichtung einen zweiten Reflektor (13) und einen dritten 1. A filament type electric lamp (10) compris- Reflektor (14) aufweist, wobei der erste Reflektor ing:- (12) so angeordnet ist, daß er das Licht von der reflection means (12, 13, 14) including a first Lichtquelle (15, 16) auf den zweiten Reflektor (13) reflector (12) having a concave configuration with richtet, der zweite Reflektor (13) so angeordnet ist, a focal point (20) and an axis of symmetry (42), daß er das Licht von dem ersten Reflektor (12) auf light source means including a first light source den dritten Reflektor (14) richtet, der dritte Reflek- (15) and a second light source (16); tor (14) so angeordnet ist, daß er das Licht auf ein means supporting said first light source and Objekt richtet, wobei ein relativ kleines Licht- said second light source on said axis of symmetry muster oder ein relativ großes Lichtmuster wahl- and at predetermined distances from said first weise auf das Objekt gerichtet werden kann, reflector and in spaced relation to each other, one indem die erste oder die zweite Lichtquelle wahl- said light source being located closer to said first weise eingeschaltet wird. reflector than the other and in spaced relation to 2. Lampe nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Licht- said first reflector and at least one of said light quellen Wolfram-Halogen-Fäden aufweisen. sources being supported at a predetermined dis- 3. Lampe nach Anspruch 1 oder 2, wobei die tance from said focal point; and Lichtquelleneinrichtung drei oder mehr Licht- means to selectively energize said first light quellen beinhaltet. source and said second light source; charac- 4. Lichtquelle mit einem Bündel von elek- terised in that said reflection means furthermore trischen Glühlampen nach irgendeinem vor- comprises a second reflector (13) and a third hergehenden Anspruch. reflector (14); said first reflector (12) being dis- 5. Lichtquelle nach Anspruch 4 mit mindestens posed to direct light from said light source (15,16) sechs elektrischen Lampen, die im wesentlichen to said second reflector (13), said second reflector in einem Kreis angeordnet sind. (13) being disposed to direct light from said first troisième réflecteur (14); ledit premier réflecteur (12) étant disposé pour diriger la lumière de ladite 1. Lampe électrique du type à filament (10) source de lumière (15, 16) vers ledit second réflec- comprenant teur (13), ledit second réflecteur (13) étant disposé un moyen de réflexion (12, 13, 14) comprenant pour diriger la lumière dudit premier réflecteur un premier réflecteur (12) ayant une configuration (12) vers ledit troisième réflecteur (14), ledit troi- concave avec un point focal (20) et un axe de sième réflecteur (14) étant disposé pour diriger la symétrie (42), lumière sur un objet pour qu'ainsi un motif rela- un moyen formant source de lumière compre- tivement petit de lumière ou un motif relative- nant une première source de lumière (15) et une ment grand de lumière puisse être sélectivement seconde source de lumière (16); dirigé sur ledit objet par excitation sélective de un moyen supportant ladite première source de ladite première ou de ladite seconde source de lumière et ladite seconde source de lumière sur lumière. ledit axe de symétrie et à des distances pré- 2. Lampe selon la revendication 1 où lesdites déterminées dudit premier réflecteur et en rela- sources de lumière comprennent des filaments de tion espacée l'une avec l'autre, une source de tungstène halogéné. lumière étant placée plus près dudit premier 3. Lampe selon la revendication 1 ou 2 où le réflecteur que l'autre et en relation espacée avec moyen formant source de lumière comprend trois ledit premier réflecteur et au moins l'une desdites sources de lumière ou plus. sources de lumière étant supportée à une dis- 4. Source de lumière comprenant un ensemble tance prédéterminée dudit point focal; et de lampes électriques du type à filament selon un moyen pour exciter sélectivement ladite l'une quelconque des revendications précé- première source de lumière et ladite seconde dentes. source de lumière; 5. Source de lumière selon la revendication 4, caractérisée en ce que ledit moyen de réflexion ayant au moins six desdites lampes électriques comprend de plus un second réflecteur (13) et un disposées généralement en un cercle.