For the past 25 years, Anesthesia Plus has been providing physicians, medical centers, and hospitals with quality new and refurbished medical and OR equipment. Thanks to our knowledgeable team, we ensure the optimal look and function of everything we sell.
Lighting may not be a top consideration for a patient who is going in for an examination or surgery. However, the right kind of examination or surgical lights for operating rooms can offer several benefits to patients and medical staff alike.
The Health Effects of Light on Patients and Medical Staff
Patients coming to your facility are not only likely to be feeling unwell but are also likely to be dealing with tension related to the procedure they’re about to undergo. The amount and quality of light received can affect far more than mood.
When the right type and amount of light enter the eyes, not only does it enable vision, light also travels to the hypothalamus, which controls the body’s blood pressure, water balance, and hunger and thirst, along with body temperature. However, light also affects the pituitary gland, which is responsible for the secretion of essential hormones, such as those which influence mood and stress levels.
For medical staff and surgeons, the right lighting can help improve morale and productivity and result in fewer errors as well as dramatically decrease absences from work.
How Lighting Needs Can Affect a Medical Center’s Budget
Although lighting may be a low-cost item that may not be the first on a facility’s list of needed equipment, the wrong lighting can mean time and money lost. Inadequate lighting will require frequent adjustment, which takes away from the procedure time and also adds unnecessary stress to the surgeon and medical staff.
Not only that, but every minute spent on adjusting examination or operating room lighting will also translate into expensive operating time being wasted. When a large percentage of time in the operating room needs to be spent on adjusting the angle and intensity of lighting each time a procedure is being performed, this can add up to thousands of dollars lost each year.
Benefits of Effective Surgical Lighting
When operating room lights for sale are of high quality, light can be delivered to the task area at high intensity, but without shadows or glare. This is absolutely essential for surgeons, who need to be able to not only see but accurately interpret the condition of vessels, tissues, and organs.
Effective surgical lighting gives surgeons the ability to use their most important tool—their eyes—in the most accurate and efficient way possible.
The Right Lighting, Explained
The right lighting for any medical setting will be that which allows for accurate patient assessment during examination and in the operating room, but also possesses the right properties which allow for health benefits, including reduced eyestrain.
Light Behavior
Quality surgical lighting will take both the properties of light as well as its behavior into account. For instance, tissues are non-reflective and dark, which means that any light shone on them will be absorbed. Therefore, a product that can provide intense light that’s glare- and shadow-free is absolutely essential.
Glare-free lighting of the right intensity will allow a surgeon and team to have superior illumination of a surgical site, but not cause fatigue and strain to the eyes as they work. Similarly, shadow-free surgical lighting will allow light to reach deeper areas of surgical sites for further examination and assessment.
Quality, Not Quantity
A lot of light doesn’t mean it’s of the right quality. In the operating room, having lighting that’s too bright will only cause glare and ocular strain. Instead, the focus should be on providing the correct amount of light, but without added brightness.
Color Temperature and Differentiation
In surgical settings, the optimal light temperature is between 4,000 and 4,500 kelvin. However, surgeons may require temperatures above 4,500k. The ability to have incremental control over this range will allow for accurate determination of areas for the purpose of assessment and incision.
A low color temperature will have a yellow appearance, which can greatly lower contrast and make tissues appear washed out. High color temperatures, however, mimic that of the sun, offering the necessary contrast to differentiate between structures and tissues and determine their health.
Lighting Designed for Major Surgery
There are many surgical lights for operating rooms on the market which provide efficient lighting for surgeons and their teams. Nuvo is one of these companies; with decades of expertise in the design, engineering, and manufacture of its surgical lighting products, Nuvo’s surgical room lights can be found in over 1,000 operating rooms in the U.S.
VistOR MS
VistOR MS is a surgical lighting system designed by Nuvo for major surgery. There are three versions of the VistOR lighting system: the Single, dual, and dual with camera.
VistOR Single
The VistOR single light head is able to be configured to accommodate a 16- or 20-inch quartz halogen light, lasting up to 1000 hours. Ideal for your ER or trauma surgical light needs, or for mobile exam and procedure, the VistOR Single is completely configurable.
VistOR Dual
The VistOR Dual provides enough light intensity and shadow control to make them ideal for surgery. In addition, the VistOR Dual can be used in ambulatory situations and as an examination light, thanks to their compact and lightweight construction.
VistOR Dual with Camera
The VistOR Dual with camera offers top-quality surgical lighting, as well as a camera for situations where documentation is needed or where teaching is occurring. Continuous video offers the ability for medical teams to view and discuss procedures, and for medical students to view proper procedure in real-world situations.
New and Refurbished Options
Where it comes to any kind of medical equipment, your facility can acquire what it needs in two ways: by purchasing new equipment or by getting equipment refurbished. Both options have their benefits.
New Equipment
Purchasing new will get your facility the latest technology. When purchased from a reputable seller, new medical equipment will include a warranty, which provides peace of mind. Of course, new equipment will cost more money up front, but it will also allow you to start offering the benefits of cutting-edge technology to your patients right away.
Where cost is a factor, new equipment can be purchased via one of many low-risk financing options that allow you to pay for the equipment you need as you are using it.
Refurbished Medical Equipment
Refurbished surgical lighting and other medical equipment will also get you the latest technology, with the main difference being price. Refurbished equipment looks and operates like new, but comes in at a fraction of the cost to purchase new equipment.
Not only that, but refurbished equipment is just as effective and reliable as its new counterparts. This is because, prior to selling, this equipment is rigorously tested and its software upgraded. Inevitably, your equipment’s technology will become obsolete. When this happens, you simply trade in your refurbished equipment for something that’s less obsolete.
This option is not always available with new equipment, which means you can be forced to put out the full cost of another new piece in order to receive the technology upgrades.
How to Get the Equipment You Need
When you need surgical lighting, the last thing you want to do is wait. That being said, before you begin looking for what you need, you must first ensure it’s the right size, of sufficient quality, and will be suitable for the work it will be required to do.
Ensure that the size of the room is adequate to allow you to install your equipment without having to restrict movement or reach. For surgical lights, staff should be able to access the lights and settings without having to make multiple movements or be away from the surgical site.
The quality of the surgical lights you’re looking at can also be researched. However, you can also visit a quality equipment retailer to ask them how much they know. This will demonstrate their experience with what they sell and help you decide whether purchasing from them is a good idea.
You’ll also want to look closely at the specifications of the new or refurbished medical equipment you’re considering. For example, will your surgical lighting be able to be easily disconnected and used in other areas or be mobile and compact enough for ambulatory use if needed?
Anesthesia Plus Can Help
When you need quality surgical lighting, look no further than Anesthesia Plus. A leading seller of new and refurbished medical and OR equipment, our knowledgeable professionals are able to recommend the best products for your medical facility, and at a price that meets your budgetary requirements. Call 1-800-887-8161 to get in touch with a member of our experienced team.