Buying Hospital Lighting or Clinic Lighting: What You Need to Know First
About to purchase clinic or hospital exam or surgical lighting? We’ve compiled a quick read, essential overview of the lighting types, uses and features you’ll encounter.
Why? We’ve been helping clients to understand their clinical lighting options since 1984, so we’re proud to present the first of our quick reference guides designed to help buyers make the right choice.
Let’s take a closer look at the products available and the essential information you’ll need to know…
1, Examination Lights
Overview: Small, lower intensity lights generally used to assess a patient. Offers the widest variety of mounting styles but less likely to be colour-corrected or offer substantial shadow reduction.
- Can be handheld, wall-mounted, rail mounted, ceiling mounted or use a mobile floor stand
- Intensity: 2000 – 4000 fc (foot-candles) 21,500lux – 43,000 lux
- Fixed focus
- Rarely colour-corrected (if halogen)
- May have selectable colour temperatures
- Small lighthead(s) : 3-10” (76-250mm)
- Applications: Triage, ER assessment, OB/ GYN, NICU, Dermatology
Examples: Nova LED and Halux 20 PLX LED
2, Procedure Lights
Overview: Larger lights for minor procures. May feature options such as adjustable light pattern, dimming, colour selection, higher CRI correction and better shadow reduction than an exam light.
- May use a mobile floor stand or wall/ ceiling mount
- Intensity: over 4000 fc (foot-candles) 42,000 lux
- Fixed focus or adjustable light pattern
- CRI levels of <90
- Some shadow reduction
- May be dimmable
- Improved colour correction
- Mid-sized lighthead(s): 10-18” (250 -460mm)
- Applications: R & Ambulatory, OB/GYN, Dermatology, induction, excisions/ incisions, minor suturing, Cath Lab
Examples: Visiano, Triango , MI-550 and VistOR EX-LED, for minor surgery (including ambulatory, plastic surgery and trauma) VistOR-LED and MI-1000.
3, Surgical Lighting
Overview: High specification lights for surgical use. Will offer camera capability and optimum light intensity, selectable colour temperature, ceiling mounting and more specifically for major surgery use.
- Intensity: 40,000 lux – 160,000 lux
- Large light heads of 23” diameter plus for maximum shadow-reducing light
- Adaptable long-arms, ceiling-mounted delivery
- Easily positioned & repositioned
- Focusable, dimmable
- Low-light endo mode
- Camera capable
- May be coupled with monitor arms and flat screens
- Look for wireless wall control
- Full-colour correction
- Large lighthead(s): 21-28” (530 – 720mm)
Examples: VistOR MS LED, Nuvo VU 160
4, LED Surgical Headlights
Overview: Head-mounted lights for a variety of specialists with charging and design features to provide maximum tether-free operation in any environment.
- Example intensity: 100,000 lux or 275,000 lux
- Look for multi-bay battery chargers
- May offer clip-on loupe capability
- Either belt pack style or headband mounted batteries
- Other portability features: USB-style charger and hard-shell carry case
- Fibreoptic versions also available
Examples: VMCH-MC7-Pro LED Surgical Headlight (275,000 lux), VMCH-MC-3 (Onyx) LED Surgical Headlight (100,000 lux). Also 04-105 VWS and 04-105 VWR (both fibreoptic).
5, Essential Considerations and Next Steps
Overview: Ask a product specialist for help to choose the right solution for your application and budget.
Ultimately, the right choice of light, mounting, features and compatibility can be complex. That’s why we make helping our clients find the best option a priority.
Click here to ask our specialists for help to find the best options for your needs.
