When selecting the best medical light for your application, factors such as intensity, color correction, cool operation, focus ability and mounting systems are crucial. Not all applications require maximum intensity, and highest color temperature - but health professionals should demand a standard of illumination quality consistent with the procedures most commonly performed in their operating rooms or offices.

These graphs show differences in typical performance characteristics in the three main categories of lighting: O.R., minor surgery/procedure and examination.

Instensity

Measured in footcandles or lux (10.8 lux = 1 footcandle). Major O.R. surgical lights are often specified with 7,500(+) footcandles at 1 meter (39.4") away from the light source. Minor surgical lights for physician offices or non O.R. areas of the hospital usually range between 3500 and 7,500 footcandles as measured at 24" or 1 meter (NOTE) from the light source.

Color Correction

Measures in Kelvin (K). The closer to sunlight (6000 °K) the better. Hospital O.R. surgical lights deliver 4000°+K, while 3000 °K or better is acceptable for many non-O.R. procedures. Blue filters can help achieve high color temperature, but also may cause an "artificial blue" output with some lights

Cool Operation

Heat in the light beam, as measured in infrared, is expressed in mw/cm2. The illuminating Engineering Society (IES) recommends .1w/cm2as the limit for acceptable infrared in medical lights. Low heat is extremely important for the comfort of both the physician and patient.

Focusing / Spot Control

Focusability is offered when the bulbs can move relative to the reflector to generate either a tight, more defined spot or a diffuse pattern. Some fixtures offering "variable spot size" use an iris (which produces the chosen field size, but does not control the movement of the bulb(s) or intensity).

Ceiling Mount Rotation

Hospital O.R. standards require that ceiling mounts rotate continuously around vertical axes without stops for maximum maneuverability and convenience. Other applications for minor surgery lights are less rigorous so that 350°+ rotation with stops is adequate. Most exam/procedure lights are offered as floor or wall models only.

Note: Intensity of minor surgery, exam lights and fiberoptic lights are usually measured at 16"- 24" from bulb source, whereas that of major O.R. lights is normally measured at 1 meter from bulb source.

Visual acuity is basic for all aspects of diagnostics and surgery. It is no wonder that when health care professionals make the decision to upgrade to new lights, their overwhelming choice is Burton. Burton's mission is to enhance your vision, your comfort and your performance in all exams, procedures and surgeries. Compare,and see for yourself the noticeably brighter - yet cooler - lights designed and manufactured by Burton.