ELECTRICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
n Performance – the amount of light delivered by a source, and its characteristics – in terms of radiated heat, colour definition, and reducing fatigue etc.
n Integration – how well the lights fit into the operating theatre environment, and work with other elements such as ventilation systems.
LEDs’ running costs
Sixteen Bender-manufactured touchscreen panels were installed in the 11 operating theatres, two maternity delivery suites, and critical care areas.
which is so key in determining the condition of patients, and advanced illumination of operation sites. LED Q-Flow lights also deliver light without the heat that can be both uncomfortable for the staff and a threat to patients, and offer low-maintenance energy efficiency to ensure competitive through-life costs. Steve Coleman explains that giving clinicians the chance to ‘try before they buy’ is an important part of the service provided by Bender UK. He says: “We recognise that effective task lighting can make a huge difference to the performance of surgical teams within operating theatres and clinical environments, with design to reduce issues including glare, lighting drift (movement of the pool of light away from the operating site), continuous adjustment, and shadowing. “Bender UK therefore encourages clinicians and facilities teams to undertake objective testing and evaluation of the lighting before a purchasing decision is made.”
Key areas to consider are:
n Flexibility – how the lights can adapt to different clinical requirements.
Make Yo DFA
The running costs of LEDs in terms of power required to operate the lights are significantly lower than halogen incandescent, and because LEDs radiate very little heat, there may be further savings in the cost of cooling and air- conditioning within the operating theatre environment. The absence of heat – or more accurately its management in the manufacturing and design of good quality LED lights – reduces fatigue for the surgeons and operating theatre teams. LED surgical task lights are generally rated for 25,000 to 50,000 hours, and because they are made up of a number of light emitting diodes, they do not suffer catastrophic failure in the way that halogen lamps can when they simply cease to function in the middle of an operation.
It is important that lighting equipment – and especially handles – can be effectively sterilised and are easy to clean. For example, in a typical procedure the light can require adjustment many times during an operation. The shape of light heads can affect airflow, and should be taken into account as part of the overall evaluation of a lighting system. Merivaara Q-Flow lighting units feature a sleek, streamlined construction designed to optimise and deliver an uninterrupted vertical flow of sterile air to the operating table, minimising the turbulence which can introduce bacteria, and significantly reducing the danger of contamination at the operation site.
Steve Coleman concludes: “Once lights are installed their performance will be judged not on a set of measurable criteria, but on how they perform for each
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individual user, and as a reflection of that user’s preferences. Failure to ensure their preferences are met can be costly, with reduced performance, increased error rates, and lapses in concentration. “Theatre lighting is a complex issue, with technical performance sitting alongside the human factors. The unifying means of evaluating visual performance and lighting function has to be through user evaluation.”
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Gareth Brunton
Gareth Brunton has been managing director of Bender UK since May 2016. He joined the business as a commissioning engineer in 2004, and has held a succession of roles. Prior to joining Bender UK, he gained an electrical apprenticeship with VSEL (now BAE Systems), and worked for both British Steel and Kimberly Clark. He has a degree in electrical engineering. He has driven the growth of Bender UK’s healthcare portfolio, and his in-depth knowledge of the requirements for critical power systems underpins his recognition of the importance of safe, reliable, and resilient systems in hospitals. He leads the application of Bender technology to benefit new and existing customers who cannot afford their power to fail.
ca :all • email:
info@recorduk.co.uk •
www.recorduk.co.uk November 2020 Health Estate Journal 51
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