Improved system and method for illumination and ventilation of an operating room

European patients undergoing surgery have about 2.6% chance to develop a post-operative infection. Besides pain and discomfort, these infections can lead to hospital readmission, additional surgical procedures and even the decease of the patient. The ventilation system provides clean air that descends on the patient and protects the patient from being infected by pathogens. The surgical lighting system provides adequate lighting to the wound, ensuring a high illuminance, even in challenging conditions as deep and narrow wounds. Currently, the protecting airflow is perturbed by the shape, position and heat of the surgical lighting system, causing turbulent air flows. Post-operative infections may originate as particles from outside the protective zone enter the surgical site by these turbulent air flows. To reduce this disturbance of the laminar airflow by the surgical lighting, we have developed an integrated concept of an LED-based and automated light source, mounted above a transparent ventilation chamber. This paper outlines the optical design of the new surgical light source and its performance.