Surgical Innovation on the Move: How Mobile Lighting and Visualization Systems Are Reshaping Outpatient Surgery

Chris Walters is currently a President at Ondal Medical Systems, a developer and producer of high quality medical equipment. He specializes in advertising, marketing, pricing, sales, strategy, and management, and brings experience from his previous roles at STERIS Corporation and Nordson Corporation.

Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) and Office-Based Labs (OBLs) are increasingly becoming the preferred setting for many outpatient surgical procedures. These facilities require adaptable and efficient surgical environments that can quickly evolve with changing patient volumes and procedural demands. In response to these unique needs, mobile surgical lighting and visualization systems have emerged as a practical alternative to traditional ceiling-mounted systems.

Enhancing Flexibility in Surgical Settings

Historically, mobile lighting solutions lacked the ergonomic positioning flexibility and stability of ceiling-mounted systems, making them less effective for modern surgical environments. However, advancements in mobile technology have addressed these limitations, introducing a new class of solutions designed to meet the expectations of contemporary operating rooms. These systems now deliver high-performance surgical lighting and precise ergonomic positioning comparable to ceiling-mounted configurations. They offer extended reach beyond the centerline of the operating table, ensuring optimal illumination. Surgeons can confidently operate without concern for head clearance, as these lights can be positioned high enough to remain out of the surgical team's workspace.

Advantages over Traditional Ceiling-Mounted Systems

• Rapid deployment: Operational within an hour, with minimal disruption to facility workflow. Traditional ceiling mounted solutions require months of planning and approvals before implementation.
• Cost efficiency: Eliminates the need for expensive structural modifications and dedicated ceiling reinforcements.
• Scalability and flexibility: Easily moved between procedural rooms and adaptable to different surgical specialties.
• Advanced visualization capabilities: Integrated displays provide superior visualization for imaging, endoscopic, PACS, or other video images
• Versatile: Their versatility allows them to be deployed across various medical settings, including hospitals, office-based surgical suites, and outpatient surgery facilities.

Key Use Cases for Mobile Surgical Lighting and Visualization

• Outpatient Surgery Centers (ASCs): Mobile surgical lighting solutions are easy to deploy, allowing ASCs to create high standard, fully functional operating suites without the need for extensive renovations.
• Office-Based Labs (OBLs) and Physician-Owned Surgery Centers: As physicians incorporate minimally invasive procedures into their practices, mobile units enable seamless conversion of standard exam rooms into procedural spaces, enhancing the range of services a practice can offer.
• Renovation and OR Expansion Projects: Mobile lighting and visualization solutions provide a bridge for uninterrupted surgical services, ensuring that facilities can continue to generate revenue and provide patient care without delays.
• Temporary or Pop-Up Surgical Suites: Whether responding to increased patient volume, disaster relief efforts, or a pandemic-driven surge in procedures, mobile units allow surgical teams to quickly establish functional surgical environments in non-traditional settings without long-term commitments.
• Multi-Purpose Procedural Rooms: Facilities that lack dedicated operating rooms can leverage mobile surgical lighting solutions to create adaptable, high-performance surgical spaces, maximizing the utilization of existing infrastructure without permanent alterations.

Design Considerations

While mobile lighting systems allow more flexibility than ceiling mounted solutions, thoughtful space planning is still required to optimize their utility.

• Spatial Requirements & Maneuverability

- Design procedure rooms with clear, unobstructed pathways to allow mobile equipment to be moved in and out of the surgical feel quickly and safely.

- Consider floor layouts that allow for 360-degree mobility around the surgical table.

• Power Accessibility

- Provide convenient, redundant electrical outlets placed strategically around the room.

- Most mobile equipment require a dedicated 20A emergency outlet.

• Floor Surface

- Choose flooring that balances slip-resistance with smooth rolling capability (e.g., seamless vinyl or specialty medical-grade tiles).

- Mobile equipment is designed to roll smoothly on level surfaces, so care should be taken to minimize elevation changes, thresholds, or other floor obstructions.

• Storage

- When not in use, mobile systems need secure, accessible storage

- Incorporate dedicated alcoves or small storage rooms close to procedure areas.

Considerations for Regulations and Standards

While federal and state codes require adequate surgical lighting to ensure patient and staff safety, they generally do not mandate permanently installed overhead fixtures, allowing for the use of mobile lighting systems. However, it is essential to consult the specific regulations of the location where the facility is located.

Industry standards, such as those from the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), provide guidelines on the performance characteristics of surgical lighting, including illumination levels, shadow management, and color rendering. However, these standards focus on the quality and effectiveness of lighting rather than prescribing specific installation methods.