Revolutionary Surgical Light Now Available in US: New Surgical Light's Many Benefits Include a Medical First

CHARLESTON, S.C., July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc. has announced that the FDA responded to the Section 510(k) Premarket Notification submitted for the TRUMPF iLED surgical light and has determined the iLED can proceed to market. This event allows US medical facilities and patients to immediately begin benefiting from the numerous advantages offered by the TRUMPF iLED: many of which are not available from any other surgical light.

The TRUMPF iLED uses 184 white and color LEDs, to provide 160,000 Lux of low heat, virtually shadow-free illumination. One of its most outstanding features is that the iLED gives the surgical team -- for the first time ever -- the ability to change color temperature. Surgeons have long desired this capability but until now it had not been thought possible. The TRUMPF iLED literally places human tissue structures in a new light. Bathed in warm, non-glare light (about 3,500 Kelvin), skin and light tissue parts reflect less and the contrast remains intact. Colder light colors (up to 5,000 Kelvin), however, were preferred in tests for deeper lying body areas and for longer surgeries. Current studies prove that color temperature influences the ability to concentrate, which can be a significant benefit during longer procedures. One reason for this is that when the eyes get tired and the concentration lapses, cold or blue color tones are perceived as a relief. Either way the surgical team, working on shorter outpatient procedures or longer surgeries, has their choice.

"Because of its adjustable color temperature, iLED offers excellent contrast representation," explained Professor Friedrich Hennig, Head Surgeon of the Department for Emergency Medicine at the University Clinic in Erlangen, Germany. Regardless of whether surgeons are operating on tissue in which the blood flow is heavy or light, they can make the contrast more visible by changing the color temperature.

Virtually Shadow Free

Shadows, cast over the surgical site by the position and movement of the surgical team, as well as by equipment, are dealt with everyday in surgery. Because each LED used in the iLED has its own convergence lens, each also generates its own light field. Together, the fields combine into a very homogenous and shadow-free light. Even potentially extreme shadowing created by surgeon positioning, equipment and the depth of the wound or incision are compensated for by the overlapping light fields -- and by the iLED switching off unnecessary LEDs and increasing the intensity to the remaining ones.

Low Heat Illumination

In addition to shadows, heat is also noticeably absent when using the iLED. Its 160,000 Lux of illumination is produced without the expected heat emission thanks to the so-called "cold" IR-free light of the LEDs. Even directly under the lamp, practically no heat can be felt. This feature improves the comfort of the surgeon and the surgical team, thereby enhancing their ability to perform.

An Economical and Efficient Solution

Since LEDs have dramatically long life-cycles-approximately 20,000 hours, or an estimate 5 to 8 years depending on OR usage-The iLED represents ongoing cost savings and efficiency for medical facilities. The iLED minimizes the cost, time and surgical interruptions related to changing more expensive halogen or gas discharge bulbs commonly used in today's surgical lights.

US Debut Follows Successful European Premiere

The iLED was introduced in Europe in November 2005 by TRUMPF Medizin Systeme of Puchheim, Germany, the parent company of TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc. It has been successfully marketed in Europe since that time and has received high praise in actual clinical use.

About TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc.

Combining a 90-year heritage of high-quality German engineering with the latest in advanced technology, TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc., provides innovative patient care solutions to medical facilities across the United States and Canada. Headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina, TRUMPF Medical Systems offers market-leading TRUMPF KREUZER Equipment Booms, innovative patient transport solutions, advanced surgical lighting, a full-line of modular surgical tables, as well as Quality Care(SM) consulting services.

TRUMPF Medical Systems, Inc. is the US subsidiary of the TRUMPF Medizin Systeme business division of the TRUMPF Group. The division also has subsidiaries in Germany, Great Britain, France, Italy, China and Singapore.