Originally Published EMDM January/February 2003
FIBRE OPTICS
Upgraded light source enhances surgical illuminator
By combining a fibre-optic illuminator with a 3-mm fused fibre-optic bundle, a company has succeeded in doubling the lifetime of comparable xenon-based units. The Lighting Products Div. of Welch Allyn Inc. (Skaneateles Falls, NY, USA) featured the product at Medica.
Industry has traditionally considered xenon to be the best fibre-optic illumination source for integration into endoscopy equipment, according to marketing manager Doug Rutan. "But the arc lamp technology behind the CL 300, coupled with a new 3-mm fused fibre at the proximal connector, allows the illuminator to provide better performance and a much longer lifetime than comparable xenon sources," he explains. The CL 300 provides a light source with equivalent power, higher output, and twice the lifetime of xenon sources, according to the firm, which describes the product as an unparalleled value for OEM medical endoscopic systems.
The CL 300 houses a 290-W arc lamp and all control electronics and cooling components in a 140 x 286 x 324-mm metal case. The portable unit is equipped with a Storz- and Olympus-compatible interface; optional ACMI and Wolf adapters are available. It has been granted all relevant regulatory approvals for medical applications.
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