Illumination with enhanced contrast as a visualization tool for clinical diagnostics and surgery

The requirements for diagnostic and surgical lighting have remained largely unchanged over the past several years illumination level, glare, shadow and tissue heating reduction are the dominant factors in choosing a lighting system. Since human visual perception remains the key tool in clinical diagnostics and surgery, it is worth exploring ways to heighten visual contrast between areas of interest with respect to surrounding tissues. A simulation program for predicting test illuminant spectral distribution that would enhance contrast between standard color patches typical of tissue color is used. Data images of the color patches under the predicted test illuminant as realized using a spectrally tunable source are collected. Details of the simulation program, the equipment used for this test and results of the test will be discussed.