Welcome to the confusion – surgical light descriptions.
What we mean by that is how surgical light manufacturers load their brochures with very cool sounding adjectives and phrases in order to persuade you to buy their light.
Having been a surgical light distributor since the 1980’s, we know all about how hard it is to decide on this light or that light based off what you read in the brochure.
For example, you may read words like unsurpassed, unique, intuitive, industry leading, high quality, minimized, maximized, and the list goes on and on.
But what does it all mean? How do you give those words value?
That’s where we come in.
In this very comprehensive article, of which we are very proud, we’re going to give you all the technical information you need about the most popular surgical lights in Canada.
So, when one company states that they are the best at a particular feature, at a glance of our downloadable data sheet below, you can tell if that statement is true!
Important Notes
*All the information in this article is based on public information available at the time of publication, but may not reflect future changes on manufacturers’ websites or brochures.
*Not all features of every light will be listed. Many lights have many more features. Our main goal is to give you an idea of what the light encompasses and what the manufacturers make available.
*We have really tried to not include any ambiguous statements about features, such as minimal shadow reduction, high quality materials, or reduced heat, just to name a few.
*If a particular light does not have many features listed, it may be because the manufacturer did not list the specifics.
At the end of this article, download our surgical lights data sheet, which has all the technical information for all the lights listed here.
Skytron Surgical Lights
Skytron lights have a maximum intensity of 160,000 Lux at one meter. Each light incorporates vertically segmented reflectors, which serve to help reduce shadows and produce a homogenous spot.
Skytron has variable and fixed focus options available.
Aurora Four Surgical Lights
The Aurora Four line of lights is the latest from Skytron.
All Aurora Four include:
- Vertically segmented reflectors
- Center sterile handle for focusing
- 360° rotation on all axis
- 110° vertical travel
- Camera-ready options
A quick glance:
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | Selectable 4100K or 4500K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 40,000 |
Stellar XL
Available in single, dual or triple configurations, the Stellar XL also comes as an upgrade option to the previous Stellar Halogen series. This light also has a mobile option.
Features of the Stellar XL include:
- Center sterile handle adjusts focus and positioning
- 27” range of total focusable depth extends the working distance without moving the lighthead
- Suspended LED System (SLS) cradles upward-facing LEDs for thermal control
- Natural warm color temperature provides white light for high intensity applications
- 360° rotation on all axis
- Lightweight polymer housing
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3696K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 40,000 |
Aurora Astro
Available in single, dual, and boom configurations, the Aurora Astro is suitable for surgical and procedural settings.
Features of the Aurora Astro include:
- Center sterile handle and non-sterile yoke control
- Intensity adjustment with 4 settings
- 27” range of total focusable depth extends the working distance without moving the lighthead
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 131,600 |
| Color Temperature | 4141K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 40,000 |
Steris Surgical Lights
Steris lights, on average, produce 34% less heat than halogen lights.
HarmonyAIR™ M-Series Surgical Lighting System
The HarmonyAIR™ M-Series Surgical Lighting System features a modular HD capable suspension and the design is modular, upgradeable, allowing you to adapt to your needs as they change.
Features of the HarmonyAIR™ M-Series include:
- Energy efficient – consumes 1/3 the heat of previous LED technology (M-5 model only)
- Accommodates any HD signal with open architecture design
- Design is modular and upgradeable
- Flat panel monitor yokes holds up to 32″ monitors
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4400K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 30,000 to 60,000 |
HarmonyAIR™ G-Series Surgical Lighting System
The G-Series uses a single-color, phosphor coated LED chip as opposed to multi-color LEDs.
Features of the HarmonyAIR™ G-Series include:
- Uses a single-color, phosphor coated LED chip for white light
- Uses less than 1/3 the power of previous generations of LEDs
- Adjustable or fixed spot size light heads
- Flat panel, monitor yokes hold up to 32″ monitors
- Harmony® ConnectPoint™ Video Connectivity System provides power and video signal connections
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4400K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Harmony LED 585 Surgical Lighting and Visualization System
With an HD-capable suspension, the Harmony LED lights reduce energy consumption by 75%, do not require bulb changes, and produce 34% less beam heat, when compared to halogen.
Features of the Harmony LED include:
- Provides up to 41% more luminance than other LED lights
- Accommodates virtually all HD signals regardless of manufacturer or signal type
- HD-capable suspension
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4400K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 30,000* |
Maquet Surgical Lights
Maquet has three surgical light models to choose from, all of which offer differing value.
LUCEA 50 and LUCEA 100
These lights feature the Maquet Flux Stability Program, which keeps the light at the same intensity if the light starts to lose illumination.
Developed specifically for minor surgery, they come in mobile, wall and ceiling mounted configurations, in addition to a battery-operated model.
Features of the Lucea LED lights include:
- Infrared remote control to adjust lighting
- No drift once positioned with the ERGODISC balancing system
- Equipped with multimedia technology
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | Lucea 50 is 60,000 and Lucea 100 is 120,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4300K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
POWERLED
A “boost” function, offering spare capacity, is also available to deal with any complications. Unnecessary under normal circumstances, you can boost the light intensity if conditions dictate.
The PowerLED series is a 2nd generation of white LEDs.
Available in 3 models: 300, 500, 700
Features of the PowerLED include:
- 5% turbulence degree
- Shock resistant coating
- LED bulbs last 40 times longer than halogen bulbs
- 5 times less parts than conventional halogen systems
- Reduced energy consumption by 30%
- 90% of PowerLED is made of aluminium
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 110,000 (Boost 140,000) |
| Color Temperature | 3800K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 40,000 |
VOLISTA
Billed as tailor-made surgical lights, the Volista offers drift-free lights, touchscreen control and pre-set light settings. While the lighthead includes all primary function controls, the wall keypad synchronize the settings.
Features of the Volista include:
- Alerts and maintenance reminders
- Minimum of 50% illumination in the event of power fluctuations
- Flux Stability Program
- LED technology reduces energy consumption by 33% (compared with Halogen bulbs)
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 130,000 (Boost 160,000) |
| Color Temperature | 3900K/4300K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 60,000 |
Stryker-Berchtold Surgical Lights
Stryker acquired Berchtold some years ago, including its surgical lights line.
Berchtold Chromophare LED F Generation Surgical Lights
With a suspension design that makes upgrading easy in the future, the LED F Generation lights use a reflector to multiply the light beams and shape the light beam. The F Generation requires less energy to power than a 100 W light bulb.
Features of the LED F Generation lights include:
- Four color temperature settings, adjustable from 3600K to 5000K
- 360° of rotation
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 125,000/160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3600K, 4000K, 4500K, 5000K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 40,000 |
Stryker Visum LED II
The aluminum and glass constructed Visum LED II lights use up to 38% less energy than traditional halogen lighting.
Features of the Visum LED II include:
- 41” Column of Light
- Proprietary reflector technology
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4400 K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Stryker Visum Blade LED
Described as a simplified surgical light, the Visum Blade LED retains the proprietary refraction optics that are in all Stryker lights.
Features of the Visum Blade LED include:
- Light handle focus control
- Contains 66 single color LED’s
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | Unknown |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 35,000 |
Hill-Rom® – Trumpf Surgical Lights
Hill-Rom® acquired Trumpf Medical in 2014, including its surgical lights line. Trumpf lights utilize a multi-lens matrix throughout a tiered product offering.
iLED™ 7 Surgical Light
With the iLED™ 7 Surgical Light, there are several ways to operate it, including via the touch-screen wall control panel, wireless tablet, or directly from the sterile light handle including acoustic feedback.
Features of the iLED™ 7 Surgical Light include:
- SmartAssist: sensor-controlled system ensures a consistent illuminated field via the LED module’s intelligent control
- SmartPattern: ensures a consistent light field size for all three field size options at standard working distances of 0.8 to 1.3 meters
- SmartIllumination: light quality and brightness remain the same at different working distances, color temperatures, and light field sizes without the need to be readjusted
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3500K, 4000K, 4500K, 5000K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 60,000 |
iLED™ 5 and iLED™ 3 Surgical Lights
These lights feature manual shadow management, selectable color temperature, and an autofocus function.
Features of the iLED™ 5 and iLED™ 3 Surgical Lights include:
- Adaptive Light Control Plus (ALC Plus): if the light is moved, the focus feature measures the distance from the surgical site and adjusts the light segment position accordingly
- Manual Shadow Management: obstacles are optimally backlit, which results in up to 25% more light in the depths
- Selectable color temperature
| Illumination/Intensity | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3500K, 4000K, 4500K, 5000K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | >40,000 |
TruLight™ 5000 Surgical Light
Like the iLED™ 5 and iLED™ 3, this light also features Adaptive Light Control Plus, as well as adjustable color temperature and automatic readjustment of the illumination level. Available in the 5500 series or the 5300 series.
Features of the TruLight™ 5000 include:
- Sterile handle light control
- Two-dimensional arrangement of LEDs and convergence lenses
- 65 watts of power to achieve 160,000 LUX of illumination
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 140,000 (53_ Models) and 160,000 (55_ Models) |
| Color Temperature | 3500K, 4000K, 4500K, 5000K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 60,000 |
TruLight™ 3000 Surgical Light
Ideal for emergency rooms, trauma, ambulatory centers, or intensive care units, the TruLight™ 3000 manually adapts to three general working distances: near, normal, and far.
Features of the TruLight™ 3000 include:
- Compact design
- Multi-lens matrix
- Optionally equipped with the TruVidia™ Camera
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 or 140,000 (TruLight 3300) |
| Color Temperature | 4500K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 60,000 |
Amico Surgical Lights
Many of the lights that Amico offers contain very similar specifications with little difference here and there.
Mira50 LED, Mira65 LED, Mira90 LED
The Mira LED line of lights is suitable for minor surgery and diagnostic lighting. The main differences amongst the models is the amount of LUX.
Features of the Mira LEDs include:
- Control pad includes 5 dimming levels and an Endo mode
- Removable sterilizable handle
- Slim and lightweight design
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 50,000/65,000/90,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4500K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
iCE LED Surgical Lights
These operating room lights come with an emergency bypass feature so that you still have light in the case of a power failure.
Features of the iCE LED include:
- Options of either iCE 25 and 30
- Centrally mounted handle
- Can be ordered in various configurations of multiple lightheads, HD cameras, monitors and future-proof suspension systems
- Upgradeable and customizable
- Five dimming levels, depth mode for deeper light penetration, endo mode
- Sync multiple lights function
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | iCE 25: 130,000 or iCE 30: 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4500K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Dr. Mach Surgical Lights
Specializing in medical lighting technology, Dr. Mach prides itself in completing the majority of manufacturing in-house.
LED 5 MC, LED 5 MC Smart, LED 5 SC
The MC and Smart models are equipped with multi-colour chips, whereas the SC is a single-colour chip model. The SC models cannot change colour temperature.
Features of the LED 5 MC, LED 5 MC Smart, LED 5 SC include:
- Available in ceiling mount only
- MC model chips are equipped with four variegated LEDs (red, green, warm-white and cold-white)
- Smart model chips are equipped with two variegated LEDs (warm-white and cold-white)
- Sterile handle control
- Built-in laser pointer
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3750K, 4000K, 4250K, 4500K, 4750K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
LED 3 MC, LED 3 MC Smart, LED 3 SC
Very similar to the LED 5 line, the LED 3 line has the same features but fewer LED bulbs.
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 140,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3750K, 4000K, 4250K, 4500K, 4750K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
LED 2 MC, LED 2 MC Smart, LED 2 SC, LED 2 SC Hybrid OP-Modus
Again, similar to the LED 5 and LED 3 product lines, the LED 2 is the smaller, more economic version of the two.
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 115,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3750K, 4000K, 4250K, 4500K, 4750K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
LED 300 DF, LED 300 DF Reflector
This single-colour light incorporates a duo focus feature.
Features of the LED 300 DF include:
- Facetted multi-lens system
- Shock resistant
- 360° rotation in all major joints
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 140,000/160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4500K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
LED 150 FP, LED 150 F, LED 150
Described as a ‘small operating light’, the LED 150 F and FP are focusable, while the LED 150 is fixed focus.
Features of the LED 150 include:
- Single colour
- Handle control
- Facetted multi-lens system
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 100,000/130,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4300K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Dräger Surgical Lights
Dräger’s goal was to design lightweight, compact surgical lights with LED technology.
Polaris 100/200
Described as a highly compact light, the Polaris 100 has a special mode where ambient light from a single LED supports minimal invasive procedures. The Polaris 200 features an increase in LED bulbs.
Features of the Polaris 100/200 include:
- Each LED is equipped with its own lens reflector system
- No moving parts in the lighthead
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 120,000/160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4400K, 5000K, 5600K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 30,000 |
Dräger Polaris® 600
The integrated OR interface allows you to control multiple devices via a central system.
Features of the Polaris® 600 include:
- Touch-sensitive technology is located on the top part of the handle
- Adjustable color temperature
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | 3800K, 4400K, 5000K, 5600K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Nuvo Surgical Lights
Nuvo lights are described as “incomparable” and “limitless”. Cross Focus Technology enables the LED’s to move independently of each other while adjusting the pattern size.
Nuvo Vu LED Surgical Light
The Nuvo Vu features a “Green Mode” for minimally-invasive surgery.
Features of the Nuvo Vu include:
- Adjustable color temperature
- Front diffuser lens system
- Dimming and illumination field are easily controlled with the sterilizable handle
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 160,000 |
| Color Temperature | Five settings between 3,800K and 4,800K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
VistOR MS LED
The flagship series VistOR MS was designed with keeping the design lightweight and affordable, but with maintaining high illumination.
Features of the VistOR MS LED include:
- Dimming and illumination field are easily controlled with the sterilizable handle
- Adjustable light field
- Single, dual and triple mounts
- Five-stage dimming
A quick glance:
| Illumination/Intensity (LUX at 1 Meter) | 130,000 |
| Color Temperature | 4300K |
| LED Life Expectancy (Hours) | 50,000 |
Additional resources
Meditek has exclusive distribution for Skytron lights in Western Canada. We offer other lines as well. Make sure to check out our product line of surgical lights!
Get to know your surgical lights
Don’t forget to download this very comprehensive list of the most important technical specs from the most popular surgical lights in Canada below!
2 Comments on “Comprehensive Review of the Most Popular Surgical Lights in Canada”
hi, i’d like a pdf copy of the spec comparison chart for surgical lights. I submitted my email but nothing has come through. Thanks!
Hello Bob, sorry about that – I’ve just emailed it to you.
Thanks so much for reaching out to us
Brad Samuels | MEDITEK