Dr
Gio Caranci finds a powerful light for minor surgery that is bright
and solidly built.
 I
knew this light was going to be different from the moment it arrived.
It was delivered in three large boxes, and at first I ignored it,
thinking it was some flat-packed furniture our practice manager had
ordered. It wasn't until she asked me when I was going to move the
boxes out of her way that the light, as it were, dawned.
It is sent unassembled because it's a pretty large piece of kit, and
I was rather concerned because the instructions were, to say the least,
brief. But I needn't have worried. Putting it together was quite straightforward.
The kit even included a pair of special pliers to insert a circlip
on the main head unit - a thoughtful touch.
It was during assembly that I began to realise just how big this light
actually is. The main upright measures 1.75m high, and the flexible
arm 1m long. The stand arm and head are ivory coloured, with blue
plastic collars to cover the joints.
No doubt about it - this is a very serious lighting unit. It significantly
dwarfed my previous light, and looked a shade too big for my consulting
room. With these dimensions, it was clearly better suited to minor
operations and use in the treatment room. It is mobile, with four
wheels on the base, two of which lock to stop it going walkabout.
There is ballast in the base so it is unlikely to go very far un-assisted.
The whole thing weighs a hefty 20kg. I concluded that if Isambard
Kingdom Brunel had made mobile operating lights, then this would be
one of his. The base and upright are made from substantial scaffolding-sized
steel tubing, so it is clearly built to last. The adjustable arm,
which takes the weight of the light, is spring-loaded and stays just
where you put it. There is nothing worse than a light descending gracefully
into the wound during a minor operation. The head unit pivots on the
arm in all directions, giving a full range of movement without having
to move the unit itself. Although the light is large, its flexibility
is such that it can easily illuminate any area of a patient on a couch.
 The
head unit of the light contains a handle that can be sterilised. This
is an excellent idea, because it enables you to adjust the light yourself
during surgery. I don't know about you, but I find that if someone
else adjusts the light, somehow it is never in quite the right place.
The quality of the light is described as being colour-corrected for
daylight, and this avoids any colour distortion. Having used the light
for minor procedures there is no doubt about the quality of the light
produced.
The other extremely useful feature of the Astralite is the way it
manages to illuminate without projecting heat. The heat filter ensures
that the light never gets hot, which is a real bonus compared to cheaper
units that tend to heat up with prolonged use. The lighting comes
from a low voltage halogen bulb, rated at only 50 watts, yet producing
45,000 Lux at a distance of 1m.
The Astralite is designed for serious minor surgery. The cost and
size reflects the fact that it is aimed at the busier end of the minor
surgery spectrum, but it also reflects the quality of illumination
and the excellent construction. For those GP's undertaking a lot of
minor surgery, and who require lighting of a high standard, the Astralite
may be the ideal solution.
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