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Illuminating the History of Surgical Lighting


See how surgical lights have evolved over the years — and how we’re still driving the industry forward today.


See how our long history of supporting patients and caregivers fuels today’s innovations.

A Strong History. A Bright Future.

In the dynamic surgical field, today’s breakthroughs stand on the shoulders of yesterday’s advances. Our surgical lighting innovations are powered by our long history of supporting surgical teams — and our commitment to you is as strong as ever. Join us as we shine a light on the breakthroughs that have propelled this industry forward throughout the centuries, and see how that innovation continues today at Baxter.

Explore Key Moments of Innovation

Why look back? Because yesterday’s learnings fuel tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Join us as we highlight some of our innovations through the years — and see how they drive our work to support the patients and care teams of today.

A mid-century surgical team works beneath a domed surgical light.

1900s: Early Electricity

Early surgery relied upon windows and natural light.1,2 By 1900, the filament bulb was in use.2
Surgeons work beneath a large, domed surgical light

Mid-1900s: Shadow Issues

Early surgical lights offered illumination, but the teams beneath them struggled with shadows.2
Surgeons work beneath a Trumpf Helion halogen light.

1970s: Bright, Intense Lights

Intense surgical lighting often contributed to eye strain with improper illumination and glare.3
A surgical team member repositions an iLED 5 Surgical Light.

1990s: Halogen Bulbs

The halogen bulb gained favor and progressed throughout the late 20th century. 2
iLED 7 Surgical Light is shown at an angle

2005: Introducing LED Lights

We introduced the iLED Surgical Light — the world’s first LED surgical light.4
Two Helux Pro Surgical Lights are shown side by side.

2014: iLED 7 Surgical Light

This light brought even greater focus on needs like shadow control, color rendition and more.5
A clinician operates a Progressa bed system with patient seated within

2023: Helux Pro Surgical Light

Our latest surgical light delivers connected illumination designed for today’s surgical workflows.5
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Experience Connected Illumination With the Helux Pro Surgical Light

Today’s surgical teams need more than illumination; they need illumination designed with safety, reliability and performance in mind. With a long history in the surgical space, we deeply understand the needs of today’s clinicians and the many healthcare team members that support them. Get to know the Helux Pro Surgical Light and experience what connected illumination could do for you.

Step Into the Future With Us

Let’s talk about how we can bring connected illumination to your organization. Complete the form to get started.



References
  1. Penn Medicine. (n.d.) Surgical Amphitheatre: Virtual Tour. History of Pennsylvania Hospital. Retrieved April 4, 2024. https://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc/tour/tour5.html
  2. Nikhil Sharma, Amrita Heer, Lei Su, A timeline of surgical lighting – Is automated lighting the future?, The Surgeon, Volume 21, Issue 6, 2023, Pages 369-374, ISSN 1479-666X, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surge.2023.05.004.
  3. Hemphälä, H., Johansson, G., Odenrick, P., Åkerman, K., & Larsson, P. A. (2009). Lighting Recommendations in Operating Theatres. In Proceedings of the 17th World Congress on Ergonomics 2009 IEA.
  4. https://www.ledsmagazine.com/architectural-lighting/retail-hospitality/article/16699448/trumpf-iled-surgical-light-offer-color-change-benefits
  5. Placeholder for iLED 7 launch reference
  6. “Baxter Showcases Surgical Innovations at AORN Global Surgical Conference and Expo 2023.” Baxter, April 3, 2023. https://www.baxter.com/baxter-newsroom/baxter-showcases-surgical-innovations-aorn-global-surgical-conference-and-expo-2023