Minimum Specifications for a Lifebox Surgical Headlight for Resource-Constrained Settings

Safe surgery requires reliable, high-quality lighting. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), electricity outages are disruptive, dangerous, and ubiquitous.

Safe surgery requires reliable, high-quality lighting. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), electricity outages are disruptive, dangerous, and ubiquitous. Inadequate surgical lighting due to inconsistent or poor illumination results in delays and cancellations of surgery, as well as patient harm. In LMICs, surgical headlights are unaffordable, lack in-country suppliers, and are unsuitably designed for austere environments. An affordable, rechargeable, built-for-purpose surgical headlight could help address this surgical safety issue.

Authors: Jared A Forrester, Kris Torgeson, Thomas G Weiser