Optimal design of illuminant for improving intraoperative color appearance of organ

Abstract

When surgeons evaluate the condition of organs and make diagnoses, color difference is an important information despite its subtleness. Yielding clearer views of blood circulation holds the key to successful surgeries such as transplants and anastomosis. Optimization of surgical illuminant is one approach to clearer views. Our previous study focused on computer simulation to enhance color difference. In the present study, we improved the simulation method by applying a color appearance model CIECAM02 and we realized an optimized illuminant based on the simulation. In an evaluation experiment comparing the optimal illuminant with the conventional illuminant, 14 LEDs fixed to the light unit were spectrally adjusted to demonstrate the two illuminants. Using a rat cecum, we observed the color differences under two conditions: normal blood flow and restricted blood flow. The color difference under the optimal illuminant was greater than under the conventional illuminant and the effectiveness of the optimal illuminant was confirmed.