Operating theatre innovations

Managing director Graeme Hall commented: "With our increasing resistance to antibiotics and hospitalacquired infections creating a major financial burden on all health services, Brandon's introduction of antiviral and antibacterial moulded lights is an important advance. The material used is proven to kill the SARS-CoV virus and is based on silver ions that combat other superbugs such as MRSA and E.coli."

The firm's new medical video system that can also be built into theatre lights is equally impressive. The "Telemedicam" works with MPEG-4 compressed video, which feeds into a local network andor the Internet. Operating round the clock, the system has the advantage over existing systems by providing a complete record of all theatre activities, via up to 18 cameras. Up to 30 days' filming is easily stored on hard disk and easily accessed for cut-out stills or video records – available via hard drive or DVD.

Importantly, the system would allow a consultant not in the theatre to be fully visually informed via broadband when liaising with the operating team. This could be vital in accident and emergency cases.