Lighting plays a central role in surgical precision, visibility, and workflow efficiency. Yet, conventional lighting systems aren’t always the best fit when trying to consistently illuminate deep, narrow, and complex surgical cavities. KLARO® is a versatile surgical lighting device designed to address some of the challenges faced by surgeons, and support across a wide range of procedures.
It’s reported that 88% of surgeons face difficulty illuminating deep cavities* using conventional lighting systems. KLARO® was developed alongside leading oncological surgeons to bring optimal illumination directly into surgical fields where visibility is otherwise difficult to achieve. It was created to overcome limitations associated with traditional operating room lighting systems. KLARO® aims to reduce disruption, improve ergonomics, and offer adaptable illumination during orthopaedic procedures, thoracic procedures, and more.
This article outlines KLARO®’s features, applications, and its role in helping surgeons achieve clearer visibility, particularly in orthopaedic and thoracic surgery where confined spaces and deep anatomical sites often create lighting limitations.
Challenges of conventional surgical lighting
Surgical teams often use light sources such as overhead lights and headlights to illuminate the working field. However, conventional options can require repeated adjustments and do not always provide the angles or coverage needed within deep cavities.
Repositioning of light sources
Traditional overhead operating lights are useful, but they do not always maintain consistent illumination as procedures progress or surgical positioning changes. Studies have shown that operating lights are adjusted frequently, with 64% of surgeries encountering disruption due to repositioning*. Operating room lights can be adjusted as often as once every 7.5 minutes, interrupting workflow.
Headlamp-related challenges
Head-mounted LED lights are versatile, offering mobility and directional control, but they also present challenges. Up to 68% of surgeons wearing headgear report aggravation of neck-related symptoms*.
KLARO® was designed as a response to these common operational issues. As a portable, cordless alternative, KLARO® removes head-mounted weight and overhead light dependency while offering direct illumination from within the surgical cavity itself.
KLARO®: A cordless, adaptable surgical lighting device
KLARO® is a sterile, single-use, battery-operated surgical illumination strip that provides direct lighting within the operative field. It’s designed to be lightweight, versatile, with surgical applications including orthopaedic, thoracic, head & neck, breast surgery and general surgery. Its ability to illuminate deep cavities makes it especially useful in procedures where access is limited and visibility is critical.
As a cordless, portable light source, KLARO® provides ergonomic and workflow benefits. The powerpack can be clipped to drapes, with the flexilight attached to retractors, so that it’s securely fastened and unobtrusive. This reduces the reliance on external arms, tethers, or headgear.
Key Product Features
KLARO® incorporates several features designed to support practical surgical use and reliable lighting performance.
Adjustable illumination
KLARO® offers four selectable lighting intensities, allowing surgeons to tailor brightness to cavity depth, tissue characteristics, and phase of the operation. This flexible control helps to support consistent, appropriate lighting throughout the procedure.
Wide-angle lighting
The light strip can remain straight or be bent to achieve broader illumination.
- Unbent: Approximately 155° illumination
- Bent: Up to approximately 340° illumination
This enables flood-style lighting within deep surgical cavities where conventional lighting may not reach effectively.
Hands-free functionality
During surgery, the KLARO® powerpack can be secured to drapes, with the flexilight attached to a retractor. This hands-free capability supports efficient workspace management and reduces reliance on healthcare professionals to hold lighting instruments.
Cordless convenience
KLARO® is battery-powered and cordless, making movement less restrictive. When the battery begins to deplete, the low-battery indicator will glow red, indicating approximately 15 minutes of usage time remaining.
Compact size
At only 4.6 mm in diameter, the KLARO® light strip fits easily into small or tight anatomical spaces, minimising disruption to the surgical site and instrumentation.
Sterile and single-use
KLARO® is supplied sterile and designed for single-use application, reducing contamination risk.
Safe operating temperature
KLARO® maintains a safe working temperature below 38°C / 100.4°F at all intensity settings, protecting tissue and supporting safe intraoperative use.
Simple to use
Designed for simple setup and operation, its one-button control simplifies activation, adjustment, and shutdown, enabling rapid deployment in time-critical or complex environments.
Transform your retractors into a lighted retractor
One of KLARO®’s core benefits is its ability to convert standard handheld or self-retaining retractors into illuminated instruments. This is achieved through simple, silicone, retractor loops supplied with each device.
Retractor loop system
The retractor loop is made of biocompatible silicone rubber and designed to fasten KLARO® securely to a wide range of retractor blade sizes and configurations.
Features include:
- Compatibility with handheld retractors between 10 mm and 145 mm blade size
- Compatibility with all brands of self-retaining retractors
- Elastic material to ensure a stable fit and secure mounting
Surgeons can attach KLARO® in three simple steps, creating an illuminated retractor system that maintains visibility without requiring additional external lighting devices or staff assistance.
Benefits of attaching a surgical light to your retractor
Using KLARO® with handheld or self-retaining retractors helps to:
- Provide wide-angled lighting similar to floodlights directly into the surgical cavity
- Enable hands-free lighting once fixed to a retractor
- Reduce dependence on surgical assistants for lighting support
- Support continuity of visibility without repeated overhead light adjustments
- Maintain familiar instrumentation, supporting surgical efficiency and workflow continuity
Integrating the KLARO® light with a retractor allows surgical teams to leverage the instruments they already use while enhancing lighting performance within deep cavities and operative spaces.
Application in orthopaedic surgery
Orthopaedic surgery often requires access to deep, narrow cavities surrounded by dense tissue and bone structures. Traditional overhead lights and headlamps may not always provide consistent illumination in these environments due to anatomical depth, bony structures, or instrument shadowing.
KLARO®’s flexible, bendable light strip and wide-angle illumination combine to support improved visibility during procedures. Surgeons can position the light inside the cavity using retractors, delivering illumination right where it’s needed.
This supports visibility in procedures such as orthopaedic surgery, thoracic surgery, and general surgery where conventional lighting may be limited.
Application in thoracic surgery
Thoracic surgery frequently involves deep and partially obstructed working spaces. Traditional lighting doesn’t always illuminate these areas effectively, particularly during cavity-focused procedures.
KLARO® offers variable light positioning to help illuminate thoracic cavities from within. The slim diameter allows insertion into confined anatomical spaces, while the option to secure it to retractors ensures stable, hands-free lighting throughout the procedure.
This helps address common lighting challenges related to chest wall structures, tissue shadowing, and illumination constraints.
Additional surgical applications
While orthopaedic and thoracic surgery represent key areas for KLARO® usage, the device can also used across multiple specialties, including:
- Head and neck surgery
- Breast surgery
- General surgery
In each of these fields, KLARO® serves as a flexible intraoperative light source designed to overcome the limitations of conventional lighting and support visibility in deep or narrow surgical cavities. The sterile, single-use design ensures convenience and sterility across a diverse range of procedures.
Ergonomic design
One of the advantages of KLARO® is the potential to reduce dependence on head-mounted lights. With a reported 68%* of surgeons using headgear experiencing an aggravation of neck symptoms, the cordless, off-head design of KLARO® provides a lighting solution that does not require additional weight or strain on the surgeon.
Reduced disruption during procedures
KLARO® helps address lighting disruptions by providing illumination directly inside the cavity. Having a light source right where you need it reduces the need for repeated adjustment of overhead lights or headlamps.
The simple activation button, intuitive brightness control, and quick mounting system help surgical teams integrate KLARO® into existing operating routines with minimal training or adjustment.
Summary
KLARO® is a versatile surgical lighting device developed to address limitations in conventional lighting systems. KLARO® delivers direct, adjustable lighting inside deep and narrow cavities, where traditional lighting solutions may not reach.
Key features include:
- Four adjustable brightness levels
- Bendable light strip enabling up to ~340° illumination
- Hands-free mounting via retractor loops
- Cordless, portable design
- Sterile & single-use
- Safe operating temperature below 38°C / 100.4°F
- 4-hour battery life with low-power indicator
- Small 4.6mm diameter for access into tight spaces
KLARO® is designed for use across multiple surgical specialties, with significant advantages in orthopaedic and thoracic procedures where deep cavity illumination may be required. Its retractor-mounting ability transforms standard retractors into illuminated tools, supporting continuity of visibility.
Through simple setup, adaptable positioning, and unobtrusive design, KLARO® provides a lighting system that supports surgical visibility.
Who are we?
We’re Summit Medical, experts in the world of orthopaedic surgical solutions. Whether you need complex tools like ultrasonic revision technology or just a simple antibiotic spacer, we can help. Whilst we’re best known for our bone cement mixing devices manufactured here in the UK, we also provide revision arthroplasty solutions.
If you’d like to learn more about KLARO®, head over to our product page. Alternatively, use the contact form below to get in touch with one of our product experts.
*Statistics referenced from the KLARO® official website.