Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical drilling system having a light source for illuminating the treatment area during surgery. The light source is detachably connected to a light guide assembly which is mounted on the handpiece of a surgical drilling system. Light from a lens-end subminiature incandescent bulb is focused on an optical fiber bundle in the light guide assembly. The incandescent bulb generates less heat and has a greater rated life than a halogen bulb with comparable light intensity at the operation site.In one embodiment the light source controller utilizes a switching power regulator with pulse width modulation. The light source controller converts a pulse width modulation signal into a DC voltage. The duty cycle of the signal increases from a minimum to a maximum, thereby providing a soft start for the lamp. In normal operation, the duty cycle creates an average lamp drive voltage which is less than the maximum lamp drive voltage.

Abstract: Intermittent stabilization of a load table supported by pneumatic vibration isolators is provided by determining a load shift condition, increasing passage of gas to the pneumatic vibration isolators and imposing external or internal damping on the load table in response to that load shift condition. For internal damping, the pneumatic vibration isolator is provided with damping fluid in one of its pneumatic chambers and a damping fluid friction passage is provided between that damping fluid in that one pneumatic chamber and the other pneumatic chamber.