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Vaishnavi Gopal Shirsikar,
Aditi Dinanath Shahane,
Heena T Shaikh,
Dr. Kazi Kutubuddin Sayyad Liyakat,
- Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Brahmdevdada Mane Institute of Technology, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Brahmdevdada Mane Institute of Technology, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
- Assistant Professor, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Brahmdevdada Mane Institute of Technology, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
- Professor and Head of Department, Department of Electronics and Telecommunication Engineering, Brahmdevdada Mane Institute of Technology, Solapur, Maharashtra, India
Abstract
The operating theatre is increasingly saturated with wireless devices that contend for limited radiofrequency (RF) spectrum, creating a latent risk of electromagnetic interference (EMI) with lifesupporting equipment. Light Fidelity (LiFi), a visiblelight communication technology that modulates LED illumination to transmit data, offers a compelling, RFfree alternative for intraoperative networking. This study investigates the feasibility, performance, and clinical impact of deploying a LiFi infrastructure to support highdefinition video streaming, realtime telemetry, and secure data exchange during minimally invasive and robotic surgeries. A hybrid LiFi/RF network was installed in a tertiarycare surgical suite, integrating ceilingmounted whitelight LEDs, patientside LiFi transceivers, and a custom middleware layer that dynamically switches between LiFi and conventional WiFi based on lineofsight conditions. Over a sixmonth period, 84 procedures—including laparoscopic cholecystectomies, colorectal resections, and robotassisted prostatectomies—were observed. Quantitative metrics revealed a 3.2fold increase in average throughput (up to 1.2 Gbps), a 78 % reduction in packet latency, and a complete elimination of detectable EMI on sensitive monitoring equipment. Qualitative feedback from surgeons, anesthetists, and OR nurses highlighted enhanced visual clarity of intraoperative imaging, smoother robotic arm responsiveness, and a perceived increase in procedural safety. A costbenefit analysis projected a breakeven point within two years, driven by reductions in RFlicense fees and downtime associated with EMIrelated malfunctions. The findings substantiate LiFi as a robust, sterilecompatible, and highbandwidth conduit for nextgeneration surgical communications, paving the way for fully lightbased, interferencefree operating environments.
Keywords: Li-Fi, Medical Surgery, Throughput, Packet Latency, Electromagnetic interference
Vaishnavi Gopal Shirsikar, Aditi Dinanath Shahane, Heena T Shaikh, Dr. Kazi Kutubuddin Sayyad Liyakat. Li-Fi in Surgery: A Study. International Journal of Electrical and Communication Engineering Technology. 2026; 04(01):-.
Vaishnavi Gopal Shirsikar, Aditi Dinanath Shahane, Heena T Shaikh, Dr. Kazi Kutubuddin Sayyad Liyakat. Li-Fi in Surgery: A Study. International Journal of Electrical and Communication Engineering Technology. 2026; 04(01):-. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijecet/article=2026/view=239784
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| Volume | 04 |
| 01 | |
| Received | 11/12/2025 |
| Accepted | 11/03/2026 |
| Published | 07/04/2026 |
| Publication Time | 117 Days |
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