Camera device for medical articles and products

Abstract

Disclosed is a camera device for a surgical instrument, having a camera (1), the camera device having a direct illumination string (8) with a plurality of LEDs whose light is directed directly towards a reading area (20), and the camera device further having an indirect illumination string (6) with a plurality of LEDs whose light is directed directly towards a reading area (20). The indirect lighting string has a plurality of LEDs whose light is directed indirectly to the reading area via a reflector (4), the reflector (4) being arranged on the side of the two first lighting strings (6, 8) facing away from the reading area (20).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an illumination concept for a camera device of a medical device, such as a surgical instrument. The camera device at least detects a machine-readable code provided on a medical device, such as a surgical instrument). Background of the Invention

[0002] In a surgical operation, surgical instruments are detected individually, for example in order to compile the selection of a plurality of instruments and provide it to the operating physician or surgeon. This detection can be carried out semi-automatically in such a way that the instruments are sorted manually while being electronically monitored by means of a camera device used as a scanner. Prior Art

[0003] DE3917876 A1 of the applicant discloses a system for loading a surgical instrument set. A bar code provided on the instrument is automatically read in by means of a reading head configured as a hand-held device. On a monitor, the scanned instrument is automatically displayed to the user and recorded in an existing list.

[0004] In this case, direct illumination units are known in order to make the machine-readable code of the surgical instrument visible to the camera.

[0005] In the DMT100 document of IOSS, a camera device configured as a table instrument is disclosed, on the upper side of which a camera is arranged. During operation, the user holds the machine-readable two-dimensional data matrix code of the surgical instrument against the camera viewfinder aperture, which is then automatically read in. A multi-channel LED illumination unit is provided, in which a matching channel is automatically selected from four illumination channels.

[0006] A table instrument for scanning in principle a similar curved surface data matrix code of a relevant surgical instrument is known under the product name Surgiscan or Surgiscan Ultra of 2DSurgical. The camera device has an indirect illumination unit. In the corresponding data sheet of the same name, an LED illumination unit with 256 colors is disclosed for constant illumination or flash operation. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The object of the present disclosure is to provide a camera device for scanning a machine-readable code, the recognition reliability and speed of which are improved compared to the prior art.

[0008] This object is achieved with a camera device having the feature combination of claim 1.

[0009] A camera device for detecting / vision processing / evaluation according to the present disclosure, or for processing a medical device (such as a surgical instrument), has a first camera, which is arranged and designed to at least detect a machine-readable code of a medical device (such as a surgical instrument). The camera device has a first direct illumination string, and the light of the first direct illumination string preferably directly points to a plurality of LEDs in a reading area or a working area for the medical device or its code through at least a partially surrounding, preferably annular diffuser (that is, a certain number of LEDs are arranged on a first direct circular path preferably centered on the first camera). The camera device also has a first indirect illumination string, and the light of the first indirect illumination string indirectly points to a plurality of LEDs in the reading area through a first (such as concave) reflector (that is, a certain number of LEDs are arranged on a first indirect circular path preferably centered on the first camera). The first (one-piece or multi-piece) reflector is arranged on a side of the two first illumination strings facing away from the reading area. With such a camera device, different illumination scenarios can be realized, and the recognition reliability is improved. Through fast, early, and sufficient recognition reliability, the recognition speed is generally improved. Therefore, the camera device enables the user to increase the throughput of the medical device.

[0010] "Medical device" should be understood, for example, as an advanced surgical instrument or other medical device or medical instrument or medical instrument component or medical product or medical consumable.

[0011] As already mentioned, the reflector can also be multi-piece, for example, composed of multiple faces. Therefore, for example, in terms of device technology, a hollow cuboid can also be easily realized.

[0012] Based on the analysis and processing of the quality of the camera image on the surface of the medical device to be observed (such as in terms of illumination, but also in terms of reflection), each section of the illumination string can also be preferably individually controlled and adapted in terms of brightness to given conditions, so as to achieve ideal illumination for the reading process (uniform illumination of the code / minimization of reflection / maximization of the contrast between the medical device and the code).

[0013] A further development stage is to combine the adaptive illumination as described above with a camera having an autofocus function (such as a voice coil motor or a liquid lens).

[0014] If two first lighting strings have approximately the same diameter in the sense of a double-loop / double-circular path and are abutted against each other with their backs, a simple expansion solution with optimal lighting in terms of device technology is obtained. It should be noted here that the two first lighting strings can be constructed, for example, in such a way that a ring-shaped or circular-path-shaped circuit board is equipped with a certain number of LEDs on both sides, where the circuit board defining the circular path has a certain board width and the LEDs can also be radially offset from each other within this board width (and can still be said to be located on the circular path).

[0015] If at least one of the two first lighting strings is arranged and / or fastened on the circumferential inner edge of the first reflector, a simple expansion solution with optimal lighting in terms of device technology is obtained. Preferably, the first (e.g., ring-shaped) diffuser is also directly or indirectly arranged and / or fastened on the circumferential inner edge of the first reflector.

[0016] According to the first configuration, the control software or the control unit is programmed to be able to generate a camera image, and for this purpose, the two first lighting strings can be alternately controlled successively. In a specific embodiment, for example, the exposure line time of the first camera is set to 2 ms, and the control frequency of the two lighting strings is set to 500 Hz.

[0017] A method for operating a camera device is also disclosed, in which the exposure line of the first camera is achieved by successively and alternately controlling the two first lighting strings. Here, autofocus is achieved, for example, by a voice coil motor or a liquid lens.

[0018] According to the second configuration, the control software or the control unit is programmed to be able to successively generate at least two (preferably multiple) images of the first camera, where each individual camera image can be generated by controlling only one of the two first lighting strings. Thereafter, the best camera image generated by the best first lighting string can be automatically obtained by comparing at least two (preferably multiple) camera images.

[0019] A method for operating a camera device is also disclosed, in which at least two (preferably multiple) exposure lines of the first camera are carried out successively, and where each individual exposure line is carried out by controlling only one of the two first lighting strings.

[0020] If two first illumination strings are arranged substantially horizontally, and if a first reflector is arranged above the two first illumination strings and a reading area is arranged below the two first illumination strings, a favorable operation of the medical device is obtained. It follows therefrom that the light beams of the LEDs of the first direct illumination string (at least by means of one component) point downward, and the light beams of the LEDs of the first indirect illumination string (at least by means of one component) point upward into the first reflector.

[0021] The operation of the medical device is further improved if a support, preferably a support surface, for example a support plate, is arranged below the reading area. The support surface can also advantageously delimit the reading area downward, in which a machine-readable code can be clearly detected. Then, the medical device to be detected can be placed on the support surface respectively by the user, or even simply pushed onto the support surface below the camera.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the first camera is arranged in a recess of the first reflector.

[0023] On a side of the reading area facing away from the two first illumination strings, the first reflector and the first camera (that is to say, preferably opposite to the first camera) a second camera is arranged, wherein the camera device also has a second direct illumination string, which has a plurality of LEDs whose light passes directly through at least a partially surrounding (for example, annular) diffuser into the reading area. In addition, the camera device has a second indirect illumination string, which has a plurality of LEDs whose light is indirectly directed into the reading area via a second (for example, concave) reflector. The second reflector is arranged on a side of the two second illumination strings facing away from the reading area. Here, it should also be noted that the two second illumination strings (corresponding to the first illumination strings) can be constructed, for example, in such a way that a circular or circular-path-shaped circuit board is equipped with a certain number of LEDs on both sides, wherein the circuit board defining the circular path has a certain board width and the LEDs can also be radially offset from each other within this board width (and can still be said to be located on the circular path).

[0024] With such a camera device, different illumination scenarios can be realized, and the recognition reliability is further improved. By means of a faster, earlier and more sufficient recognition reliability, the recognition speed is further increased overall.

[0025] The supplementary illumination can be both in the visible light wavelength range and in the non-visible light wavelength range, and can also switch its wavelength in different illumination scenarios. Then, the two cameras are designed for different wavelength ranges in the visible light, ultraviolet light and infrared light groups.

[0026] Especially when the two cameras point at each other (common optical axis), glare must be prevented. For this purpose, a band-pass filter is preferably provided.

[0027] For magnifying optically small barcodes and expanding the reading area of machine-readable codes, a camera device with a parabolic mirror can also be envisaged. The parabolic mirror is arranged on the side of the reading area facing away from the two first lighting strings and the first reflector hood, so as to optically magnify the machine-readable code by virtue of its specific curvature. The distortion generated thereby can be calculated from the image.

[0028] In the first embodiment, the parabolic mirror is convex.

[0029] In the second embodiment, the parabolic mirror is concave, and the first camera is arranged at the focus of the parabolic mirror. If, for example, another lighting unit is arranged adjacent to the focus of the concave parabolic mirror and the light rays of this other lighting unit are indirectly directed to the reading area via the parabolic mirror, a further improved illumination or an alternative illumination scenario of the reading area or the working area is obtained.

[0030] The code that can be machine-read by the camera device is in particular a two-dimensional area code or a barcode, in particular a data matrix code, but can also be a one-dimensional code (such as a traditional barcode). In addition, a camera device designed for character recognition (OCR) can also be provided.

[0031] According to an expansion scheme of the camera device, in particular its electronic analysis and processing unit, the illumination scenario can be further adapted for other applications, such as for inspecting surfaces or inspecting cutting edges. In this case, the reading area of the aforementioned machine-readable code is also the inspection area of the instrument.

[0032] Supplementary illumination in the ultraviolet range is meaningful, for example, to better detect contamination of the instrument.

[0033] The aforementioned lighting strings can be circular or circular arc-shaped. The aforementioned lighting strings can also be polygons having at least four sides and four corners. The lighting string can also have interruptions. Preferably, the lighting string is an LED light strip. Description of the Drawings

[0034] Figure 1 is a camera device according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] Figure 2 is a camera device according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0036] Figure 3 is a camera device according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure; and

[0037] Figure 4 is a camera device according to the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. Detailed Description of the Invention

[0038] Next, four embodiments of the present disclosure will be described based on the relevant accompanying drawings.

[0039] Figure 1 is a camera device according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure in a side schematic cross-sectional view.

[0040] The (first) camera 1 is received in the camera housing 2, and the lens or objective of the camera points downward through the central groove 3 of, for example, a concave reflector 4. The lighting unit is formed by two lighting strings 6, 8, and the two lighting strings are arranged and fastened on the circumferential inner edge of the reflector 4.

[0041] The lower lighting string is called the direct lighting string 8 because the LEDs of this lighting string, preferably evenly distributed on the circumference, emit their light downward directly onto the medical device (such as an instrument) or its machine-readable code through a circumferential (such as annular) diffuser 9. The diffuser 9 in front of the direct lighting string 8 produces a greater light scattering. This lighting method produces dark-field illumination.

[0042] The upper lighting string is called the indirect lighting string 6 because the LEDs of this lighting string, evenly distributed on the circumference, emit their light upward into the reflector 4 and thus indirectly illuminate the medical device or its machine-readable code.

[0043] The circumferential inner edge of the reflector 4, the two lighting strings 6, 8, and the diffuser 9 are substantially horizontal. At a distance a below the diffuser 9, a mounting surface 12 configured as a mounting plate is arranged, and the medical device is mounted on this mounting surface. The distance a is determined such that a clear image of the medical device mounted thereon together with the machine-readable code pointing upward can be detected by the camera 1. This area is called the reading area.

[0044] In addition, the camera 1 can also image the surface of the instrument. The user of the camera device can determine the dirt there by observing the analysis and processing software of a (not shown) monitor or a (not shown) controller.

[0045] Finally, the camera 1 can also image the cutting edge or cutting that may exist on the instrument. The user can check and evaluate the cutting edge or cutting by observing the monitor or the analysis and processing software of the controller.

[0046] Figure 2 is a camera device according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure in a side schematic cross-sectional view.

[0047] Here, components and functions, especially Figure 1 the lighting unit, are implemented in the upper region. Figure 1The support surface 12. Instead, another camera 11 is provided below the reading area 20, and the lens or objective lens of the other camera points upward from below the reading area 20.

[0048] The second illumination unit having two second illumination strings 16, 18 in the infrared range of 850 nm makes the reading more robust against external light. In particular, if the second camera 11 has a band-pass filter 13 of 850 nm. Here, the two illumination strings 16, 18, the second diffuser 19, and the second reflector 14 are thus positioned and operatively connected with respect to the second camera 11, and as in the upper arrangement Figure 1 illustrated.

[0049] Figure 3 is a camera device according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure in a side schematic cross-sectional view.

[0050] Here, components and functions are implemented in the upper region, especially Figure 1 the illumination unit. The support surface 12 of Figure 1 is omitted. Instead, a convex parabolic mirror 22 is arranged below the reading area 20. Thus, the parabolic mirror is arranged on the lower side of the reading area 20 facing away from the two first illumination strings 6, 8 and the first reflector 4, so as to optically magnify the machine-readable code by its specific curvature. The distortion generated in such a camera device can be calculated from the image.

[0051] Figure 4 is a camera device according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure in a side schematic cross-sectional view.

[0052] The principle of the common action of the two illumination strings 6, 8, the diffuser 9, and the reflector 104 in principle corresponds to Figure 1 the first embodiment of. However, the reflector 104 does not have a groove for the camera 1. Instead, the camera 1 is arranged below the reading area 20, at the focal point 124 of a concave parabolic mirror 122 also arranged below the reading area 20. The concave parabolic mirror 122 opens upward in the direction toward the reading area 20.

[0053] Another indirect illumination unit 106 is arranged directly below the focal point 124 of the parabolic mirror 122, and its (not shown) LED light first points downward and then points toward the reading area 20 via the parabolic mirror 122. Thus, further improved illumination and another alternative illumination scenario are obtained.

[0054] The light passing by the two upper illumination strings 6, 8 beside the medical device (medical device) is also reflected to the reading area 20 via the parabolic mirror 122. Here, the downwardly directed parallel light of the illumination strings 6, 8 according to Figure 4The arrow shown in is reflected by the parabolic mirror 122 onto its focus 124.

[0055] In all the shown embodiments of the camera device according to Figures 1 to 4 the following manipulation possibilities are provided for flicker-free camera images:

[0056] Two lighting strings 6, 8 are manipulated out of phase at a frequency of 500 Hz. During the manipulation, only one of the two lighting strings 6, 8 is active. Different lighting scenarios are thus created, which highlight different artifacts on the medical device (e.g. instrument). The timing of the lighting strings 6, 8 is not visible to the user. The timing can be perceived via the camera image. To compensate for this, the exposure line time of the sensor or camera 1 is set to 2 ms.

[0057] Another variant of the lighting control is to control the camera 1 synchronously with the lighting strings 6, 8. Here, only one lighting string 6, 8 is manipulated using each newly recorded camera image. To show the user a "calm" camera image, only the camera image of one lighting string 6, 8 is shown here.

[0058] The synchronization of the camera 1 with the lighting satisfies the following formula:

[0059] F 光 = y(20 + n) [Hz],

[0060] where F 光 is the possible lighting frequency, n is any natural number or zero, and y is the number of lighting scenarios.

[0061] A frequency of 20 Hz or frames per second is required to generate a smooth camera image display on the (not shown) monitor for the. In this case, the frequency of the camera 1 is determined according to the following formula:

[0062] F 光 >= m * F 摄像头

[0063] where F 摄像头 is the frequency of the camera 1, and m is any natural number.

[0064] To make the switching between lighting scenarios, especially between the lighting strings 6, 8, invisible to the human eye and to avoid flickering, F 光 should be at least 100 Hz.

[0065] List of reference numerals:

[0066] 1 First camera 2 First camera housing 3 Groove 4; 104 First reflector 6 First indirect illumination string 8 First direct illumination string 9 First diffuser 11 Second camera 12 Second camera housing 13 Band-pass filter 14 Second reflector 16 Second indirect illumination string 18 Second direct illumination string 19 Second diffuser 20 Reading area 22 Convex parabolic mirror 106 Another indirect illumination part 122 Concave parabolic mirror 124 Focus

[0067] F 光 Frequency F of the illumination unit 摄像头 Frequency of the camera a Distance m Natural number n Natural number or zero.

Claims

1. A camera device having a first camera (1), the first camera being arranged and designed to detect a machine-readable code of a medical device, wherein, The camera device has a first direct illumination string (8) having a plurality of LEDs whose light rays are directly directed towards the reading area (20), and wherein the camera device further has a first indirect illumination string (6) having a plurality of LEDs whose light rays are indirectly directed towards the reading area via a first reflector (4), wherein the first reflector (4) is arranged on a side of the two first illumination strings (6, 8) facing away from the reading area (20).

2. The camera device according to claim 1, wherein, The backs of the first illumination strings (6, 8) face each other.

3. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least one of the two first illumination strings (6, 8) is arranged and / or fastened on the circumferential inner edge of the first reflector (4).

4. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, In order to generate a camera image, the two first illumination strings (6, 8) can be successively controlled.

5. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, At least two camera images of the first camera (1) can be successively generated, and wherein each individual camera image can be generated by controlling only one of the two first illumination strings (6, 8).

6. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The two first illumination strings (6, 8) are arranged substantially horizontally, and wherein the first reflector (4) is arranged above the two first illumination strings (6, 8), while the reading area (20) is arranged below the two first illumination strings (6, 8).

7. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, A support (12) for the instrument is arranged below the reading area (20).

8. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The first camera (1) is arranged in a recess (3) of the first reflector (4).

9. The camera device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, A second camera (11) is arranged on a side of the reading area (20) facing away from the two first illumination strings (6, 8), the first reflector (4), and the first camera (1), and wherein the camera device further has a second direct illumination string (18) having a plurality of LEDs whose light rays are directly directed towards the reading area (20), and wherein the camera device further has a second indirect illumination string (16) having a plurality of LEDs whose light rays are indirectly directed towards the reading area (20) via a second reflector (14), wherein the second reflector (14) is arranged on a side of the two second illumination strings (16, 18) facing away from the reading area (20).

10. The camera device according to claim 9, wherein, The two cameras (1, 11) are designed for different wavelength ranges in the visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light groups.

11. The camera device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein, A parabolic mirror (22; 122) is arranged on a side of the reading area (20) facing away from the two first illumination strings (6, 8) and the first reflector (4).

12. The camera device according to claim 11, wherein, The parabolic mirror (22) is convex.

13. The camera device according to claim 11, wherein, The parabolic mirror (122) is concave, and wherein the first camera (1) is arranged at the focus (124) of the parabolic mirror (122), and wherein another indirect illumination part (106) is provided, and the light rays of the another indirect illumination part are directed towards the reading area (20) via the parabolic mirror (122).

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