Medical microscope and microscope system

Abstract

The invention relates to a medical microscope (9) comprising: a microscope eyepiece system (19) having a binocular (19A), an eyepiece base body (19B) that supports the binocular (19A), and a microscope suspension which is attached to the eyepiece base body (19B) and is designed to secure the medical microscope (9) to a support system (11); a microscope body (21) having at least one objective lens for capturing light from a field of view, the microscope body (21) being associated with a microscope axis (21A) which corresponds to a section of an optical symmetry axis extending from the microscope body (21) to the field of view; and an opto-mechanical system (23) which is positioned between the microscope eyepiece system (19) and the microscope body (21) and channels light captured by the microscope body (21) to the binocular (19A). The opto-mechanical system (23) is designed to allow a pivoting movement of the microscope body (9) about a pivot axis (31A) and has a first rotation unit (33) for rotationally moving the microscope body (21) about a first axis of rotation (33A) provided by the first rotation unit (33), the first axis of rotation (33A) extending coaxially, parallel or at an angle in the range of 0° to 5° to a section of the optical symmetry axis which extends through the first rotation unit (33).

Description

Medical microscope and microscope system [1] The present invention relates to a medical microscope, in particular with an optomechanical system for flexibly adjusting a field of view of the microscope. Furthermore, the invention relates to a microscope system. [2] In medical applications, microscopes are used to examine and / or treat patients. They are referred to as medical microscopes, surgical (OP), diagnostic, examination microscopes or simply as microscopes. Medical microscopes are used particularly in microsurgery, for example in neurosurgery (surgery in the area of ​​the head and intervertebral discs), ophthalmology (cataract surgery), plastic surgery (cosmetic surgery) or dentistry (root canal treatment, implantology, etc.). Medical microscopes are usually used for stereoscopic views of a tissue to be examined or treated and provide considerable, often adjustable, magnification factors. [3] A medical microscope comprises a binocular view (e.g., a Kepler tube) in conjunction with, for example, a multi-stage, switchable magnification changer according to Galileo (telescope system) in combination with a coaxial illumination (e.g., with a 6 V / 30 W incandescent lamp), which is, for example, coaxially aligned with the microscope beam path via a mirror. This basic design corresponds to the first surgical microscopes from 1953 by Dr. Littmann (Zeiss AG) and Prof. Wullstein (University of Würzburg), with which the first microsurgical operations in the ENT field were successfully performed. This was followed by the use of microscopes in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, gynecology, urology, and, at the end of the 1990s, in dentistry. [4] Medical microscopes are held by a flexible support system, such as a ceiling, wall or floor stand, or a fixed support system, using a detachable coupling system. [5] The coupling system usually includes a suspension mechanism that detachably connects the microscope to the support system and can optionally provide one or more degrees of freedom. Parts of the coupling system (here also referred to as microscope suspension) are formed on the microscope and the support system. One task of the support system and the microscope suspension is to enable free positioning of the microscope in relation to the to enable the patient to be examined and to provide the most rigid (stationary) positioning of the microscope possible during the examination / treatment so that the field of view can be recorded with the microscope with as little blurring as possible. [6] The state of the art includes a variety of configurations of microscopes and microscope mounts. [7] Optical configurations of microscopes particularly concern the configuration of the microscope body and the eyepiece system. The microscope body comprises an objective system, which may consist of a magnification system (e.g. a magnification changer such as a Galilean changer) and a main objective with one (or more) objective or main lenses of the microscope located on the patient side. Depending on the application, magnification systems can provide several, for example 3-6, magnification levels or a ZOOM system with continuous magnification adjustment. The imaging of a focal plane (herein also referred to as the microscope plane) occurs from two observation directions, so that two partial beam paths, which impinge on the focal plane at an angle, must be guided through the microscope body and the eyepiece system. In the eyepiece system, the image of the objective system is further magnified using a binocular.The main objective focuses the binocular partial beam paths, which are spatially offset from an optical axis of symmetry, to form a common focus in the focal plane of the microscope. The main objective can, for example, be a varifocal objective with adjustable focal lengths. The eyepiece system comprises one or more eyepiece lenses with the associated tubes for each of the two partial beam paths and is also called the viewing tube. Typical magnifications of microscopes with a binocular system range from 2.5x to 30x or more. [8] The microscope suspension is usually adapted to the various types of stands used in medical environments. Suspension mechanisms are usually attached to one side of the microscope and thus extend laterally, providing, for example, a degree of freedom in the form of a forward-backward pivoting movement of the microscope for positioning the field of view on the patient. [9] If the objective system and the eyepiece system of a microscope are rigidly connected, the operator must follow the movement of the microscope with his head when it is moved. Manufacturers of such microscopes include, in addition to the applicant Jadent GmbH, These include companies such as Zeiss AG, Leica Microsystems GmbH, Karl Kaps GmbH & Co. KG, and Global Surgical Corporation. Furthermore, microscope configurations are known in which the objective system, with a fixed eyepiece, can be moved, thus shifting the field of view. This means that, for example, a surgeon does not have to change their posture when changing the field of view in one direction. For example, DE 603 ​​05 413 T2 discloses an optical system for adjusting a field of view in one direction, and US Pat. No. 8,922,884 B2 discloses a microscope with a flexible objective lens arrangement with two axes of movement perpendicular to each other and perpendicular to the beam path.

[0010] The inventors have recognized disadvantages of known microscopes, such as the complexity of the optical Systems and the limited adjustability of the field of view with a fixed eyepiece position. It was generally recognized that microscopes, especially cost-effective ones, are needed that allow the field of view to be (re-)positioned as easily as possible during treatment / surgery.

[0011] One aspect of this disclosure is therefore based on the object of providing a compact and cost-effective structure of a microscope system that enables flexible adjustment and / or modification of the field of view—if possible in three-dimensional space. According to a further object of an aspect of this disclosure, the operator of a microscope should be able to vary the field of view within a certain range without changing an ergonomic posture once assumed. In summary, the usability of a medical microscope should be improved in such a way that, in particular, physically stressful postures of the operator are avoided / reduced, and a field of view can be changed in all directions in the focal plane without altering the ergonomic view through the eyepieces. Such aspects can lead to increased ergonomics, quality, and safety during examinations / treatments of patients.

[0012] At least one of these objects is achieved by a medical microscope according to claim 1 and by a microscope system according to claim 10. Further developments are specified in the subclaims.

[0013] In one aspect, a medical microscope comprises a microscope eyepiece system with a binocular, an eyepiece base body holding the binocular and a microscope suspension which is attached to the eyepiece base body and is used to attach the medical microscope is formed on a support system. Furthermore, the medical microscope comprises a microscope body with at least one objective lens for capturing light from a field of view, wherein the microscope body is assigned a microscope axis which corresponds to a section of an optical axis of symmetry which extends from the microscope body to the field of view.Furthermore, the medical microscope comprises an opto-mechanical system which is arranged between the microscope eyepiece system and the microscope body and feeds light captured by the microscope body to the binocular, wherein the opto-mechanical system is designed for a pivoting movement of the microscope body about a pivot axis and has a first rotation unit for a rotational movement of the microscope body about a first axis of rotation given by the first rotation unit, wherein the first axis of rotation runs coaxially, parallel or at an angle in the range of 0° to 5° to a section of the optical axis of symmetry which runs through the first rotation unit.

[0014] In a further aspect, a microscope system comprises a support system, which is designed in particular as a stand, wall or ceiling stand or as a permanently mounted support system, and a medical microscope according to one of the preceding claims, which is fastened to the support system by means of a microscope suspension of a microscope eyepiece system of the medical microscope.

[0015] In a further aspect, a medical microscope comprises a microscope eyepiece system with a binocular, an eyepiece base body holding the binocular, and a microscope suspension that attaches to the eyepiece base body and is designed to fasten the medical microscope to a support system. Furthermore, the medical microscope comprises a microscope body with at least one objective lens for capturing light from a field of view, wherein the microscope body is assigned a microscope axis that characterizes an observation direction extending from the microscope body to the field of view, as well as an opto-mechanical system for shifting the field of view in a microscope plane. The opto-mechanical system decouples a movement of the microscope body from the microscope eyepiece system and the microscope suspension.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first rotation axis can be aligned with the microscope axis in a basic setting of the microscope in an angular range of 25° to 100° or from 45° to 85°, and / or the first rotation axis can, during a rotational movement about the first rotation axis, have an alignment of the first rotation axis with the microscope axis remains unchanged. Furthermore, the pivot axis can be aligned within an angular range of 75° to 105°, particularly orthogonally, to the microscope axis. Handles can be provided on the microscope body, for example, for aligning the microscope body and shifting the field of view.

[0017] In some embodiments, the opto-mechanical system can comprise at least one pivoting unit designed for the pivoting movement of the microscope body about the pivot axis. Optionally, the pivoting unit can be fastened to the eyepiece base body by means of the first rotation unit, such that the first rotation unit is designed for a rotational movement of the pivoting unit about the first axis of rotation and, in particular, during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis, the alignment of the first axis of rotation to the microscope axis changes, or the pivoting unit can be fastened to the microscope body via an angle element, wherein, in particular, the first rotation unit can be arranged between the pivoting unit and the angle element, such that, in particular, during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis, the alignment of the first axis of rotation to the microscope axis remains unchanged.

[0018] In some embodiments, the opto-mechanical system for shifting the field of view can cause a decoupling of a movement of the microscope body from the microscope eyepiece system and in particular the microscope suspension.

[0019] In some embodiments, the opto-mechanical system may be configured such that the binocular forms a fixed point in three-dimensional space for an operator during adjustment of a position of the field of view by moving the microscope body, in particular about the pivot axis and / or about the first rotation axis and / or about the second rotation axis.

[0020] In some embodiments, the microscope axis can be adjustable in an angular range of 0° to ±20° with respect to a course of the microscope axis in a basic setting of the microscope using the pivoting unit, and / or the microscope axis can be adjustable in an angular range of 0° to ±20° with respect to a course of the microscope axis in a basic setting of the microscope using the first rotation unit.

[0021] In some embodiments, the pivoting unit can be used as a device for deflecting the partial beam paths based on mirrors and / or prisms that can be moved relative to one another be formed and / or wherein the first rotation units can be formed as an optical turntable.

[0022] In some embodiments, the microscope eyepiece system may be designed as a straight tube with a fixed viewing direction in an angular range in the mounted state of the microscope from 0° to 40° with respect to a horizontal plane, or the microscope eyepiece system may further comprise an eyepiece swivel tube and / or an eyepiece rotation unit between the binocular and the eyepiece base body for adjusting a viewing direction into the binocular.

[0023] In some embodiments, at least one magnetic fixing device for blocking movement about a corresponding axis may be provided for the pivoting unit (and / or the first rotation unit) and / or the microscope suspension may be part of a ball joint system.

[0024] In some embodiments of the microscope system, the support system can engage the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system, in particular via a ball joint system, at an angle in the range of 0° to 20° to a vertical direction, in particular vertically from above. In further embodiments, the support system can engage the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system at an angle in the range of 0° to 90° to a vertical direction, in particular obliquely from above.

[0025] In some embodiments of the microscope system, the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system may be formed as part of a ball joint system.

[0026] In particular, it is an aspect of this disclosure to enable a change in the field of view by orienting the microscope unit in two directions while maintaining the position of the eyepieces in space (and thus of the operator).

[0027] A spatially unrestricted positioning of the microscope, for example with electric drives on several axes, allows the surgeon (operator) to use both hands freely for the medical examination and / or treatment of a patient.

[0028] Disclosed herein are concepts that allow aspects of the prior art to be improved, at least in part. In particular, further features and their usefulness will become apparent from the following description of embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation to illustrate the inventive concept, Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of a microscope system, Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of the use of a microscope according to the invention, Fig. 4A and 4B are schematic representations of an extended implementation of the inventive concept in a medical microscope, Fig. 5A to 7B are schematic representations to illustrate a shift of a field of view of a medical microscope by means of a swivel unit, Fig. 8A to 10B are schematic representations to illustrate a displacement of a field of view of a medical microscope by means of a first rotation unit and Fig. 11 to 13 are schematic representations to illustrate an exemplary rotation unit and an exemplary pivoting unit.

[0029] The concepts proposed by the inventors enable shifts in the field of view in the focal plane / microscope plane, for example, by moving the microscope body along two or more axes, particularly pan / tilt or rotation axes. For this purpose, opto-mechanical decoupling of the partial beam paths between the eyepiece system and the objective system is implemented.

[0030] As illustrated in Fig. 1, the decoupling is designed such that a microscope operator can adjust to a spatially fixed eyepiece position (fixed image point of the microscope) and maintain this position even during a (fine-motor) movement of the objective system to track the field of view. Fig. 1 shows, for the spatially fixed position of an eyepiece system (illustrated by two circles 1 representing a binocular), that a field of view on a tissue 3 to be examined can assume multiple positions 5A, 5B, 5C. As a result, a change in the operator's posture is not necessary despite the change in the field of view.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a microscope system 7 with a medical microscope 9, which is held by a support system 11. The support system 11 comprises, for example, a (ceiling, wall, floor) stand with a rear arm 11A and a spring arm 11B. The stand is designed such that the microscope 9 can be vertically (Z-direction) and horizontally Plane (X and Y direction) can be positioned as freely (roughly) as possible with respect to a patient to be examined / treated (gross motor movements). The direction of observation to the patient to be examined / treated extends from the microscope 9, specifically the objective lens, to the field of view. The direction of observation is given by a microscope axis 21A assigned to the microscope 9 (see also the optical axis of symmetry introduced below). In the direction of observation, medical microscopes provide different working distances depending on the specialty. For example, the distance of a focal plane of the microscope running perpendicular to the microscope axis 21A to a microscope body is in the range of f=175-200 mm in ophthalmology or in the range of f=300-420 mm in neurosurgery. In the example in Fig.2, the microscope 9 is attached via a microscope suspension to a suspension device 13 extending, for example, in a vertical direction (or generally extending at an angle in the range of 0° (from above) to 20° to a vertical direction) below the spring arm 11B. As an alternative to a fixed suspension or a suspension movable about one or more defined axes, the microscope suspension shown in Fig. 2 comprises a ball joint system 15, which can provide a freely adjustable orientation of the mounted microscope 9, indicated by an arrow 17.

[0032] To illustrate another common mounting approach, in Fig. 3, the microscope 9 is held by a suspension device 13' extending obliquely backward and upward (for example, at an angle in the range of 0° to 90° to a vertical direction). The suspension device 13' can, for example, be implemented at a 60° angle of attack with respect to the horizontal plane. Apart from this aspect of the suspension, the microscopes of Figures 2 and 3 are identical in their eyepiece and objective systems.

[0033] The ball joint system 15 and the mechanism of the support system 11 can be locked (e.g., mechanically or magnetically). This allows further movement of the microscope 9 to be prevented once a desired position of the microscope 9 has been reached.

[0034] Figures 2 and 3 also show a binocular 19A of an eyepiece system 19 of the microscope 9. If the binocular 19A is firmly connected to the support system 11 via a base body 19B and the microscope suspension (here the ball joint system 15) in the locked state, a fixed position of the binocular 19A is predetermined. The microscope suspension, the base body 19B and the binocular 19A form the eyepiece system 19 of the microscope 9. For a fixed positioning of the binocular 19A in space, the following The described inventive mobility of a microscope body 21 of the microscope 9 relative to the eyepiece system 19 enables (fine) tracking of the field of view of the microscope 9 by aligning the microscope axis 21A. The invention is based on an opto-mechanical system 23 arranged between the microscope eyepiece system 19 and the microscope body 21. See in particular the side view of the microscope shown in Fig. 3.

[0035] In a basic setting assigned to the microscope 9, the alignment of the microscope axis 21A (and thus the focal plane) relative to the binocular 19A (and thus to the viewing direction into the binocular 19A) and to the microscope mount is determined. For example, in the mounted case, in the basic setting, the microscope axis 21A of the microscope 9 can run vertically (i.e., the focal plane runs horizontally) and the viewing direction can run obliquely downwards at an angle to the horizontal plane in the range of 10° to 45°, or in the range of -10° to 50°, or of ±10°.

[0036] If the binocular 19A and the microscope mount are designed, for example, for a rigid connection to the support system 11, the alignment of the microscope axis 21A in space and with respect to the binocular 19A is determined solely by the alignment of the microscope body 21 relative to the microscope mount. The basic setting with a horizontal focal plane is then determined, for example, by a specific adjustment of the microscope body 21 and the resulting alignment of the microscope axis 21A.

[0037] If the microscope suspension is provided with degrees of freedom of movement, the orientation of the microscope axis 21A in space is additionally determined by the position of the microscope suspension. If the binocular 19A is further provided with degrees of freedom of movement, the orientation of the microscope axis 21A with respect to the binocular 19A is additionally determined by the orientation of the binocular 19A. A basic setting of the microscope will then usually be the orientation of the microscope body 21 / the microscope axis 21A that exists with a preferred position of the microscope suspension, wherein the preferred position of the microscope suspension is given by a desired viewing direction into the binocular 19A (optionally with a predetermined orientation of the binocular 19A). For the position shown in Fig.In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, for example, the microscope 9 can be aligned with its observation direction along (coaxially or offset parallel) the vertical suspension device 13 in the basic setting. For the embodiment shown in Fig. 3 and described below, the basic setting can, for example, be selected such that when the ball joint 15 is not locked, the observation direction of the. Microscope 9 can assume a desired, for example vertical, orientation and the viewing direction can assume a desired orientation to the horizontal plane, for example at 20°.

[0038] Typically, the default setting is in a middle range of a degree of freedom of movement provided by the opto-mechanical system 23 in order to provide the operator with a sufficient degree of movement in both directions of the degree of freedom starting from the default setting.

[0039] To position the microscope body 21, the microscope body 21 can be gripped, for example, by handles 25 attached to the side of the microscope body 21.

[0040] The ball joint 15 enables an operator 29 to align the microscope 9 around a vertical axis 27 extending through a ball head of the ball joint system 15 and, for example, the center of gravity, for example, with one hand. Combined with this, a fixed alignment of the viewing direction into the binocular can be provided, for example, at 20° or 45° to the horizontal plane. Alternatively, an adjustable angle with respect to the horizontal plane can be provided for aligning the viewing direction; see also the exemplary embodiment shown in Figures 4A and 4B with a binocular adjustable via an eyepiece swivel tube.

[0041] The suspensions shown in Figures 2 and 3 can be centrally mounted on the microscope 9. In particular, a central suspension can be designed as a vertical suspension extending vertically upwards, as shown in Figure 2, which is mounted centrally on the eyepiece system 19. Such suspensions ensure that the view at the sides of the microscope body 9 is not restricted by protruding components of the suspension. Direct eye contact can contribute significantly to clearer communication and thus offers advantages during the examination / treatment process. A vertical suspension can also have the advantage that the mechanical axis of the vertical suspension and the microscope axis 21A (beam path after the main lens) can run coaxially or offset parallel to one another in the basic setting of the microscope 9.

[0042] The opto-mechanical system 23 according to the invention decouples the position of the field of view of the microscope 9 from the position of the eyepiece system 19 in space. One goal is that, with a fixed position of the eyepiece system 19, a shift of the field of view in the focal plane is possible using pivoting and rotational (pivoting) movements of the microscope body 21. The shifting of the field of view over the object to be examined / treated takes place without the operator 29 must change a posture assumed at the beginning of an examination / treatment with respect to the position of the eyepiece system 19 in space determined by him during the examination / treatment (see Fig. 1).

[0043] The field of view can be shifted linearly, for example (as shown in Fig. 3 based on a degree of freedom of a pivoting unit 31). For clarity, a pivoting movement of the microscope body 21 about a pivot axis 31A is indicated by an arrow 31B in Fig. 3. The pivoting movement is accompanied by a shift of the field of view in the Y direction, wherein the pivot axis 31A can be oriented orthogonally and generally within an angular range of 75° to 105° to the microscope axis (21A), as shown in Fig. 3B.

[0044] Furthermore, the field of view can be shifted along a circular path (exemplarily in Fig. 3 based on a degree of freedom of a first rotation unit 33). The first rotation axis 33A can be aligned with the microscope axis 21A in a basic setting of the microscope 9 in an angular range of 25° to 90°. It can also be seen that during a rotational movement about the first rotation axis 33A, an alignment of the first rotation axis 33A with respect to the microscope axis 21A remains unchanged. In Fig. 3, it can also be seen that the pivot unit 31 is fastened to the eyepiece base body 19B by means of the first rotation unit 33, so that the first rotation unit 33 is designed for a rotational movement of a pivot unit 31—and thus of the microscope body 21 fastened to the pivot unit 31—about the first rotation axis 33A. Accordingly, during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis 31A, the alignment of the first rotation axis 33A to the microscope axis 21A changes.

[0045] Exemplary displacements are explained below in connection with Figures 5A to 10B.

[0046] The opto-mechanical system 23 can introduce, as a further degree of freedom, a rotation of the microscope unit about an axis, for example, the optical axis of the microscope body 21, based on a degree of freedom of a second rotation unit 35 (see Fig. 4A). With this possibility of rotating the microscope unit, the microscope unit can be rotated (for example, for space or access reasons, but in the embodiment of the rotation unit described herein, without changing the captured image).

[0047] A combination of the multi-dimensional displacement and alignment of the field of view using the opto-mechanical system and the suspension described herein with a ball joint system (free adjustment according to degrees of freedom around three axes) can lead to a degree of flexibility, ergonomics and ease of use unknown in the state of the art.

[0048] Fig. 3 further shows a mouth switch 36, which can be actuated by the operator 29, for example, to control drives of the opto-mechanical system 23 and / or the locking of the ball-and-socket joint system 15 or the carrier system 11 and / or an autofocus function. The use of an autofocus function is particularly advantageous with regard to the displacement and alignment of the field of view using the opto-mechanical system, since it enables rapid adjustment of the focal plane should it no longer be aligned with the tissue to be examined due to the displacement and alignment of the field of view.

[0049] The opto-mechanical system 23 represents an interface that extends the microscope 9 in the area between the eyepiece system 19 and the microscope body 21 by one or more pivoting (tilting) and / or rotation units. Specifically, the opto-mechanical system 23 is intended to enable a flexible shifting of the field of view in the focal plane of the microscope without the operator 29 having to change their preferred posture.

[0050] A pivoting unit allows a pivoting movement about a pivot axis (also referred to as tilting), wherein the pivot axis is transverse to a section of an optical symmetry axis assigned to the pivot unit, which is assigned to the partial beam paths. A rotation unit allows a rotational movement about a rotation axis that is coaxial or offset in parallel or essentially parallel, i.e. with an angular deviation of a few degrees, for example deviations in the range of 0° to 5°, to a section of the optical symmetry axis assigned to the rotation unit, which is assigned to the partial beam paths. For the opto-mechanical system, sections of an optical symmetry axis 10, 110 are indicated by way of example in Figures 3, 4A and 4B, which in the embodiments run centrally and orthogonally through the rotation units 33 and 35 and at an angle through the pivoting units (see Figures 1 to 13).

[0051] Here, the optical axis of symmetry generally refers to the binocular partial beam paths that are guided through the microscope by a variety of optical elements. The optical axis of symmetry characterizes the essential path of the optical beam guidance. If a symmetrical path of the binocular partial beam paths is Assuming that the optical axis of symmetry runs centrally between the partial beams, segments of the optical axis of symmetry can be assigned to optical units; they each extend from the entrance to the exit of an optical unit.

[0052] Exemplary embodiments are given in connection with Figures 11 to 13.

[0053] While maintaining the eyepiece system 19 as a fixed point, the opto-mechanical system 23 can provide a displacement range in the focal plane, i.e. in the X-direction and in the Y-direction in the figures, in each of which a deflection of the microscope axis from a "zero position" according to the basic setting of the microscope (e.g. the vertical alignment in Fig. 2) for example by up to ±15° or more, in particular up to ±20°, for example. In addition to a pivoting movement with the pivot unit, a rotation unit can provide a rotation about the optical axis of symmetry of ±15° or more, in particular up to ±20°, for example. Depending on the alignment of the rotation axis to the microscope axis, the rotation unit can provide a displacement on a curved path (rotation axis does not run orthogonally to the microscope axis, see first rotation axis in Fig.3, or runs parallel to the microscope axis) or a linear displacement (rotation axis runs orthogonal to the microscope axis).

[0054] Within the range of the deflection angles provided by the opto-mechanical system 23, the opto-mechanical system 23 preferably provides beam guidance with as little influence as possible. Binocular turntables (as an example of a rotation unit) and binocular eyepiece swivel tubes (as an example of a swivel unit) are common optical components used in connection with the alignment of eyepieces. Essential to one aspect of the invention is the novel use for decoupling the microscope optics in the case of a fixed eyepiece system, i.e., the mobility of the microscope body relative to the microscope eyepiece system held stationary by the support system.

[0055] Rotational and / or swivel movements in the opto-mechanical system or the support system can be mechanically guided. This allows movement axes to be defined via gears with as little play as possible and coordinated with one another for a change of direction. Furthermore, spring-loaded mechanisms can be installed to balance the various movement axes, whereby movements should preferably be ensured with balanced spring tension in all movement ranges. Despite a high degree of mobility around the axes, independent deviation from a set position should be reduced / prevented as much as possible. In other words, a Positioning of the microscope body during an examination or treatment must be stable over the required time. This can be additionally ensured by magnetic fixations and / or mechanical brakes of the axes. Alternatively or additionally, stepper motors can be provided for the movement axes provided by the opto-mechanical system.

[0056] To reduce / suppress stray light in the opto-mechanical system 23, the beam-guiding arrangements of optical components, such as mirrors or prisms, can be supplemented with absorbing (e.g. anodized) components.

[0057] As previously mentioned, the opto-mechanical system can enable the use of a straight tube in the eyepiece system, with the same comfort and significantly lower manufacturing costs, since alignment / height adjustment can be realized via, for example, the ball joint of the vertical suspension disclosed herein.

[0058] The optical beam paths of a microscope extend through the microscope body with the main lens, the opto-mechanical system, and the binocular lens with the eyepieces and tubes. Sectionally, the partial beam paths can be assigned an optical axis of symmetry that runs centrally between the partial beam paths. The optical axis of symmetry defines the overall course of the partial beam paths in a sequence of linear sections from the focal plane to the binocular lens and is used to describe the orientation of panning or rotation axes.

[0059] Figures 4A and 4B illustrate optical partial beam paths 108 as examples for a further embodiment of a medical microscope 109 according to the invention with a more optically complex structure. For the opto-mechanical system, an axis of symmetry 110 with respect to the two optical partial beam paths 108 is indicated by way of example in Figures 4A and 4B.

[0060] The microscope 109 comprises an adjustable eyepiece system 119, in which a binocular 119A is attached to a microscope suspension 119B via an eyepiece swivel tube 120, so that there is flexibility in adjusting the viewing direction into the binocular 119A. The microscope suspension 119B comprises an exemplary plate-shaped section to which the eyepiece swivel tube 120 is attached on the top. The microscope suspension 119B can be attached to a boom 113 of the support system in such a way that the plate-shaped section can be rotated when positioning the Microscope 109 remains essentially in a horizontal orientation above the patient.

[0061] An opto-mechanical system 123 is mounted on the underside of the plate-shaped section, providing multiple axes of movement and degrees of freedom. The opto-mechanical system 123 comprises a pivoting unit 131 with two pivoting axes 131A. One or two rotation units 133, 133' are provided at the input and output of the opto-mechanical system 123, in particular the pivoting unit 131. Furthermore, the opto-mechanical system 123 comprises a 90° deflection optic 134 (as an example of an angled optical element) that connects the rotation unit 133 to a microscope body 121 (with a main lens 122) via a further rotation unit 135. If the first rotation unit 133' is arranged between the pivot unit 131 and the angle element 134, the alignment of the first rotation axis to the microscope axis 136 remains unchanged during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis(es) 131A.

[0062] The pivot unit 131 of the opto-mechanical system allows the field of view to be shifted in the Y direction (pivot axes perpendicular to the associated optical symmetry axis section). The rotation units 133, 133', in the illustrated arrangement, each allow the field of view to be shifted essentially in the X direction (rotation axes offset parallel or perpendicular to the microscope axis 121A) and can be used alternatively or together. Finally, the (optional) rotation unit 135 allows the microscope unit to be rotated.

[0063] To simplify the optical design, a reduced pivotability of the binocular 119A may be sufficient, given the intended pivoting movement of the microscope body 121, e.g., in the Y direction (see the above references to the possible use of a straight tube, e.g., with fixed viewing directions in an angular range in the assembled state of the microscope from 25° to 70° with respect to a horizontal plane). In general, the provided orientability of the binocular 119A can be limited to an angular range, for example, to ranges from 25° to 70°, or from +10° to +50°, or from -10° to +50°, or from -10° to +10°. Thus, the introduction of the opto-mechanical system 123, in particular through the use of a straight binocular system in combination with the flexible suspension (e.g. based on a ball and socket joint) disclosed herein, may allow a more cost-effective realization of an eyepiece system 119.

[0064] Figures 5A, 6A, and 7A illustrate the pivotability of the microscope body 21 about the pivot axis 31A, which is provided by the pivot unit 31 of the opto-mechanical system 23. Furthermore, Fig. 5A illustrates rotation axes 33A, 35A of the rotation units 33, 35 as well as a microscope axis 21A of the microscope body 21. The latter serve in particular to illustrate the possibilities for shifting the field of view explained in connection with Figs. 8A to 13B. Furthermore, Fig. 5A shows a suspension device 41 arranged vertically above the microscope, in particular, in the basic setting, vertically above the center of gravity of the microscope.

[0065] Fig. 5A illustrates a basic setting of the microscope, in which it has settled with its center of gravity below the suspension 41. The angle setting of the opto-mechanical system 23 is selected in the basic setting, for example, such that the microscope axis 121A is directed vertically downwards. This resulted in a horizontal focal plane of the microscope in the XY plane. The rotation axis 33A runs at an angle of approximately 70° (corresponding to the viewing direction into the binocular 19A) to the microscope axis 21A, and the rotation axis 35A runs parallel and offset to the microscope axis 121A. The pivot axis 31A runs perpendicular to the corresponding optical symmetry axis section (in the X direction in the illustration).

[0066] In Fig. 5B, a schematic field of view 51 of the microscope body 21 is sketched as an example as a rectangle in the XY plane (usual fields of view are circular or oval) in order to be able to illustrate not only linear displacements of the field of view in the XY plane but also rotations of the field of view in the XY plane.

[0067] In Figures 6A and 7A, the microscope body 21 is pivoted toward the operator (toward the side of the binocular 19A) or away from the operator (away from the side of the binocular 19A), respectively, shifting the field of view in the ±Y direction. This results in correspondingly linearly shifted fields of view 53A, 53B.

[0068] Figures 8A, 9A, and 10A illustrate a rotation of the microscope body 21 about the rotation axis 33A, which is provided by the rotation unit 33 of the opto-mechanical system 23. (The rotation about the rotation axis 33A, which runs obliquely downward into the plane of the drawing, is indicated by arrows.)

[0069] Fig. 8A again shows the basic setting of the microscope and Fig. 8B the field of view 51 in the XY plane.

[0070] In Figures 9A and 10A, the microscope body 21 is shown rotated to the left and right, respectively. Since the rotation axis 33A is not orthogonal to the microscope axis 21A, a tilt of the microscope body 21 can be seen in Figures 9A and 10A. This leads to a shift of the field of view along a circular arc and thus to a rotation of the field of view. This results in correspondingly shifted and realigned fields of view 55A, 55B (see Figures 9B and 10B).

[0071] Figures 11 to 13 illustrate exemplary implementations of the optical units as they can be used in the inventive use of an opto-mechanical unit 23. Regarding the structural components, the paths of the partial beam paths and the associated sections of the symmetry axis are indicated.

[0072] Fig. 11 shows a schematic diagram of a rotation unit that can be used as an interface and which comprises two halves 63A, 63B that can be rotated relative to one another about a section 10A of the axis of symmetry (arrow 17, see also Fig. 2). Each of the halves comprises a pair of openings 65 for the binocular partial beam paths 61A, 61B. The openings 65 are indicated in Fig. 11 as circular by way of example, but are not limited in shape and can thus also be designed, for example, to be oval, square or banana-shaped and run around the axis of rotation (if necessary with further diaphragms in the beam path). The openings 65 limit the light that is assigned to the two partial beam paths 61A, 61B, i.e. that is transmitted through the rotation unit and detected light. In a basic position of the microscope unit, the openings 65 can, for example, For example, they should be aligned to each other in such a way that there is maximum overlap and thus minimal light loss. In the example shown in Fig.From the rotation angle shown in Figure 11, it can be seen that the pairs of openings 65 are rotated relative to each other, but the overlap of the openings is still large enough to allow sufficient image information to pass through. Depending on the required displacement of the field of view (which also depends, among other things, on the design and working distance of the microscope), rotation angles in the range of ±20° (or more), ±10°, or ±5° in each rotation direction can be provided with a tolerable loss of light (within the scope of a curtailment of the field of view that does not restrict surgery).

[0073] Fig. 12 schematically shows an exemplary optical structure of a pivoting unit that can be used as an interface. Optical components 71A, 71B (e.g., mirrored prisms / roof prisms) of two deflection prism systems 71 assigned to the partial beam paths 61A, 61B can be seen (see also Fig. 13 for a path of the beam path 61A in the deflection prism system of the partial beam path 61A). The optical components 71 are held in a housing (not shown) that has a Has a mechanism allowing rotations (arrows 73). The mechanism allows a deflection of the overarching path of the partial beam paths 61A, 61B about a pivot axis 31A (see also Fig. 3). The deflection is accompanied by a pivoting of the microscope unit with respect to the eyepiece optics system about the pivot axis 31A and is shown in Fig. 12 by an arrow 31B and an angled course of the axis of symmetry (sections 10B, 10C), wherein the pivot axis 31A runs, for example, orthogonal to the sections 10B, 10C of the axis of symmetry. For example, the two rotations indicated for each of the partial beam paths can be coupled, in particular carried out in opposite directions. The optical components are designed and arranged relative to one another (in a structure that is as compact as possible) in such a way that, in the desired deflection angle range, the detected light beam is guided essentially completely by the deflection prism systems 71.Deflection angles in the range of ±20° (or even more, such as up to several tens of degrees, are possible). The deflection angle range of the swivel unit and the resulting shift in the field of view also depend, among other things, on the microscope's design and working distance. Furthermore, the swivel unit can also incorporate a sequence of such deflection prism systems for greater beam guidance flexibility.

[0074] The use of prism systems (or generally mirror-based or prism and mirror combination structures) in the opto-mechanical system, particularly in the context of the swivel unit, can also allow a reduction or even prevention of imaging errors (such as vignetting or clipping of the light beam) and double images.

[0075] As a result, the opto-mechanical system allows a free choice of the position of the field of view around the (basic) field of view 51 in the basic setting.

[0076] From the foregoing description, one can recognize the diverse possibilities for shifting and aligning the field of view of the microscope body using the opto-mechanical systems disclosed herein. When using the microscope according to the invention, a high level of ergonomics is achieved for the microscope operator. The concepts disclosed herein allow the operator, for example, to assume an ergonomic sitting / standing position, which they can maintain in a relaxed manner even during operations lasting for hours. The inventive concept allows the binocular to remain spatially in the same location and nevertheless allows observation of a larger field of view by pivoting and / or rotating the microscope unit. This is particularly possible because work is carried out under high magnification and thus a small change in the alignment of the microscope unit (a small angular change of the microscope axis) leads to a sufficiently large image shift in the object field / in the focal plane.

[0077] It is explicitly emphasized that all features disclosed in the description and / or the claims are to be considered separate and independent of each other for the purpose of the original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, regardless of the feature combinations in the embodiments and / or the claims. It is explicitly stated that all range specifications or specifications of groups of units disclose every possible intermediate value or subgroup of units for the purpose of the original disclosure as well as for the purpose of limiting the claimed invention, in particular also as a limit of a range specification.

Claims

Patent claims 1. A medical microscope (9) comprising: a microscope eyepiece system (19) with a binocular (19A), an eyepiece base body (19B) holding the binocular (19A), and a microscope suspension that attaches to the eyepiece base body (19B) and is designed to fasten the medical microscope (9) to a support system (11), a microscope body (21) with at least one objective lens for capturing light from a field of view, wherein the microscope body (21) is assigned a microscope axis (21A) that corresponds to a portion of an optical axis of symmetry that extends from the microscope body (21) to the field of view, and an opto-mechanical system (23) that is arranged between the microscope eyepiece system (19) and the microscope body (21) and feeds light captured by the microscope body (21) to the binocular (19A),wherein the opto-mechanical system (23) is designed for a pivoting movement of the microscope body (9) about a pivot axis (31A) and has a first rotation unit (33) for a rotational movement of the microscope body (21) about a first rotation axis (33A) defined by the first rotation unit (33), wherein the first rotation axis (33A) extends coaxially, parallel to, or at an angle in the range of 0° to 5° to a portion of the optical axis of symmetry extending through the first rotation unit (33).

2. Medical microscope (9) according to claim 1, wherein the first rotation axis (33A) is aligned with the microscope axis (21A) in a basic setting of the microscope (9) in an angular range of 25° to 100° or from 45° to 85°, and / or wherein during a rotational movement about the first rotation axis (33A) an alignment of the first rotation axis (33A) with the microscope axis (21A) remains unchanged, and / or wherein the pivot axis (31A) is aligned with the microscope axis (21A) in an angular range of 75° to 105°, in particular orthogonally.

3. Medical microscope (9) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the opto-mechanical system (23) comprises at least one pivoting unit (31) which is designed for the pivoting movement of the microscope body (9) about the pivot axis (31A), and wherein optionally - the pivoting unit (31) is fastened to the eyepiece base body (19B) by means of the first rotation unit (33), so that the first rotation unit (33) is designed for a rotational movement of the pivoting unit (31) about the first rotation axis (33A) and, in particular, during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis (31A), the alignment of the first rotation axis (33A) to the microscope axis (21A) changes, or - the pivoting unit (31) is fastened to the microscope body (21) via an angle element (134) and the first rotation unit (33) is arranged between the pivoting unit (31) and the angle element (134) and, in particular, during a pivoting movement about the pivot axis (31 A), the alignment of the first rotation axis (33 A) to the microscope axis (21 A) remains unchanged.

4. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opto-mechanical system (23) for shifting the field of view effects a decoupling of a movement of the microscope body (21) from the microscope eyepiece system (19) and in particular of the microscope suspension.

5. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the opto-mechanical system (23) is designed such that the binocular (19A) forms a fixed point in three-dimensional space for an operator (29) during adjustment of a position of the field of view by moving the microscope body (21), in particular about the pivot axis (31A) and / or about the first axis of rotation (33A) and / or about a second axis of rotation (35A).

6. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the microscope axis (21 A) can be adjusted in an angular range of 0° to ±20° with respect to a course of the microscope axis (21 A) in a basic setting of the microscope (9) using the pivoting unit (31), and / or wherein the microscope axis (21 A) can be adjusted in an angular range of 0° to ±20° with respect to a course of the microscope axis (21 A) in a basic setting of the microscope (9) using the first rotation unit (33).

7. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting unit (31) is designed as a device for deflecting the partial beam paths based on mirrors and / or prisms movable relative to one another and / or wherein the first rotation units (33, 35) are designed as an optical turntable.

8. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the microscope eyepiece system (19) is designed as a straight tube with a fixed viewing direction in an angular range in the mounted state of the microscope from 0° to 40° with respect to a horizontal plane or wherein the microscope eyepiece system (19) further comprises an eyepiece swivel tube (120) and / or an eyepiece rotation unit between the binocular (19A) and the eyepiece base body (19B) for setting a viewing direction into the binocular (19A).

9. Medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one magnetic fixing device for blocking a movement about a corresponding axis is provided for the pivoting unit (31) and / or the first rotation unit (33) and / or wherein the microscope suspension is designed as part of a ball joint system.

10. Microscope system (7) comprising: a support system (11), which is designed in particular as a stand, wall or ceiling stand or as a permanently mounted support system, and a medical microscope (9) according to one of the preceding claims, which is fastened to the support system (11) by means of a microscope suspension of a microscope eyepiece system (19) of the medical microscope (9).

11. Microscope system (7) according to claim 10, wherein the support system (11) engages the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system (19), in particular via a ball joint system, at an angle in the range of 0° to 20° to a vertical direction, in particular vertically from above.

12. Microscope system (7) according to claim 10, wherein the support system engages the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system (19) at an angle in the range of 0° to 90° to a vertical direction, in particular obliquely from above.

13. Microscope system (7) according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the microscope suspension of the microscope eyepiece system (19) is designed as part of a ball joint system (15).

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