Surgical Microscope Illumination Device Angular Range
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing surgical microscopes struggle to illuminate the object region with illumination light at different angles within a wide angular range relative to the optical axes of stereoscopic partial observation beam paths.
Innovation Solution
A surgical microscope with an illumination device that includes a light source assembly, a radiant field stop, and an illumination optical unit. The illumination optical unit images the radiant field stop into a radiant field stop plane on the side of the microscope main objective system facing the object region, allowing illumination light to be incident on the object region at various angles within a defined angular range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the illumination beam path is arranged coaxially with the stereoscopic observation beam paths and passes through the microscope main objective system, then the illumination light is guided into the object region, but the illumination light can only be incident at a single angle or narrow angular range with respect to the optical axes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a second illumination beam path that is optically conjugate to the first, effectively adding a dimensional aspect to the illumination system. This second beam path enables illumination from a different angular direction while maintaining optical conjugacy, thereby expanding the angular range of illumination without fundamentally complicating the overall device structure through multi-dimensional beam path arrangement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs beam splitter prisms with mirror surfaces as intermediary elements to redirect and combine illumination beam paths. These intermediaries enable the complex angular illumination requirements to be met by redirecting light through carefully designed optical paths, maintaining system coherence while achieving versatile illumination angles
2Illumination intensity
If a double stop is used as an aperture stop in the illumination beam path, then the illumination light can be controlled, but the illumination beam path becomes slightly divergent or parallel on the exit side, limiting angular flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination system into multiple independent beam paths (first and second illumination beam paths), each with its own aperture stop and optical conjugacy relationships. This segmentation allows each beam path to be independently optimized for specific angular requirements while collectively providing broad angular coverage, resolving the conflict between precise control and angular flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination device is designed with universal optical components that serve multiple functions: beam splitter prisms that both split and recombine beams, aperture stops that control intensity while maintaining optical conjugacy, and a unified optical path structure that accommodates multiple illumination angles. This multi-functionality enables precise illumination control across a wide angular range without requiring separate specialized systems
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables illumination of the object region with light at different angles, improving visibility of transparent structures in the anterior eye segment by creating a red reflex illumination that is homogeneous and bright, thus enhancing the contrast and clarity of the image.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination optical unit (52) configured to image the radiant field stop (48) in a radiant field stop plane
Implementation Method 2
a beam splitter prism with mirror surfaces, and a mirror arrangement with a first deflection mirror and a second deflection mirror
Implementation Method 3
the illumination optical unit at least partially images a luminous object arranged in the luminous plane (46) in the illumination beam path (64) into at least one luminous image plane (65)
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical microscope includes an optical assembly to image an object plane with a microscope main objective system, through which a first stereoscopic partial beam path with a first optical axis and a second stereoscopic partial beam path with a second optical axis pass. An illumination device includes a light source assembly to provide illumination light in a luminous plane, with a radiant field stop, and an illumination optical unit which at least partially images a luminous object arranged in the luminous plane in the illumination beam path into a luminous image plane located in the microscope main objective system or for the vertical distance z of which from the microscope main objective system on the side facing the object region or the side facing away from the object region, in relation to a focal length f of the microscope main objective system, the following applies: z/f<10%.