Surgical Microscope Protective Glass Detection via Sensor Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical microscopes face contamination risks during surgeries, and the insertion of protective glass modules into their beam paths can cause image distortions or offsets, affecting the accuracy of image data captured by image sensors.
Innovation Solution
A surgical microscope design that includes a detection beam path and an image evaluation unit, allowing for the reliable detection of a protective glass module within the beam path using a partial detection region of the image sensor, enabling the output of a signal for image correction and ensuring accurate position information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a protective glass module is inserted into the detection beam path to protect against contamination, then protection reliability is improved, but image quality deteriorates due to optical distortions and offsets
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor's detection region is segmented into a used detection region for capturing the object and a partial detection region for detecting the protective glass module. This segmentation allows simultaneous monitoring of both image quality and protective glass presence without compromising the primary imaging function.
Solution Approach 2:
The partial detection region acts as an intermediary that detects optical influences from the protective glass module. By monitoring this separate region, the system can identify image quality deterioration caused by the protective glass and trigger corrective measures without the protective glass directly interfering with the main imaging path.
2Reliability
If a protective glass module is attached to the surgical microscope, then contamination protection is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional detection and correction mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The image sensor serves multiple functions: it captures the object region through the used detection region and simultaneously detects the protective glass module through the partial detection region. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate detection sensors, reducing device complexity while maintaining contamination protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own image sensor to detect the presence and optical influence of the protective glass module. This self-service approach avoids adding external detection devices, simplifying the overall system while ensuring reliable contamination protection.
3Manufacturing precision
If the entire detection region is used for capturing the object region, then image capture quality is improved, but the ability to detect protective glass module insertion is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The detection region is divided into functional segments: the used detection region for high-quality object capture and the partial detection region for protective glass detection. This segmentation enables both object imaging and protective glass detection to occur simultaneously without compromising either function.
Solution Approach 2:
Only a partial region of the image sensor is dedicated to detecting the protective glass module, while the majority of the detection region remains available for capturing the object. This partial action approach ensures sufficient resolution for protective glass detection without significantly impacting the primary imaging function.
Data Source
AI summary
A surgical microscope includes an image capture unit having an image sensor, a detection beam path, an image evaluation unit, a connection region for attaching a protective glass module with an objective protective glass. The image sensor has a detection region which has a used detection region for capturing the object region, and a partial detection region, which is not assigned to the used detection region. The image capture unit is configured such that, when the protective glass module with the objective protective glass is arranged at the connection region, a detail of the protective glass module with the objective protective glass is capturable by the partial detection region of the image sensor. The image evaluation unit is configured to generate a signal when an objective protective glass is detectable by the evaluation of the image data of the partial detection region of the image sensor.