AU2013201257A1 - Stereoscopic illumination system for microscope - Google Patents

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for illuminating a surface to be observed microscopically, preferably, using a retractable beamsplitter. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of coaxial illumination when the beamsplitter is positioned in the operator's line of sight. The retractable beamsplitter allows the use of non-coaxial illumination without reducing the amount of illumination that reaches the operator when the beamsplitter is retracted from the operator's line of sight. As a result a single system can be used effectively to provide various types of illumination. BA.8992a

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 REGULATION 3.2 Name of Applicant: ENDURE MEDICAL INC. Actual Inventor/s: Jonathan Michael Butler, Robert Troy Hewlett, Robert Jeffrey Hewlett and Robert McCoy Hewlett Address for Service: E. F. WELLINGTON & CO., Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, 312 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne, Southbank, Victoria, 3006. Invention Title: "STEREOSCOPIC ILLUMINATION SYSTEM FOR MICROSCOPE" Details of Associated Provisional Applications Nos: The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to us. 1 CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a 'divisional' application derived from Australian Patent Application No. 2009311493 (PCT/US2009/062155: WO 2010/053748), claiming priority of US Application No. 12/267380, the entire text of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE The present disclosure is in the field of microscopes. BACKGROUND This disclosure refers to various outside documents to aid the reader in understanding the embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure; to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure; and to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the metes and bounds of the embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure. No admission is made that any such document meets any legal definition of "prior art" in any country, and the Applicants reserve the right to demonstrate that any such document meets or fails to meet any legal definition of "prior art" in any country. All such documents are incorporated by reference herein so far as is necessary to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure; and to allow one of ordinary skill in the art to understand the metes and bounds of the embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure. In the surgical setting, there have been a number of different microscopes designed and sold for ophthalmic surgery. Presently there are no microscopes that deliver two collimated light beams in stereoscopic to the subject surface, e.g., the tissue under examination in a surgical procedure. 2 Until now microscopes have delivered to the subject surface (1) one or more uncollimated light beams from the objective lens or (2) a single uncollimated light beam below the objective. Routing a parallel light beam through the objective lens transmits a light beam which is not collimated. The illumination system, described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,968 delivered a single uncollimated light beam from a single light source to the subject surface through objective lens (shown as I or Ia), wherein FIGS. I and 3 of U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,968 depict the beam to the subject surface passing through an objective lens which is uncollimated. Another illumination system believed to be from the Zeiss Lumera microscope delivered two focused (uncollimated) beams to the subject surface through the objective lens. Another illumination system from the Moller EOS 900 microscope delivered two focused (uncollimated) light beams through the objective lens to the subject surface. U.S. patent publication 2010/0118549, published May 13, 2010, describes an invention directed toward cataract surgery in which the microscope light reflects from the retina to produce a red reflex, in essence a backlighting of the lens in cataract surgery. Illumination in retinal surgery is different from that in cataract surgery. In retinal surgery the microscope is equipped with a device for magnifying the retina so that the surgeon sees a large view of the operative site. However, the illumination of the surgical microscope for cataract surgery is not used in retinal surgery. In retinal surgery, a small fiber-optic pic about 1 mm in diameter is inserted through the sclera and into the vitreous body for direct illumination of the retinal surface. The surgeon holds this fiber-optic pic such that light exiting the tip of the fiber-optic pic is directed toward the retinal tissue on which the operating instruments are utilized. SUMMARY Microscopes are used in many different fields. The systems of the present disclosure can be used in any field but are especially useful in surgical settings or any other application in which highly three dimensional objects require magnification, particularly those partially occluded by an enclosure. An example of this is ophthalmic surgery. 3 In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of illuminating a subject surface viewable by a binocular microscope comprising a. generating a plurality of collimated light beams from at least one light source; b. directing the plurality of collimated light beams to a beamsplitter; and c. directing a portion of the plurality of collimated light beams from the beamsplitter onto a subject surface where the plurality of collimated light beams at least partially overlap. In a second aspect, the invention provides an illumination system for a microscope which delivers two collimated light beams to a subject surface where the two collimated light beams at least partially overlap, said system comprising a retractable beamsplitter in the line of sight of the microscope capable of being positioned to reflect a portion of the two collimated light beams to a subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the subject surface, and capable of being retracted outside of the line of sight of the microscope when the illumination system is not in use. In a third aspect, the invention provides an illumination system for a microscope, comprising: a. at least one light source producing two uncollimated light beams; b. two condensing lenses through which each of the two uncollimated light beams passes separately to two collimating lenses; c. wherein the two collimating lenses collimate each of the two uncollimated light beams separately and pass the two collimated light beams to a retractable beamsplitter; d. wherein the retractable beamsplitter is capable of being positioned to reflect a portion of the two collimated light beams to a subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the subject surface; and e. wherein the retractable beamsplitter is capable of being retracted outside of the line of sight of the microscope when the illumination system is not in use. In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface comprising delivering two at least partially overlapping collimated light beams to the subject surface, and reflecting a portion of the two collimated light beams against a retractable beamsplitter to the target such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the target. 4 In a fifth aspect, the invention provides a method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface, comprising: a. producing two uncollimated light beams; b. passing each of the two uncollimated light beams separately through two condensing lenses and through to two collimating lenses; c. collimating each of the two uncollimated light beams separately to form two collimated light beams; d. passing the two collimated light beams through a retractable beamsplitter; and e. reflecting a portion of the two collimated light beams against the retractable beansplitter to the subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the target. In a sixth aspect, the invention provides a method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface comprising illuminating the target with the system of the second or third aspect of the invention. In preferred embodiments of the method of the first aspect, the method is characterized in that: (a) the generating step further comprises passing light from the at least one light source through a first and a second condenser lens to generate a first and second condensed light beam, preferably the generating step further comprises passing the first and second condensed light beams through at least one collimating lens; (b) the generating step further comprises a. passing light from the at least one light source through a condenser lens to generate a single condensed light beam; b. passing the single condensed light beam through a collimating lens to generate a collimated light beam; and c. splitting the collimated light beam into the plurality of collimated light beams; (c) the plurality of collimated light beams have axes coaxial with the axes of the observation beams within the binoculars of the microscope; (d) the method further comprises a. generating a third light beam; b. directing the third light beam onto the subject surface at an angle oblique to the plurality of collimated light beams; 5 (e) the area illuminated by the third light beam overlaps with the plurality of collimated light beams at the subject surface, and is at least equal to the aggregate area of the subject surface illuminated by the plurality of collimated light beams. In preferred embodiments of the system of the second aspect, the system is characterized in that: (a) the system further comprises a light beam delivered to the subject surface offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams; (b) the two collimated light beams each have a center which is substantially parallel to the other and substantially in the same plane; (c) the system further comprises a third light beam which is transmitted to a front of the target and has a center having an axis which is offset at an angle oblique to the plane created by axes of the centers of the two collimated light beams, preferably the third light beam illuminates the entire visual field; (d) the system further comprises means for adjusting the ratio of the intensity of (a) the light of the two collimated light beams; to (b) the light beam delivered to the subject surface which is offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams; (e) the two collimated light beams are at an angle of incidence of 0 degrees to the subject surface; (f) the two collimated light beams are below an objective lens; (g) the two collimated light beams do not pass through the objective lens; (h) the two collimated light beams are below the beamsplitter, and wherein the two collimated light beams have substantially the same axes as a pair of observation beams above the objective lens. In preferred embodiments of the system of the third aspect of the invention, the system is characterized in that: (a) at least one uncollimated light beam is delivered to the subject surface which is offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams; (b) the system further comprises an anti-reflective light absorber behind the beamsplitter. 6 The illumination system of the present disclosure allows delivery of two collimated light beams to the subject surface which at least partially overlap, producing stereoscopic illumination. Additionally, an independent system of illumination may be provided at an angle oblique to the stereoscopic system. Either system can be used together or separately. As defined herein and unless otherwise stated, (a) "collimated light" means light rays from any light source which are partially parallel instead of converging or diverging; and (b) "collimation" means the process of arranging converging or diverging light beams so that they are at least partially parallel. If the light source for each stereoscopic beam was truly a point source there would be little overlap of the beams on the subject surface. With a white light source the focal length of the lens varies with wavelength. An ideally collimated beam would result from a monochromatic point source located at the focal point of the condenser lens. The larger the light source, however, the more other effects occur. Light from one side of the bulb, for example, enters the condenser lens at a different point than light from the bulb's other side and therefore they behave differently as they exit the lens. Light that lies directly on the optical axis of the lens is collimated but the off axis light creates some divergence in the beams. Certain embodiments of the illumination system incorporate a 50%/50% beamsplitter plate. The beamsplitter plate facilitates red reflex enhancement during cataract surgery on the lens, but is not necessary for retinal surgery. In fact, its presence can reduce 50% of the light returning from the surgical site to the surgeon's eyes. It is therefore desirable to remove the beamsplitter plate from the optical system for retinal surgery. In certain embodiments of the system this is accomplished by allowing the beamsplitter plate to be removed from the light beam path, thus allowing 100% of the reflected light from the retina to enter the optical system of the surgical microscope. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIG. 1 is a view from the top of an embodiment of the illumination system showing the stereoscopic illumination system and the oblique illumination system. The lines with arrows represent the centers of the light beams from their source until they reflect against the beamsplitter (for stereoscopic) and against the full mirror (for oblique). 7 FIG. 2 is a side schematic view of one side of the embodiment of the stereoscopic illumination system. It shows a single collimated light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the eye's red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. FIG. 3 is a side schematic view of an embodiment of the oblique illumination system, in which the light is offset at an angle oblique to the stereoscopic illumination system- It shows a light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the eye's red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. FIG. 4 is a side view of an embodiment of the system as a detachable module for an existing microscope, including a side schematic view of the stereoscopic illumination system and how the light beam illuminates the subject surface. It shows a collimated light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the eye's red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. FIG. 4a is a side view of an embodiment of the illumination system as a detachable module for an existing microscope, including a side schematic view of the oblique illumination system and how the light beam illuminates the subject surface. It shows a light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the eye's red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of the illumination system as a module attached to an existing microscope, including a side schematic view of the stereoscopic illumination system and how the light beam illuminates the subject surface. It shows a collimated light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. FIG. 5a is a side view of an embodiment of the illumination system as a module attached to an existing microscope, including a side schematic view of the oblique illumination system and how the light beam illuminates the subject surface. It shows a light beam illuminating the subject surface, in this instance an eye, and light from the red reflex traveling through the objective lens toward the binoculars. 8 FIG. 6 is a 3 dimensional cutaway of an embodiment of the illumination system including the stereoscopic and the oblique illumination systems, the centers of the light beams, and the patterns of illumination on the subject surface. FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of the illumination system with rheostats, for independent control of each illumination source, and their connections to an external power source. FIGS. 8 and 8a depict the illumination system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,968. FIG. 9 depicts an illumination system believed to be the Zeiss Lumera microscope delivering two focused (uncollimated) beams to the subject surface through the objective lens. FIG. 10 depicts an illumination system from the Moller EOS 900 microscope delivering two focused (uncollimated) light beams through the objective lens to the subject surface. FIG. 11 is a side view of the microscope with disengagement of the retractable beamsplitter plate 31 for retinal surgery. DETAILED DESCRIPTION An illumination system for a microscope is provided, the illumination system being below the objective lens I la of the microscope. The illumination system contains two illumination sub-systems, the first being the stereoscopic sub-system which delivers two beams of collimated light (as defined herein) to the subject surface 16. These two beams of collimated light overlap on the subject surface 16 at least partially. The advantage of the stereoscopic collimated light is a better three dimensional view than produced by prior art illumination systems under similar circumstances. Compared to uncollimated light, delivering collimated light into a partially occluded opening allows a (a) greater quantity of light and (b) more direct light. The at least partial overlap of the collimated light allows the user viewing through binoculars 22 to view the subject surface 16 optimally with stereopsis. An additional illumination sub-system at an angle oblique to the stereoscopic sub-system is also provided, but the light for the oblique system need not be collimated. 9 A particular embodiment produces collimated light beams for each of the two stereoscopic light beams by passing light through an aspheric condensing lens 4 and then through a plano-convex lens positioned at the appropriate focal plane. The collimation can be accomplished at multiple points between the light source 5 and the subject surface 16 (e.g., before or after filtering, or before or after the beam is split). The system can be built into an entire microscope or can be constructed as a module fitting onto an existing microscope. If constructed as a module, the module includes an objective lens 1 Ia that replaces the objective lens of the microscope. Situated below the included objective lens I Ia of the module type or of the objective lens I la of the built-in type, are illumination components for directing light to the subject surface 16. The construction of the microscope may be altered substantially without affecting the illumination system. In a further embodiment, one light source 5 produces two beams of light for the stereoscopic system which are directed by the following elements to the subject surface 16 as two collimated light beams. In another embodiment, the two collimated light beams are produced by two light sources, one for each light beam. The illumination components of the light source 5 for the stereoscopic system and the light source 7 for the oblique system are located inside the module or existing microscope and are separated by an opaque barrier 6. A beam from the stereoscopic light source 5 is collected by two condensing lenses 4 that gather and concentrate the light. In another embodiment, each gathered and concentrated light beam passing through a condensing lens 4 is transmitted through an infrared filter 3 then through an ultraviolent filter 2 and then through a collimating lens 8. In one embodiment, a collimating lens 8 is a double convex lens (i.e., with a curved surface on both sides) with a positive focal length which, when used in conjunction with an upstream aspheric condensing lens 4 and positioned at the appropriate focal plane, produces collimated light. In some embodiments, however, one light source 5 for the stereoscopic system is used to produce two beams of light in the following manner. A beam from each of two sides of the light source 5 is directed through a Dove prism I (bending light twice for a total of 10 180 0 degree.) before reaching the collimating lens 8. After passing through the collimating lenses 8, each collimated light beam is then refracted by a 90*degree. prism 10. Each column of collimated light exits its 9 0 *degree. prism 10 parallel to the other so that each strikes a beamsplitter 12 at an angle so that a portion of each column of collimated light is reflected downward toward the subject surface 16. These columns of collimated light reflected from the beamsplitter 12 downward to the subject surface 16 overlap each other at least partially at the stereoscopic illumination overlap 27 as dictated by the focal length of the included objective lens 1 Ia. The portion of light from the collimated beams of light passing through the beamsplitter 12 is absorbed by an anti-reflective light absorber 13. In a preferred embodiment, the beamsplitter 12 splits the light in half, one half reflected to the subject surface 16 and the other half passes through the beamsplitter 12 to the anti-reflective light absorber 13. The beamsplitter 12 can be a half mirror or a mirror partially reflective in another fraction (e.g., three quarters reflective). The function of the beamsplitter 12 is to allow light to pass upward from the subject surface 16 to the binoculars 22 for the user. The collimated light beams are coaxial with the light transmitted to the binoculars 22. A plano glass cover 15 encloses the bottom portion of the module to protect the components from contaminants. In some embodiments of the illumination system three beams of light are required, but they can be achieved in various ways. One way would be to use three light sources with each one having its own set of condensing 4 and collimating lenses S. Another way would be to use two light sources, like the model depicted herein. This would utilize light emitting from two sides of one bulb for the stereo paths, and the second light source 7 for the oblique path. Another way would be to use one source. Light could be gathered from three sides of the bulb, condensed and collimated separately to form the three needed beams, or light could be gathered and then optically split into separate beams later on down the pathway. The significant advantage to using more than one light source, is the ability to adjust the illumination ratio between stereo and oblique light for optimal viewing. Using one source and having the ability to adjust light ratios would require mechanical shutters to block light accordingly. Another variance to the light source is to use fiber-optic light source. This merely removes the actual bulbs from the close proximity of the system and places them in a more remote location. The advantages of this are the ability to use higher power light 11 sources that would not realistically fit in the module, heat generated by the bulbs being removed from proximity of the surgical procedure, and noise and air from the internal fan 17 also being removed to the remote site. One disadvantage with a fiber-optic system is light loss through the fiber-optic cable. Another variance for light sourcing is an LED (Light Emitting Diode) light source. It is also possible to have any combination of LED, bulb, and fiber-optic sources all in one system. A light source for the oblique system 7 is located so that light from said the second light source is directed through a condensing lens 4 that gathers and concentrates the light from the light source 7. The gathered and concentrated light from the condensing lens 4 is transmitted through an infrared filter 3, and an ultraviolent filter 2 to a collecting lens Sa which collects diverging light from the condensing lens 4. The light passes through the collecting lens 8a and is reflected downward toward the subject surface 16 at an angle so that oblique illumination 28 of the subject surface 16 is accomplished. The oblique illumination 28 covers the entire visual field for both eyes of the user, assuming the objective is at a middle range or higher. The oblique illumination 28 can be reduced by an adjustable mechanical aperture 25 so that the illumination is centered in a smaller area of the subject surface 16, for instance the iris of an eye only, to eliminate glare to the user from light reflecting from the sclera of the eye. The infrared filter 3 and ultraviolet filter 2 can be placed at any convenient position in the pathway between the light sources 5, 7 and the subject surface 16. Rheostats 26 may control the intensity of the two light sources 5, 7 to control the amount of light projected to the subject surface 16. A cooling fan 17 may be mounted in close proximity to the bulb tray 19 or other light sources in the illumination system. The housing 18 of the modular component may contain a fitting for connection to an existing microscope. This fitting may attach at the existing microscope's objective lens receptacle II after the existing microscope's objective lens is removed. This fitting locks the module housing 18 in place in the existing microscope's objective lens receptacle 11. A 12 particular embodiment of this fitting is an attachment ring 20 which screws or otherwise mounts onto the existing microscope. For the full microscope containing the system, the binoculars 22 are in communication with zoom optics 23 which are housed in the microscope body 21 and are in communication with the objective lens I Ia. There is a focus drive housing 24. The built-in system may be completely enclosed in the body of the microscope below the zoom system and the objective lens I la. Ancillary optics, such as mirrors and prisms, are used to refract the light so that the projected beams exit the system at proper angles. They could also be used to split a single light beam into two light beams. This could be done if only one light source was being used, or if a fiber-optic system was used and the incoming beam needed to be converted to two or three beams. This placement of the ancillary optics for light redirection or splitting along the pathway is irrelevant to the function as long as the beams are directed to the proper locations, but keeping in mind losses that occur at each light interface. There are numerous combinations that could be achieved using one or more of the same or different light sources, mirrors and prisms for directing light around inside the system, using prisms to split beams at any point along the light pathway if there are not enough beams from light sources, using or not using a mechanical shutter for illumination intensity control, placement of the ultraviolet 2 and infrared 3 filters, and even the direction and angle at which the oblique light illuminates the field. Ultimately, these variances if done properly, all result in two collimated stereo illumination beams hitting the beamsplitter 12 set at a forty-five degree angle in the direct path of the optical viewing pathways of a microscope, and a third oblique illumination beam hitting the subject surface 16 at some offset angle with the ability to control the levels and/or ratios of said illumination. One embodiment directs illumination light rays onto the patient from one light source, but with three illumination pathways--the two co-axial zero degree pathways, and one oblique eight degree pathway. The two zero degree pathways are directed down to the patient via a beamsplitter plate glass 12 directly in-line with the stereo microscope optical pathways, 13 creating the true dual co-axial illumination. This provides optimal red reflex or retinal reflex primarily for cataract surgery, but in other surgical settings the bright full red-reflex is not desired. In one embodiment of the system, the surgeon has the ability then to turn off, via shutter, the zero degree co-axial illumination pathways. At this point the surgeon is solely utilizing the eight degree illumination for surgery. When the microscope is being used in this state, the beamsplitter 12 is no longer needed, as there is no zero degree illumination. To maximize light transfer through the system, the beamsplitter 12 is moved out, or disengaged, from the stereo microscope optical pathways. Then when the zero degree co-axial illumination is required again, the user can re-engage the beamsplitter 12 plate and zero degree co-axial illumination. Retinal surgery requires the use of a surgical microscope. The microscope is equipped with a device for magnifying the retina so that the surgeon sees a large view of the operative site. However, the normal illumination of the surgical microscope is not used in retinal surgery. A small fiberoptic pic about 1 mm in diameter can be inserted through the sclera and into the vitreous body for direct illumination of the retinal surface. The surgeon holds this fiberoptic pic such that light exiting the tip of the fiberoptic pic is directed toward the retinal tissue on which the operating instruments are utilized. Since the normal illumination of the microscope is not utilized and is in fact turned off, and since only the relatively low illumination from the fiberoptic pic illuminating the retinal surface is seen by the surgeon, it is to the surgeon's advantage to have an optical system that does not significantly decrease the light from the retina. It can therefore be desirable, in one embodiment, to retract the beansplitter plate from the optical system for retinal surgery. The present invention accomplishes this goal by allowing the beamsplitter plate to be rotated out of the light beam path, thus allowing 100% of the reflected light from the retina to enter the optical system of the surgical microscope and be transmitted to the user. Thus, when co-axial illumination is not desired, a retractable beamsplitter plate 31 is disengaged to slightly beyond a vertical position. In this position there is no light loss from having the retractable beamsplitter plate 31 incident to the light rays 2 entering the microscope system. By disengaging the retractable beamsplitter plate 31 a 50% increase in light transfer efficiency can be achieved, thus allowing more light to reach the surgeon. The beamsplitter is thus retractable, and in this way the same microscope can be used, on the one hand, in cataract and other surgery using the illumination system and with the retractable beamsplitter engaged, on the other 14 hand, in retinal and other surgery without using the illumination system and with the retractable beamsplitter disengaged. CONCLUSION It is to be understood that any given elements of the disclosed embodiments of the invention may be embodied in a single structure, a single step, a single substance, or the like. Similarly, a given element of the disclosed embodiments may be embodied in multiple structures, steps, substances, or the like. The foregoing description illustrates and describes the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure. Additionally, the disclosure shows and describes only certain embodiments of the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings disclosed, but, as mentioned above, it is to be understood that the teachings of the present disclosure are capable of use in various other combinations, modifications, and environments and is capable of changes or modifications within the scope of the teachings as expressed herein, commensurate with the skill and/or knowledge of a person having ordinary skill in the relevant art. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain certain best modes known of practicing the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the teachings of the present disclosure in such, or other, embodiments and with the various modifications required by the particular applications or uses. Accordingly, the processes, machines, manufactures, compositions of matter, and other teachings of the present disclosure are not intended to limit the exact embodiments and examples disclosed herein. A reference herein to a patent document or other matter which is given as prior art is not taken as an admission that that document or prior art was part of common general knowledge at the priority date of any of the claims. With reference to the use of the word(s) "comprise" or "comprises" or "comprising" in the foregoing description and/or in the following claims, unless the context requires otherwise, those words are used on the basis and clear understanding that they are to be interpreted 15 inclusively, rather than exclusively, and that each of those words is to be so interpreted in construing the foregoing description and/or the following claims. 16

Claims (23)

1. A method of illuminating a subject surface viewable by a binocular microscope comprising a. generating a plurality of collimated light beams from at least one light source; b. directing the plurality of collimated light beams to a beamsplitter; and c. directing a portion of the plurality of collimated light beams from the beamsplitter onto a subject surface where the plurality of collimated light beams at least partially overlap.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises passing light from the at least one light source through a first and a second condenser lens to generate a first and second condensed light beam.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the generating step further comprises passing the first and second condensed light beams through at least one collimating lens.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating step further comprises a. passing light from the at least one light source through a condenser lens to generate a single condensed light beam; b. passing the single condensed light beam through a collimating lens to generate a collimated light beam; and c. splitting the collimated light beam into the plurality of collimated light beams.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of collimated light beams have axes coaxial with the axes of the observation beams within the binoculars of the microscope.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a. generating a third light beam; b. directing the third light beam onto the subject surface at an angle oblique to the plurality of collimated light beams. 17

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the area illuminated by the third light beam overlaps with the plurality of collimated light beams at the subject surface, and is at least equal to the aggregate area of the subject surface illuminated by the plurality of collimated light beams.

8. An illumination system for a microscope which delivers two collimated light beams to a subject surface where the two collimated light beams at least partially overlap, said system comprising a retractable beamsplitter in the line of sight of the microscope capable of being positioned to reflect a portion of the two collimated light beams to a subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the subject surface, and capable of being retracted outside of the line of sight of the microscope when the illumination system is not in use.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising a light beam delivered to the subject surface offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the two collimated light beams each have a center which is substantially parallel to the other and substantially in the same plane.

I1. The system of claim 8, further comprising a third light beama which is transmitted to a front of the target and has a center having an axis which is offset at an angle oblique to the plane created by axes of the centers of the two collimated light beams.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the third light beam illuminates the entire visual field.

13. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for adjusting the ratio of the intensity of (a) the light of the two collimated light beams; to (b) the light beam delivered to the subject surface which is offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the two collimated light beams are at an angle of incidence of 0 degrees to the subject surface. 18

15. The system of claim 8 wherein the two collimated light beams are below an objective lens.

16. The system of claim 8 wherein the two collimated light beams do not pass through the objective lens.

17. The system of claim 8 wherein the two collimated light beams are below the beamsplitter, and wherein the two collimated light beams have substantially the same axes as a pair of observation beams above the objective lens.

18. An illumination system for a microscope, comprising: a. at least one light source producing two uncollimated light beams; b. two condensing lenses through which each of the two uncollimated light beams passes separately to two collimating lenses; c. wherein the two collimating lenses collimate each of the two uncollimated light beams separately and pass the two collimated light beams to a retractable beamsplitter; d. wherein the retractable beamsplitter is capable of being positioned to reflect a portion of the two collimated light beams to a subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the subject surface; and e. wherein the retractable beamsplitter is capable of being retracted outside of the line of sight of the microscope when the illumination system is not in use.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein at least one uncollimated light beam is delivered to the subject surface which is offset at an angle oblique to the axis of the two collimated light beams.

20. The system of claim 18 comprising an anti-reflective light absorber behind the beam splitter.

21. A method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface comprising delivering two at least partially overlapping collimated light beams to the subject surface, and reflecting a portion of the two collimated light beams against a retractable beamsplitter to the target such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the target. 19

22. A method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface, comprising: a. producing two uncollimated light beams; b. passing each of the two uncollimated light beams separately through two condensing lenses and through to two collimating lenses; c. collimating each of the two uncollimated light beams separately to form two collimated light beams; d. passing the two collimated light beams through a retractable beamspliffer; and e. reflecting a portion of the two collimated light beams against the retractable beamsplitter to the subject surface such that the two collimated light beams overlap partially at the target.

23. A method of providing illumination for the microscopic observation of a subject surface comprising illuminating the target with any one of the systems of claims 8-20. BA.8992A 20