DE102005024866B4 - Microscope system and method for operating a microscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

Surgical microscope system with at least one acted upon by control commands microscope component (4; 6; 7; 8) and a trained as a single-board computer first Computer unit (2) and at least one first input unit (1) for inputting commands to the first computer unit (2), wherein the first computer unit with means for converting input commands in control commands for applying at least one microscope component (4; 6; 7; 8) is formed, and with a second computer unit (5) and at least one second input unit (3; 3a, 3b) for input of input commands in the second computer unit, wherein the second Computer unit (5) with means for converting the input commands in control commands for applying at least one microscope component (4; 6; 7; 8) is formed, wherein the first input unit as a touch panel and / or keyboard is formed, and the first and the second Computer unit (2, 5) are housed in a common housing (15).

Description

The The present invention relates to a microscope system and a method for operating a microscope system.

The Use of personal computers (PCs) in connection with the Control of microscopes is known. From the Carl Zeiss AG is under the name OPMI-Pentero in this context a PC with screen, Standard software and standard PC control cards, whereby hereby a complete microscope system is controlled. Such microscope systems However, in practice prove to be particularly susceptible to interference, for example related to operating system crashes and virus issues.

Such a microscope system according to the prior art is based on the 1 briefly explained.

This in 1 shown microscope system has a PC 2 on, which for controlling one or more microscope components, here in total with 4 is used. Input commands can via a touch panel or touch control panel (here with 1 or a keyboard (not shown) in the PC 2 be entered. The computer 2 then controls the corresponding microscope component 4 by appropriate Steuerbe missing, which are generated from the input commands to. On the other hand, it is also provided according to the prior art, control commands via a foot switch or a hand switch, here in total with 3 designated to enter into the system. These input commands also run via the PC 2 from where they act as control commands to the at least one microscope component 4 to get redirected.

From the EP 0 775 908 A1 is a microscope system with a controllable by control microscope component and a computer unit and an input unit for inputting commands to the computer unit known. In this case, the computer unit has means for converting input commands into control commands for acting on at least one microscope component. Furthermore, a second computer unit and a second input unit are provided, which serve to input input commands into the second computer unit, the second computer unit having means for converting the input commands into control commands for acting on at least one microscope component. This document does not concern the field of surgical microscopes.

Out US 2002/0149763 A1 is a microscope system with at least one Actuated by control commands microscope component and a formed as a PC first computer unit and a second computer unit known. This publication is not concerned with the specific Requirements for surgical microscopes.

Especially in connection with surgical microscopes, the functionality of a microscope system must be guaranteed at all times. With systems like those mentioned above 1 Sufficient security can not be guaranteed because the entire system will fail if there is a crash or failure of the PC 2 comes.

task The present invention therefore provides a microscope system, the highest Safety requirements.

These Task is solved by a microscope system with the features of the claim 1 and a method with the features of claim 6.

With the surgical microscope system according to the invention is also in case of failure or crash one PC, on the under normal operating conditions control commands for the Microscope components can be routed to the security of the overall system guaranteed i.e. In particular, a surgical microscope may e.g. during one Operation continues to be used. Another invention feasible Advantage is the fast availability of the Microscope already immediately after switching on the system. The According to the invention provided independent, additional Computer or electronic unit is already after a few 100 ms functioning and can take control of the overall microscope system. conventional PCs are known to need much longer, to boot up or operational to become. The inventively provided additional Computer unit, for example, the motors of the microscope system drive into their starting position, and interrogate sensors and brakes. The microscope system is thus immediately after switching on for the User available. At the same time, the invention ensures that that the inexpensive and globally available or known standard software solutions in comprehensive way for a microscope system can be used without the safety of the system to impair.

As controllable microscope components according to the invention may be mentioned in particular optical carrier, XY couplings and optical components such as zoom systems. In particular, single-board computers prove to be advantageous. A single-board computer (SBC) is usually realized as a compact mainboard with integrated processor, input and output such as serial interfaces, parallel interfaces, floppy interfaces, hard disk interfaces, etc. Single-board computers are available with or without bus expansion capability.

Key differentiator the normal motherboard is above all the compact design. By This compact design, the integration is much higher, thus can Single-board computers are used in very space-critical applications. On a single-board computer are expediently all controllers such as graphics chip, Ethernet or SCSI integrated.

According to the invention first input unit as touch-screen or board and / or keyboard formed. With such input devices is a particularly simple and ergonomically advantageous operation ensured a surgical microscope.

The first and the second computer unit are housed in a common housing. A Such construction proves e.g. due to minimizable transmission paths as compact, and also in terms of security as particularly favorable.

advantageous Embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

It is according to one particularly preferred embodiment of the microscope system according to the invention provided that generated by the first computer unit control commands on the second computer unit is placed on at least one microscope component become. With this measure is guaranteed that, for example, during a normal operating state of a complete microscope system control over the PC designed first computer device can be done. The For example, control commands generated by the PC may remain unchanged under Interposition of the second computer unit to the respective Microscope components are given. In particular, this is in this Case the most favorable Housing the first computer unit and the second computer unit within a housing, for example, the microscope housing in a particularly simple way possible. It is equally possible that control commands generated by the first computer unit at the second Computer unit over on the respective microscope components to give. In particular, it is also possible according to the invention to use a microscope system in parallel over to control the first and second input units.

It is further preferred that at least one microscope component, by means of Input commands to the second computer unit, is controllable, too controllable by means of input commands in the first computer device is, and / or vice versa. This allows individual preferences a user are optimally met.

Conveniently, is the at least one second input unit as a footswitch and / or handset and / or control button or keypad educated. Even such devices are very light and safe to operate, which is particularly important in surgical microscopes. In particular, you can individual microscope components via special Keys, or also via hand and foot switches, actuated become.

Especially in microscopes for Neurosurgery proves convenient to use such input devices, in particular, hand-held switches and / or operating keys, in a handle, by means of which the microscope can be positioned, for example, to integrate. Such integration of manual switches or Control buttons in a handle proves particular under ergonomic point of view as favorable.

It it is understood that the above and the following yet to be explained features not only in the specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without to leave the scope of the present invention.

The Invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this one shows

1 (as already mentioned) a microscope system according to the prior art,

2 a schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of the microscope system according to the invention, and

3 a further schematic representation of a preferred embodiment of a microscope system according to the invention.

In 2 is designed as a single-board computer first computer unit with 2 designated. This second computer unit is used to control one or more microscope components, here in total with 4 designated. To enter input commands into the single-board computer 2 is a touch panel 1 intended. Interfaces between the single-board computer 2 and the touch panel 1 are with 12 designated.

The single-board computer 2 in a conventional manner, a CPU, memory devices, a standard operating system software and at least one application software.

In the (not shown) CPU of the single-board computer 2 be in the touch panel 1 input commands into control commands for the at least one microscope component 4 transformed. The control commands are via an interface 25 initially a second computer unit 5 which supplies the control commands to the at least one microscope component 4 carries over. In a preferred first operating mode (normal operating mode) is provided that of the single-board computer 2 generated control commands in the second computer unit 5 not be changed.

In addition to the as a touch panel 1 formed first input unit is at least a second input unit 3 educated. This second input unit 3 is preferably designed as a manual switch and / or as a footswitch.

By means of the second input unit 3 are input commands to the second computer unit 5 given. The second computer unit 5 converts these input commands into control commands, with which then at least one of the microscope components 4 or the single-board computer 2 is charged. The second computer unit 5 is preferably also formed with its own CPU and embedded software. By means of this own CPU and the embedded software can input commands for the second input unit 3 completely independent of the state of the single-board computer 2 in control commands for the microscope components 4 being transformed.

The one with the single-board computer 2 coupled independent second computer unit 5 can in the case of a failure of the single-board computer 2 essentially take over the complete control of the microscope system. The second computer unit also has corresponding interfaces 25 respectively. 54 to the single-board computer 2 as well as to the different microscope components 4 on. Interfaces between the second input unit 3 and the second computer unit are with 53 designated.

The second computer unit 5 is for the control and regulation of the microscope as well as for the communication with the microscope components 4 designed. It guarantees a working microscope system, even if the standard operating system software or an application on the single-board computer 2 crashes or is otherwise impaired.

In this case you can, for example, on the single-board computer 2 perform a self-reset, and the touch panel system 1 to restart operation without the actual microscope components are impaired, as they still with foot and / or hand switch 3 can be operated, in particular by means of motors and brakes are controlled. This is particularly important to ensure the functionality of a surgical microscope, even if a single-board computer has failed.

Another advantage is the fast availability of the microscope system immediately after switching on the system. The independent, additional computer unit 5 is already functional after a few 100 ms and can take control or control of the microscope system. For example, motors of the microscope can be moved to a start position immediately after switching on, or even sensors and brakes can be interrogated.

Immediately thereafter, the system for the user via the buttons of the microscope components or via the second input device 3 operable while the operating system of the single-board computer 2 including the touch panel is still in the boot process.

One Another advantage is the fast availability of such a equipped Microscope system also after an accidental power-off like For example, in case of tripping or unplugging the supply cable.

Further, the particular advantage of using a standard single-board computer is that a user interface of a standard operating system associated therewith is familiar to the user similar to its PC environment. Furthermore, such a single-board computer together with the computer programs running on it is cheap and easily available worldwide. The disadvantages or safety risks which occur particularly in surgical microscopes when using such systems, ie failure of microscope components such as optics carriers, XY couplings, communication with manual switches, foot switches, software drops, virus attack, can be achieved by the use of the second computer unit 5 effectively avoided.

Another preferred embodiment of the microscope system according to the invention is in 3 shown. Here's the total microscope system with 10 designated. You can see a touch panel 1 via (not shown in detail) interfaces with a first computer unit or a single-board computer 2 connected is. Another computer unit or electronic unit for controlling the microscope components unab is dependent on the single-board computer or in case of failure of the single-board computer is with 5 designated. Single microscope components, such as an XY coupling, a focus or an optics carrier are with 6 respectively. 7 respectively. 8th designated. In 3 is also a handle 18 schematically represented, by means of which the microscope system 10 is positionable in space. The first and / or the second input unit can be integrated in the handle. Other microscope components, such as a tripod or carrier system, are not shown for reasons of clarity of illustration.

Also in this embodiment, a foot switch and a manual switch are provided as a second input unit, shown here individually and with 3a respectively. 3b designated.

It can be seen that the first computer unit or the single-board computer 2 as well as the second computer unit 5 within a single housing, here with 15 designated, are arranged. It would also be possible to provide the first and the second computer unit in separate housings, whereby further, not described here, control devices can be provided in such housings.

1

Input unit, Touch panel

2

first Computer unit, single-board computer

3,3a, 3b

second input unit

4

Microscope components

5

second computer unit

6

XY coupling

7

focus

8th

optics carrier

10

Microscope System

15

casing

18

handle

12,25,53,54

interfaces

Claims (7)

Operating microscope system with at least one controllable by control microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) and designed as a single-board computer first computer unit ( 2 ) and at least one first input unit ( 1 ) for inputting commands to the first computer unit ( 2 ), the first computer unit having means for converting input commands into control commands for applying to at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) is formed, and with a second computer unit ( 5 ) and at least one second input unit ( 3 ; 3a . 3b ) for inputting input commands into the second computer unit, wherein the second computer unit ( 5 ) with means for converting the input commands into control commands for applying to at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) is formed, wherein the first input unit is designed as a touch panel and / or keyboard, and the first and the second computer unit ( 2 . 5 ) in a common housing ( 15 ) are housed. Microscope system according to claim 1, characterized in that from the first computer unit ( 2 ) generated control commands via the second computer unit ( 5 ) to at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) are given. Microscope system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ), which is controllable by input of input commands into the second computer unit, also by input of input commands into the first computer unit ( 2 ) is controllable, and / or vice versa. Microscope system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the second input unit as a hand switch and / or footswitch and / or control button is formed. Microscope system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and / or the second input unit in a handle ( 18 ), by means of which the microscope system is in particular manually positionable in space, is integrally formed. Method for operating a microscope system according to one of the preceding claims, in which at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) in a first operating state by input of input commands into a first computer unit ( 2 ), which is designed as a single-board computer, is controllable, wherein at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ), which in the first operating state by the first computer unit ( 2 ) is controllable, in a second operating state by means of input of input commands into a second computer unit ( 5 ), which are independent of the first computer unit ( 2 ) a control of the at least one microscope component ( 4 ; 6 ; 7 ; 8th ) is controllable. Method according to Claim 6, characterized in that the second operating state is a failure or a crash of the first computer device ( 2 ).