WO2004066014A1

WO2004066014A1 - Visualization device for a surgical microscope having a display unit that is supported by a support frame on the body of the viewer

Info

Publication number: WO2004066014A1
Application number: PCT/DE2004/000084
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andreas Obrebski
Original assignee: Andreas Obrebski
Priority date: 2003-01-21
Filing date: 2004-01-21
Publication date: 2004-08-05

Abstract

The invention relates to a visualization device for a surgical microscope (1) which comprises a main viewing place (13) for a main viewer and an image data-supplying camera (6). The invention is characterized in that the visualization device has an interface (30, 31) for receiving the image data and a display unit (27, 28) supported on the body of a co-viewer (26) via a frame (39). Said display unit displays the image data received on the interface (30, 31) from the surgical microscope (1) as an image. The frame (39) maintains the display unit (27, 28) in front of the body of the co-viewer (26) in such a manner that the displayed image lies in the field of vision of the co-viewer (26) only when the co-viewer holds the head in a certain position.

Description

VISUALIZING DEVICE FOR AN OPERATING MICROSCOPE WITH A DISPLAY UNIT SUPPORTED BY A CARRIER ON THE BODY OF THE VIEWER

The invention relates to a visualization device for a surgical microscope, which comprises an image data-emitting camera, the visualization device having an interface for receiving the image data and a display unit which displays image data received by the surgical microscope at the interface as an image.

10 Such surgical microscopes are known in the prior art; US 5,867,210, for example, describes a stereoscopic operating device in which an operating field is enlarged on screens by means of a camera. A similar approach can also be found in JP 11318936 A. Instead of screens, it is also known from DE 43 21 934 C2 or US 4,621,283 to wear one on the head of an operator

15 To use a display device that reflects an enlarged image of an operating area in the operator's field of vision

In microscopic surgery, it is increasingly required that multiple assistants work with a surgeon to perform complicated operations

20 can. There is an increasing demand for the surgeons and especially the assistants to be able to change their position in relation to the surgical area. The system known from US 5,067,804, in which an electronic eyepiece is mounted on a gallows, cannot meet this requirement.

25

With devices whose visualization devices are firmly attached in the manner of screens, a high degree of mobility is achieved for the surgeons, but the image cannot always be viewed optimally, in particular with LCD screens in which observations at oblique angles result in poor image quality , With those with HMD

This problem does not exist in 30 provided variants and a surgeon always sees an image optimal quality, but his view of the (real) operating room is severely impaired; he can therefore only orientate himself to a limited extent in the operating room. For example, eye contact with other people is impossible. The computer described in EP 0 976 020 B1, which is fastened in or on a construction belt and also carries an LCD screen at the same time, allows such eye contact, but in surgical applications, the manual activity of a surgeon by this system would be necessary Screen size much too limited. The same applies to the wearable computer described in US 5,285,398, the display unit of which is held in the hand.

The invention is therefore based on the object of designing a visualization device for a surgical microscope, which comprises an image data-emitting camera, in such a way that an observer can observe the image recorded by the camera with the required quality as far as possible regardless of his position in relation to the surgical microscope, without being impermissibly restricted in his normal perception of the operating room, his visual orientation or his manual work.

This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with a visualization device of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which a carrying frame holds the display unit shoulder-supported on the body of an observer in front of the observer in such a way that he can take a look into the display unit through a head depression.

It has been shown that a very good optical quality of the displayed image is required in the case of visualization devices which are suitable for applications in surgery. In the prior art, it was therefore essential for surgical devices to mechanically support the required display units. Thanks to the shoulder-supported carrying frame according to the invention, it is now possible to achieve the optimal image quality for surgical applications with a mobile, i.e. to realize the unit giving the observer maximum freedom of movement without fear of disadvantageous ergonomic consequences. The shoulder support has been found to be very comfortable for surgeons, even if the display unit is relatively heavy and is not of a lightweight construction that reduces optical quality. The observer can then take a look at the display unit by simply lowering his head and will find the familiar ergonomic environment and visual perception there. Optimal image quality is thus possible since the observer sees only the image shown when looking into the display unit.

in particular, it is possible to design the display unit similar to an eyepiece, which is held in front of the observer by the frame. The eyepiece enlarges the image and thus increases the image quality, while at the same time making the display unit compact. The carrying frame thus holds the display unit in front of the observer's body in such a way that the image shown is in the observer's field of vision with a certain head position. The visualization device according to the invention enables the display unit worn on the body to perceive the images recorded by the camera when the observer assumes the particular head position and looks into the display device. Otherwise, visibility and manual activity in the operating room are unimpeded, in particular free eye contact with others is possible. Due to the compact design, this applies particularly to the embodiment with an eyepiece. It is very easy for the observer to view the operation image, to actuate switching devices, for example in order to switch over a display device, or the like. is not necessary.

Since the observer carries the display unit on the body by means of the frame, he can move freely in the operating room at the same time. The image quality does not depend on its position towards the surgical microscope. By coupling the display direction with the camera via the interface and a suitable data link, the orientation of the microscope can now be freely selected.

Any suitable component that displays the image data with sufficient quality can be used as the image-generating element in the display unit. The display unit expediently has a screen, in particular an LCD screen. A screen operating on the principle of so-called electrowetting can also be used. This principle is described in et magaziπ für Computertechnik, 21/2003, p. 55, Heise Verlag, 2003. The required technology is available from Philips, the Netherlands.

Surgery with an assistant is often required during an operation. The visualization device according to the invention can then be used for main and / or co-observers; it is particularly suitable for assistants (fv ϊt observers) who work with a conventional, i.e. mechanically fixed main observation station, surgeons working (main observer) work together.

In a preferred further development, the co-observer sees the image exactly as it is presented to the main observer when he brings the head into the particular head posture. So the assistant and the surgeon see the same picture, which facilitates communication between the two, since the same picture is referenced. If, on the other hand, the assistant works directly in the area of surgery, he can sometimes prefer to see an image that is aligned in the display unit. For this FaÜ it is expedient to use a position detection device to position the display unit over the frame to detect the carrying observer to the camera and to display on the display device an orientation-appropriate image which has been obtained by suitable processing from the camera and which shows the operating area as it corresponds to the position of the observer in relation to the operating field.

In a variant which is advantageous for both of the applications described, a switching device is provided on the surgical microscope and / or the display unit, which enables a switchover between an orientation-appropriate representation of the image and a representation of the image oriented towards the main observer.

Depending on the ergoπo ischeπ desires of the observer, it is advantageous if the frame can be adjusted or adjusted so that the observer can choose a specific head position desired. In this regard, it is also expedient that the frame is able to move the display unit relative to the observer's body. Then the adjustment can be carried out by simply actuating a corresponding shading unit.

It is therefore preferred that the frame moves the display unit relative to the observer's body in response to an activation signal.

This configuration of the visualization device can be designed in such a way that the frame moves the display unit onto the eyes of the observer at the observer's request. The particular head position in which the observer sees the image reproduced by the display unit can then be the normal head position that is usually used for viewing an operating room is taken very close without the normal view in the operating room being restricted. If the observer wishes to take a look at the display unit, he then merely ensures that the frame moves the display unit towards the eyes. Only a slight head movement is then required in order to bring the head into the specific head position in which the image displayed on the display unit is visible. Appropriate activation of the frame moving the display unit moves the display unit away from the eyes again when the observer wants to orientate himself in the operating room or no longer wants to see the image of the operating area.

The actuation of the. Display unit moving frame expediently takes place on a suitable switching device which emits the activation signal. This switching device can be a manually operated switch or a sensor device that senses a certain head movement. The connection between the interface of the visualization device and the camera can be made via any suitable data link. From the viewpoint of the greatest possible freedom of movement for the observer, a wireless image data transmission link is preferred.

If a cable connection is used which is favorable from the point of view of electromagnetic compatibility, the cable can be laid by means of a gallows so that even then the observer has a large range of deflection.

When using a cable connection that leads from the camera to the display unit or to the interface via a boom, it is advantageous to use a cable connection that automatically contracts to the required length, for example using flexible, springy or rolling / unrolling units, that act as a cable dispenser.

The design of the support frame can achieve in many ways that the load of the display unit to be carried rests essentially on the shoulders of the observer. For example, wire racks similar to those used for fastening the harmonica in musicians can be used which have a shoulder rest with which the carrying frame is supported on both shoulders of the observer. To keep the display unit at chest level in front of the observer, you can also use a strap or the like. Appropriate support is provided on the head or via an abdominal support.

Alternatively, the carrying frame can also be designed in the form of a backpack, which is strapped to the observer's chest or stomach instead of to the back. For better weight distribution, it can be useful, especially with sweaty components, to distribute the backpack and the components it carries both in front of the stomach and on the back. For this purpose, the carrying frame can be designed, for example, in the form of two U-shaped brackets which are placed over the shoulders and held together under the arms or in the hip area by means of straps.

The invention is explained in more detail below by way of example with reference to the drawing. In the drawing:

1 shows a schematic illustration of an operating microscope and FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a co-observer who can see the image captured by the operating microscope at an additional observation station.

In Fig. 1, an operating microscope 1 is shown schematically, which is attached next to an operating table 2. On the operating table 2 comes in during an operation Patient 3 to lie. The operating field is detected by an incident light microscope 4, which has an objective 5 and a camera 6. The lens 5 detects the operating field, and the camera 6 is arranged downstream of the lens 5 in the radiation path so that it produces an enlarged image of the operating field. A suitable reflected light microscope is available, for example, from Carl Zeiss, Oberkochen, Germany, under the name OPMI Vario. A stereo camera has been added.

The incident light microscope 4 is attached to a microscope stand 7, which allows a multi-axis adjustment of the incident light microscope 4 via rotary joints 8 to 11 and a bracket 24, so that it can be moved almost arbitrarily over the operating table 2. The optical axis 23 is oriented perpendicular to the operating table 2 in the construction shown in FIG

The camera 6 records the images that show the object field captured by the lens 5. It is designed as a stereo camera pair and delivers its stereo images via a data line 12 to an electronic eyepiece 13. The eyepiece 13 is a conventional microscope eyepiece designed for the head system, in the intermediate image plane of which an LCD display 19 is arranged. Since this is a stereo eyepiece 13, two displays 19 and a device for adjusting the pupil distance and a device for correcting ametropia are accordingly provided for the camera pair. For simplification, only one display 19 is mentioned below.

The LCD display 19 is connected to the data line 12 and shows corresponding stereo images that a surgeon can view in the stereo eyepiece 13. The eyepiece 13 is attached to an eyepiece stand 14, which in turn is attached to the microscope stand 7. The eyepiece stand 14 has swivel joints 15 to 18, which allow a freely selectable three-axis positioning of the eyepiece 13 in space and in particular in relation to the reflected-light microscope 4. This is symbolized in FIG. 1 by arrows 21. The eyepiece 14 is designed so that the selected position can be fixed by the pivots 15 to 18 are set accordingly.

A control device 22 is attached to the microscope stand 7 and is connected to the data line 12, which connects the eyepiece 13 to the camera 6. Rotary sensors are attached to the rotary joints 15 to 18 and are connected to the control device 22 via the data line 12. The control device 22 thus detects a rotation of the eyepiece 13. A reflected light microscope 4 has a rotary drive which rotates the camera 6 relative to the objective 5. This rotary drive is suitably controlled by the control device 22, so that a corresponding rotation of the eyepiece 13, which the control device 22 via the Rotation sensors detected, is converted into a corresponding movement of the orbital drive and thus a corresponding rotation of the camera 6.

If an operator who has placed his head on the eyepiece rotates or shifts the eyepiece 13 when the control device 22 is activated, the image reproduced in the eyepiece 13 by the LCD display 19 also changes, but in the opposite direction, since the camera 6 is rotated accordingly. The operator therefore has the impression of a fixed image.

In a further embodiment, the rotary drive is not designed to rotate the camera 6, but instead causes a corresponding movement of the entire incident light microscope 4 in such a way that any movement of the eyepiece 13 in the direction of the arrows 21 or a corresponding rotation corresponds to a corresponding movement or rotation of the Lightening microscope 4 results when the control device 22 is activated. The surgeon can thus "look around" in a larger image field with the aid of his eyepiece, since an eyepiece movement is immediately converted into a corresponding movement of the reflected-light microscope 4.

Alternatively, an electronic image field adjustment can also be carried out as follows. In this embodiment, the LCD display 19 shows only a partial section of the image supplied by the camera 6. If the control device 22 detects a rotation of the eyepiece 13, the displayed field of view in the LCD display 19 is shifted accordingly, so that the viewer can “look around” in the entire image supplied by the camera 6 by rotating the eyepiece 13.

In further embodiments of the operating microscope 1, the ocular stand 14 is not attached to the microscope stand 7. Instead, it is independently attached to the floor in one embodiment and independently attached to the ceiling in another embodiment.

The LCD display 19 requires a light source for operation. For this purpose, light is decoupled from a light source (not shown) already present on the reflected-light microscope 4 via a Lieh waveguide and carried parallel to the data connection 12 to the LCD display 19. The light source on the reflected light microscope 4 supplies white light. For LCD displays that require three-color RGB light, a color wheel is connected in the beam path from the light source of the reflected-light microscope 4 to the LCD display 19, which generates the appropriate RGB light for the LCD display 19 when colored sectors are passed through accordingly , The mechanical decoupling of eyepiece 13 and reflected light microscope 4 makes it possible, depending on the field of application, for example depending on the type of operation, to implement the most economical ergonomic setup.

The camera 6 not only supplies the eyepiece 13 serving as the main observation point for the surgeon with image data, but also an additional observation point 25 for an assistant 26, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The assistant 26 receives this from the camera 6 via the data line 12 the control device 22 transmitted image is presented in a display unit 27 which feeds an eyepiece 28 and in this respect corresponds to the eyepiece 13 with the LCD display 19. The assistant 26 can look into the eyepiece 28 by lowering his head 29.

The display unit 27 receives the image data originating from the camera 6 and possibly processed at an interface 30 which is connected to the control device 22 via a cable 31. The cable 31 runs over a gallows 32 which is attached to the microscope stand 7 by means of a swivel joint 33. Alternatively, the gallows 32 can also be fastened independently of the stand unit of the microscope 1, for example on the floor, wall or ceiling of the operating room. The gallows 32 can be adjusted via a further swivel joint 34, so that the cable 31 always hangs down at the point at which the assistant 26 with the display device 27 is located.

To have the cable 31 automatically contracted to the required length, i.e. So that no loose cable route can be in the way, a cable drum 35 is provided which automatically winds up cable 31 that is not required. The cable drum 35 sits on a mounting bracket 36 on a rail 37 of the gallows 32, so that the position of the cable drum 35 is adjustable. A displaceable connection point, at which the cable 31 hangs from the boom 32, is thereby reached. The cable 31 is guided from the cable drum 35 to the control unit 22 along the gallows 32 in eyelets 37.

As an alternative to the cable 31, a wireless connection between the cut still 30 and the control device 22 can be used. The gallows 32 and the components attached to them are then omitted.

As an option to the rotary joints 33 and 34 and an adjustment by virtue of the rail 37 and the cable drum 35, a rigid gallows without a joint can also be used. The assistant 26 carries the display unit 27 by means of a carrying frame 39 _, which is supported on the shoulder of the assistant 26 via a shoulder support 40 and a _stomach or chest support 41 and thus aligns the display unit 27 approximately at the height of the assistant 26.

The design of the support frame 39 ensures that the weight of the display unit rests essentially on the shoulders of the assistant 26. The support frame 39 is similar to a frame for attaching the harmonica to musicians. In order to keep the display unit 27 at chest level in front of the assistant 26, a type of strap on the head can also be used instead of or in addition to the abdominal support 41.

Alternatively, the carrying frame 39 can be designed without a rigid carrying element in the manner of a backpack, which is strapped instead of on the back in front of the chest or belly of the assistant 26. For better weight distribution, it can be useful, especially with heavy components, to distribute the backpack and the components carried by it both in front of the stomach and on the back. For this purpose, the carrying frame can be designed, for example, in the form of two U-shaped brackets which are placed over the shoulders and are held together by straps below the arms or hip area.

By aligning the display unit 27 with the eyepiece 28 in the chest or shoulder area of the observer, it is possible for the observer to have a view similar to that of a real microscope. Of course, only one additional display unit 27 can optionally be used for the surgeon. The observation site on the eyepiece 13 is then omitted, or alternatively is replaced by a further display unit 27.

Claims

claims

1. Visualization device for a surgical microscope (1), which comprises an image data-emitting camera (6), the visualization device having an interface (30, 31) for receiving the image data and a display unit (27, 28) which is connected to the interface (30, 31) represents image data received by the surgical microscope (1) as an image, characterized by a carrying frame (39) which supports the display unit (27) on the body of an observer (26) with the support of the shoulder in front of the observer so that the observer can see into the display unit by lowering his head ( 27) can take.

2. Visualization device according to claim 1, characterized in that the support frame (39) supports the display unit (27) on both shoulders.

3. Visualization device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the display unit (27) has an eyepiece (28) which brings about an enlargement of the viewing angle.

4. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the display unit (27) has an LCD screen or electro wetting screen.

5. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the frame (39) moves the display unit (27) towards an Aktivlerungssignat against the body of the observer (26).

6. Visualization device according to claim 5, characterized in that the frame (39) moves the display unit (27) towards the eyes of the observer (26).

7. Visualization device according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by a switchable by the observer (26) Schalteiπrichtuπg for emitting the activating signal.

8. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the interface (30) with the camera (6) is connected via a wireless image data transmission link or via a cable connection (31) suspended from a boom (32) from the camera (6) Receives image data.

9. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the support frame (39) has a © shoulder rest (40) with which it is supported on both shoulders of the observer (26).

10. Visualization device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the carrying frame has a belt system in the manner of a backpack.

11. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized. that the display unit is designed as an eyepiece (28).

12. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized in that the surgical microscope (1) has a further observation site (13) for a main observer, the further observation site (13) also presenting an image captured by the surgical microscope (1).

13. Visualization device according to one of the above claims, characterized by a Positionerfassuπgsvorrichtung which detects a position of the observer (26) to the surgical microscope (1) or to the object detected thereby and brings about a positionally correct representation of the image.