Optical: systems and elements – Compound lens system – Microscope
Reexamination Certificate
2000-04-05
2001-04-03
Nguyen, Thong (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Compound lens system
Microscope
C359S368000, C359S370000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212006
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a stereoscopic microscope, in particular for eye examinations in ophthalmology, or other medical sciences, comprising a binocular lens arrangement, a binocular magnification changer, and a monocular lens arrangement, whereby a reversal lens system can be moved into the beam paths in front of or behind the magnification changer, and the reversal lens system exchanges the two beam paths against one another and causes at the same time an image reversal.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Such a microscope is known, for example, from German Patent DE 38 26 069 C2. In carrying out diagnostic services or surgeries using a stereoscopic microscope, for example in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, etc., microscopes with a weak enlargement are usually being used. These have separate beam paths in order to enable a stereoscopic viewing of the surgery field. Ocular systems are thereby used, each including an ocular tubus forming a telescope. Furthermore, a common lens is used for both beam paths, in which lens is provided in most cases a common convex lens.
The beams or rays enter in such a microscope through the lens. The beams are guided parallel through the lens systems and are fed to the magnification changer. The beams exit from the changer and are in turn focused in parallel and fed to the respective ocular system or tubus.
In viewing the inside of the eye, one must note that due to the lens of the eye itself a laterally transposed image of the inside of the eye is viewed by the microscope. In order to eliminate this transposition or reversal, and in order to show tne image in the correct manner, an image reversal and also a change of the beam paths, namely an exchange of the right and left beam path, must be carried out in the area of the microscope. The reversal lens system provided in the microscope is used for this purpose.
It is often necessary during an eye surgery or examination that the viewer alternately view two well defined areas of the inside of the eye. The focal point of the lens must thereby be shifted in the presently existing microscopes through new focusing. The new focusing requires in each case some seconds. In particular, in the case of longer surgeries or also eye examinations, the time needed for the refocusing at a repeated change of the viewing planes cannot be neglected.
This problem occurs in particular also when an optic system is used, as is known, for example, from DE 298 19 341.8. Such an optic system is used to view the fundus of the eye, in particular of the retina. The optic system creates a first image in a point in front of the optic system. In order for the viewer to be able to view through the microscope this first image created in front of the optic system, the lens of the microscope must be focused onto this first image.
When the viewer now wants to change between the viewings with the optic system or without the optic system, the microscope must, after the optic system has been removed from the beam path, be newly focused. Thus a new focusing is necessary with each change of viewing with or without the optic system. A microscope is known from WO 98/20378, in which above and/or below the reversal lens system together with said reversal lens system lenses are moved into the beam path, which change the focusing of the microscope so that, when an optic system is inserted into the beam path, the image created in front of the optic system can be clearly recognized. A magnification changer is interpositioned in most stereoscopic microscopes so that it is possible to pull also smaller cutouts enlarged from an image. Tf a reversal lens system with a fixedly attached lens is now swung into the parallel beam path, then the compensation of the distance between the earlier focused point and the image created before the optic system, which compensation is caused by the fixedly attached lens, can be utilized only for a very specific adjustment in the magnification changer. The reason or cause for this is that the parallel beam path is changed in the reversal lens system by inserting the lenses. Whereas if travel occurs in all possible areas through the magnification changer, then a blurred, not usable image is created in almost all areas through the decentration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The basic purpose of the invention is therefore to provide a microscope, in which a quick and simple change between two focusings or focal lengths of the microscope is possible. This invention will not limit the operation or function of the magnification changer.
This purpose is attained according to the invention by a supplementary lens that can be inserted or swung into the beam paths on the input side of the lens arrangement, and an optic system that can be inserted between the supplementary lens and the eye into the beam path for wide-angle viewing of the retina. The supplementary lens can be a convex lens having a focal length chosen in such a manner that the retina can be viewed with the supplementary lens and the optic system inserted or swung in the beam path, while the lens arrangement of the microscope is focused on the cornea.
By inserting or swinging in the supplementary lens it is possible to change the focal length of the microscope in such a manner that the viewer, depending on the position of the supplementary lens and the optic system, can view the retina or the cornea of the eye. The supplementary lens is a convex lens, the focal length of which is chosen in such a manner that the inside of the eye can be viewed with the microscope, with the supplementary lens being inserted or swung in, and the optic system is moved in, while the lens of the microscope is focused on the cornea. When the optic system is now removed from the beam path between the eye and the lens and also the supplementary lens is again moved out of the beam path, it is possible without a new focusing of the lens of the microscope to clearly view the cornea directly. A new focusing of the microscope is thereby no longer necessary. The advantage of the inventive arrangement of the supplementary lens is mainly that independent of the position of the supplementary lens, positioned or not positioned in the beam path, the magnification changer can be fully utilized.
The reversal lens system and the supplementary lens are then advantageously coupled with one another mechanically, electromechanically and/or electronically so that the reverse lens system and the supplementary lens can be simultaneously inserted or swung into the beam path. This coupling offers an advantage during the following procedure or process. The cornea is first directly viewed by means of the microscope. Whereas if the inside of the eye is supposed to be viewed, for example, with the help of the optic system, an image exchange and reversal occurs due to the optic system so that the image is recognized laterally transposed and upside down by the viewer. The reversal lens system must then be inserted into the beam paths so that the image can be recognized laterally correct. By means of a device, through which the supplementary lens and the reversal lens system are simultaneously swung in and out, it is now possible to prepare the microscope with one manipulation in order to view, after viewing the cornea, the inside of the eye by means of an optic system.
A further attainment of the purpose is that an optic system can be inserted into the beam path between the lens arrangement and the eye being tested for wide-angle viewing of the retina, which optic system reproduces a first image, which can be viewed with the microscope, at a point between the lens arrangement and the optic system, and that the microscope has a supplementary lens, which can be inserted or swung into the beam path, on the input side of the lens arrangement, whereby the supplementary lens is a dispersing lens, having a focal length so that the cornea can be viewed through the microscope with the supplementary lens inserted or swung-in, while the lens arrangement of the microscope is focused on the point of the first image.
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
Nguyen Thong
Oculus Optikgeraete GmbH
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