The present application relates to an optical observation device which is controlled in a sterility preserving manner, and to a corresponding controlling program and/or program storage medium. The optical observation device includes a main structure having at least one optical camera, a motorized support for positioning the main structure, and a control unit that receives a sequence of images from the at least one optical camera, searches a current image from the sequence of images for a trackable object, tracks the trackable object shown in the sequence of images subsequent to the current image, and controls the motorized support structure.

Examples relate to an optical imaging system, and to a corresponding apparatus, method and computer program for an optical imaging system. The optical imaging system comprises one or more information sources for providing information about a current orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least a part of an object of interest. The optical imaging system comprises one or more output modules for providing guidance information for a user of the optical imaging system. The optical imaging system comprises a processing module configured to determine information on a desired orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least a part of the object of interest. The processing module is configured to control the one or more output modules to provide the guidance information for the user of the optical imaging system based on a mismatch between the desired orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least the part of the object of interest and the current orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least the part of the object of interest.

Provided is a medical observation device including an imaging unit configured to capture an image of an object to be observed, and output a video signal, and a support unit configured with a plurality of arm units rotatably connected to each other via joint units, and configured to support the imaging unit. An actuator that applies driving force with respect to rotation about a rotational axis of at least one joint unit that defines an attitude of the imaging unit, among a plurality of the joint units that form the support unit, is provided. The at least one joint unit and the actuator are arranged separated from each other, and are connected together via a power transmission mechanism that transmits rotary movement between two rotational axes that are substantially orthogonal to each other.

A lens barrel includes one or more movable lens groups, and a cam barrel associated with the one or more movable lens groups and configured to balance a center of gravity of the one or more movable lens groups.

There is provided a medical observation apparatus including: a determination section configured to determine, on a basis of distance between a part corresponding to a sterile region and an object existing in a periphery of the part corresponding to the sterile region, if an approaching state in which an object is approaching the part corresponding to the sterile region exists; and a notification control section configured to cause a notification of the approaching state to be issued, on a basis of a determination result of the approaching state.

A stand for a surgical microscope and a method for optimizing an assembly space of a surgical microscopy system are provided. The stand includes a base part, a stand part forming a c-shape structure, having a first end and a second end, and being mounted on the base part at the first end. The stand part has a hollow structure with reinforcements arranged within the hollow structure and the reinforcements extend vertically through the entire hollow structure. The stand part may include a first stand part element and a second stand part element, and the first and second stand part elements are arranged at a horizontal distance relative to one another and form together the c-shape structure. The method includes relocating electronic components from the arms to an area of the stand part thereby shifting a center of gravity of the stand.

A method includes rotating a mirror assembly in a first direction using an actuator. The mirror assembly is rotationally coupled to a base and includes a mirror. A first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base, and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure. The method also includes rotating a reaction inertia assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction using the actuator. The reaction inertia assembly is rotationally coupled to the base. The method further include restricting movement of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly in multiple degrees of freedom using multiple flexures.

A surgical electronic microscope device (10) includes a microscope unit (110) and a support unit (120) that supports the microscope unit (110). The microscope unit (110) images an operative site of a patient (330) on an operating table (340), and outputs an image signal. The support unit (120) includes a prop unit (290c). The prop unit (290c) supports a second arm (290b) rotatably around an axis (05). The second arm (290b) supports a first arm (290a) rotatably around an axis (04). The first arm (290a) supports the microscope unit (110). Pivoting the second arm (290b) on the axis (05) while keeping the first arm (290a) substantially level makes it possible to change a height of the microscope unit (110). A length (V) of the second arm (290b) is greater than a length (H) of the first arm (290a). Accordingly, a movable range of the microscope unit (110) in a vertical direction is wide. Both an operation performed by a surgeon at a standing position and an operation performed by a surgeon at a seated position can be therefore covered.

A surgical electronic microscope device (10) includes a microscope unit (110) and a support unit (120) that supports the microscope unit (110). The microscope unit (110) images an operative site of a patient (330) on an operating table (340), and outputs an image signal. The support unit (120) includes a prop unit (290c). The prop unit (290c) supports a second arm (290b) rotatably around an axis (05). The second arm (290b) supports a first arm (290a) rotatably around an axis (04). The first arm (290a) supports the microscope unit (110). Pivoting the second arm (290b) on the axis (05) while keeping the first arm (290a) substantially level makes it possible to change a height of the microscope unit (110). A length (V) of the second arm (290b) is greater than a length (H) of the first arm (290a). Accordingly, a movable range of the microscope unit (110) in a vertical direction is wide. Both an operation performed by a surgeon at a standing position and an operation performed by a surgeon at a seated position can be therefore covered.

There is provided a medical support arm device including a brake provided in at least one joint of a plurality of joints that define a deployment configuration of a multi-joint arm, and configured to release a rotation shaft of the at least one joint when electricity is supplied to the multi-joint arm and lock the rotation shaft when electricity is not supplied to the multi joint arm. When electricity is not supplied the brake is configured to exert a brake force that supports a weight of the multi-joint arm to maintain the deployment configuration of the multi-joint arm, but also permits rotation of the rotation shaft by an external manually applied force equal to or larger than a predetermined value.