Tube for a surgical microscope

Abstract

The invention relates to a tube for a surgical microscope. The tube has a base part, an intermediate part, which is pivotable about a rotational axis on the base part, and an ocular part which is pivotable about a rotational axis on the intermediate part. The imaging beam path is guided through the base part, the intermediate part and the pivotable ocular part. The tube has a tube lens system which transfers a parallel imaging beam paths into an intermediate image. The parallel imaging beam path enters via an opening in a connecting piece of the base part. The tube has a first displaceable mirror element which can be moved about the rotational axis on the base part. The tube lens system is a telesystem which has a lens unit having positive refractive power and a lens unit having negative refractive power.

Claims

1. A tube for a surgical microscope comprising: a base part; an intermediate part pivotable on said base part about a first rotational axis; an ocular part pivotable on said intermediate part about a second rotational axis; said base part, said intermediate part and said ocular part conjointly defining an imaging beam path passing therethrough; said base part having a base part housing and said intermediate part having an intermediate part housing; said intermediate part housing having a convex-shaped housing section at said second rotational axis; said intermediate part being pivotably movable on said base part between a folded position and an unfolded position; and, said base part housing including a housing section having a concave outer contour accommodating said convex-shaped housing section of said intermediate part housing therein when said intermediate part is in said folded position causing said intermediate part housing to be pivoted tightly against said base part housing.

2. The tube of claim 1, further comprising: a tube lens system arranged in said imaging beam path and including a first lens unit having a positive refractive power and a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; and, said lens unit having said negative refractive power being mounted in said ocular part.

3. The tube of claim 2, wherein said ocular part has a first section hinged to said intermediate part and a second section accommodated on a rotational joint pivotable about an optical axis of said imaging beam path; and, said second section has a receptacle for an ocular.

4. The tube of claim 3, further comprising a Porro system for image reversal being mounted in said second section.

5. The tube of claim 4, further comprising: a first displaceable mirror movable about said first rotational axis on said base part; a second displaceable mirror movable about said second rotational axis on said intermediate part; said first displaceable mirror directing said imaging beam path entering via a connecting piece to said second displaceable mirror; said first displaceable mirror and said second displaceable mirror being disposed in said imaging beam path between said first lens unit and said second lens unit; and, said second lens unit being disposed between said second displaceable mirror and said Porro system for image reversal.

6. The tube of claim 3, further comprising a drive for pivoting said second section.

7. The tube of claim 1, further comprising: said base part having a connecting piece defining an opening through which said imaging beam path enters; a tube lens system arranged in said imaging beam path and including a first lens unit having a positive refractive power and a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; and, an afocal magnification system disposed between said first lens unit and said opening in said connecting piece.

8. The tube of claim 7, wherein said afocal magnification system is adjustable via a Galilei changer.

9. The tube of claim 7, further comprising a glass block disposed between said first lens unit and said opening in said connecting piece.

10. The tube of claim 7, further comprising a beam splitter disposed between said first lens unit and said opening in said connecting piece.

11. The tube of claim 7, wherein said connecting piece is a rotational joint defining a third rotational axis parallel to an optical axis of said imaging beam path.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a tube having an integrated magnification changer on the base body of a surgical microscope;

(3) FIG. 2 is a three-dimensional section of an assembly of the tube;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a housing covering for covering the imaging beam path in the tube;

(5) FIGS. 4 to 8 show sections of the tube in different pivot positions;

(6) FIG. 9 shows the ocular in-view of the tube with a device for adjusting the pupil distance;

(7) FIG. 10 shows a tube having an integrated beam splitter and interfaces for connecting to documentation units; and,

(8) FIG. 11 shows the imaging beam path of the tube with integrated beam splitter.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

(9) The tube 1 in FIG. 1 has a base part 3, an intermediate part 5, as well as an ocular part 7. The base part 3 includes a base housing 9. The base housing 9 is connected with a connecting piece 11 to the base body 13 of the surgical microscope 15. The intermediate part 5 has an intermediate part housing 16. The intermediate part 5 is pivotally movably mounted on the base part 3 via a rotational joint 17. The intermediate part 5 can thereby be moved about the rotational axis 21 in correspondence to the double arrow 19. The ocular part 7 includes an ocular part housing 22. The ocular part 7 is accommodated via a rotational joint 23 on the intermediate part 5. The rotational joint 23 has a rotational axis 25. The ocular part 7 can be pivoted on the rotational axis 25 and corresponds to the double arrow 27.

(10) The base body 13 of the surgical microscope 15 is attached to the arm 29 of a surgical microscope stand (not shown). The surgical microscope 15 can be shifted with the tube 1 about the pivot axis 33 and the tilt axis 31 on the surgical microscope stand.

(11) The surgical microscope 15 permits a viewing person to view an object region 35 via left and right stereoscopic imaging beam paths having optical axes (37, 39) through the left and right oculars (41, 43) with magnification. The left and right stereoscopic imaging beam paths pass through a common microscope main objective 40.

(12) The base part 3 includes a rotational joint 45. In the rotational joint 45, the tube 1 can be moved relative to the base body 13 of the surgical microscope 15 about a rotational axis 47 in correspondence to the double arrow 51. The rotational axis 47 is parallel to the optical axes (37, 39) of the imaging beam path entering into the tube.

(13) An adjustable afocal magnification system is disposed in the base body 13 of the surgical microscope 15. In the base part 3 of the tube 1, a further afocal magnification system is disposed for the left and right imaging beam paths. This magnification system is accommodated in a magnification changer which can be actuated by means of a rotary knob 53. The magnification changer in the tube permits a multifaceted adjustment of the magnification of the viewing images in the surgical microscope 15.

(14) The left and right oculars (41, 43) are arranged in ocular receptacles (139l, 139r), respectively. The ocular receptacles (139l, 139r) can be pivoted about the axes (63, 65) for a pupil distance adjusting device 61 in correspondence to the double arrows (62, 64).

(15) The tube 1 contains a tube lens system for each of the left and right imaging beam paths. The tube lens system is configured as a telesystem.

(16) FIG. 2 shows component assemblies of the tube 1 in a three-dimensional section with the right imaging beam path having the optical axis 39. The right imaging beam path passes through the right tube lens system 67r which has a lens unit 68r of positive refractive power and a lens unit 69r of negative refractive power.

(17) For the left imaging beam path having the optical axis 37, the tube lens system 67 in tube 1 contains a left tube lens system, which has a lens unit having positive refractive power and a lens unit having negative refractive power.

(18) Between the lens units (68r, 69r) of the tube lens system 67r, a first mirror element 71 and a second mirror element 73 are arranged in the imaging beam path having the optical axis 39. The same applies for the tube lens system in the imaging beam path having the optical axis 37. The mirror elements (71, 73) are pivotally-movably supported in the rotational axes (21, 25) of the tube 1. The rotational axes (21, 25) run in the mirror surfaces (75, 77) of the mirror elements (71, 73). The rotational axes (21, 25) intercept the optical axes (37, 39) of the left and right stereoscopic imaging beam paths perpendicularly. The first mirror element 71 directs the imaging beam paths 37 and 39 with the optical axes through the intermediate part 5 directly to the second mirror element 73. The imaging beam path is guided to the mirror element via the base part 3 of the tube 1. The imaging beam path is directed into the ocular part 7 via the second mirror element 73.

(19) The tube 1 contains a first and a second housing covering (79, 81). The imaging beam paths having the optical axes (37, 39) pass through the tube 1 and are covered by means of the base housing 9, the intermediate part housing 16, the ocular part housing 22, and the two housing coverings (79, 81). The two housing coverings (79, 81) of the tube 1 are designed as components which are exactly identical in construction.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the housing covering 81. The covering unit 81 includes a rigid cover section 83 having a support 85. The support 85 has a base surface 86. The rigid covering section 83 has an S-shaped outer contour 87. Two arcuate-shaped rails 89 are configured on the rigid cover section 83. The support 85 has two pass-through openings (91, 93) for the stereoscopic imaging beam paths having the optical axes (37, 39). A lug 95 is disposed on the support 85. The support 85 has a recess 97 which functions to accommodate the lug of the cover unit 79. The housing covering 81 has a flexible covering section 99. The flexible covering section 99 is connected via a film joint 101 to the rigid covering section 83. In the film joint 101, the flexible cover section 99 can be moved relative to the rigid cover section 83 about the rotational axis 103.

(21) The two housing coverings (79, 81) are fixed to the intermediate part 5 of the tube 1. The two housing coverings (79, 81) are joined together on the base surfaces of the respective supports of the housing coverings (79, 81). The lug of the one housing covering projects into the recess for accommodating the lug of the other housing covering.

(22) FIGS. 4 to 8 show the tube 1 in section having different pivot positions.

(23) The base part 3 has a connecting piece 105 which is configured as a male dovetail coupling piece. The connecting piece 105 is connected to the base housing 9 via the rotational joint 45. In the base housing 9, an afocal magnification system (109l, 109r) is provided for each of the left and right imaging beam paths having optical axes (37, 39). The afocal magnification system is mounted in a stereoscopic galilei changer 107.

(24) When the tube 1 is connected to the base body 13 of a surgical microscope 15, the imaging beam path having the optical axis 37 passes through the opening 108l in the connecting piece 105 of the tube 1 for a parallel beam path. An entry window 110l is disposed in the opening 108l. A corresponding opening 108r having a window 110r is formed in the connecting piece 105 for the imaging beam path having the optical axis 39.

(25) The lens unit (68l, 68r) of positive refractive power of the tube lens system 67 is disposed between the afocal magnification system (109l, 109r) and the first mirror element 71.

(26) The optical path length L.sub.106, 98 between the lens unit (68l, 68r) having positive refractive power and the opening (108l, 108r) is longer than the optical path length L.sub.68, 21 between the lens unit (68l, 68r) having positive refractive power and the mirror element 71. This applies in a corresponding manner for the imaging beam path having the optical axis 39.

(27) The mirror element 71 is movable about the rotational axis 21 of the rotational joint 17 and is coupled by a reduction gear to the rotational joint 17. For a movement of the rotational joint by the angle φ, the reduction gear causes the mirror element 71 to move by the angle φ/2 in a direction corresponding to the movement of the intermediate part 5. This ensures that the mirror element 71 directs the imaging beam path having optical axes (37, 39) into the pass-through openings (91, 93), respectively, of the housing coverings (79, 81) onto the second mirror element 73 for each position of the rotational joint 17.

(28) The mirror element 73 is also coupled to the rotational joint 23 via a reduction gear in correspondence to the mirror element 71. In a movement of the ocular part 7 about the rotational axis 25 of the rotation joint 23 on the intermediate part 5 by the angle φ, the mirror 73 is moved by the angle φ/2 in an angular position corresponding to the movement of the ocular part 7.

(29) The imaging beam path is supplied to the mirror element 73 from mirror element 71 and this mirror element 73 directs the imaging beam path having the optical axes (37, 39) into the ocular part 7 of the tube 1 in such a manner that the optical axes (37, 39) align respectively with the optical axes of the corresponding lens units having negative refractive power (69l, 69r). In this way, the imaging beam path runs with the optical axes (37, 39) from the openings of the base part 3 of the tube 1 with the same stereo basis to the lens units (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power.

(30) The housing coverings (79, 81) are fixed in the intermediate part 5. The rails 89 on the rigid cover section 83 each engage in a slot of a cover element (115l, 115r) laterally covering the intermediate part 5. The flexible covering section 99 of the cover unit 81 projects into a slit 116 which is configured on the base housing 9.

(31) The imaging beam path is covered in the region 117 for a position of the tube 1 shown in FIG. 4 by means of the rigid covering section 83. The flexible cover section 99 then covers the imaging beam path in the tube 1 in the region 119.

(32) The rigid cover section 120 of the cover unit 79 is held to the cover elements (115l, 116r) covering the intermediate part 5 laterally. The flexible cover section 121 of the cover unit 79 projects into a slit 123 which is configured in the ocular part 7. The flexible cover section 121 covers an imaging beam path in the tube 1 in the region 125. The imaging beam path, which passes through the tube 1, is covered in the region 127 by the rigid cover section 120.

(33) The intermediate part 5 can be moved on the base part 3 of the tube 1 between a folded position and an unfolded position. The same applies for the movement of the ocular part 7 on the intermediate part 5.

(34) FIG. 5 shows the tube 1 in a setting wherein the intermediate part 5 as well as the ocular part 7 are disposed in a folded position. In the housing section 149, the outer contour of the base housing 9 is configured with a concave-convex outer contour accommodating the convex-concave geometry of the intermediate part housing 16 in section 151. In the section 155, the outer contour of the ocular part 7 is adapted to the convex-concave geometry of the intermediate part 5 in the section 159.

(35) FIG. 6 shows the tube 1 when the intermediate part is positioned in the folded position and the ocular part 9 is in the unfolded position. In the setting of FIG. 7, the intermediate part 5 of the tube is disposed in the unfolded position and the ocular part 7 is in the folded position.

(36) The rotational joint 17 of the tube 1 can be displaced over an angular range α=80° about the rotational axis 21. The rotational joint 23 is movable about the rotational axis 25 over an angular range β=100°.

(37) When the intermediate part 5 on the base part 3 is moved about the rotational axis 21 in correspondence to the arrow 129, the rigid cover section 83 is rotated about the rotational axis 21 in correspondence to the arrow 131. With this, the flexible cover section 99 moves in the manner of a coulisse or jalousie in the direction of the arrow 132 out of the slit 116 on the base housing 9. The same applies to the movement of the rigid cover section 120 and the flexible cover section 121 for a movement of the ocular part 7 about the rotational axis 25 of the rotational joint 23.

(38) FIG. 8 shows the tube 1 in an unfolded position of intermediate part 5 and ocular part 7.

(39) For the distance L.sub.21, 25 of the rotational axis 21 and the rotational axis 25, the following applies: L.sub.21, 25=53 mm. The distance L.sub.106, 21 of the rotational axis 21 from the end surface 106 of the connecting piece is L.sub.106, 21=72 mm. The distance L.sub.68, 21 of the lens unit (68l, 68r) having positive refractive power from the rotational axis 21 is L.sub.68, 21=23 mm. For the distance of the lens unit (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power from the rotational axis 25, the following applies: L.sub.69, 25=23 mm. The optical path length between the lens unit (68l, 68r) having positive refractive power and the lens unit (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power is 99 mm. The focal length f1 of the lens unit (68l, 68r) having positive refractive power is f1=157 mm. For the focal length f2 of the lens unit having negative refractive power (69l, 69r), the following applies: f2=236 mm. The distance L.sub.170, 106 the plane 170 for the intermediate image in the unfolded position of the tube 1 from end face 106 of the connecting piece is then L.sub.170, 106=174 mm.

(40) The ocular part 7 of the tube 1 has a section (139l, 139r) wherein respective lens units having negative refractive power (69l, 69r) are arranged for the left and right imaging beam paths with the optical axes (37, 39).

(41) For the accommodation of the oculars (41, 43), the tube has, at the section 133, pivotally movably mounted sections (139l, 139r), respectively, wherein respective Porro systems (143l, 143r) are provided for image reversal.

(42) For the pupil distance adjustment, the sections (139l, 139r) having respective Porro systems (143l, 143r) and respective oculars (41, 43) can be shifted about the rotational axes (63, 65) of the rotational joints (149l, 149r) which are aligned with the optical axes (37, 39) of the lens units (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power.

(43) FIG. 9 shows the ocular in-view of the tube 1 having left and right oculars (41, 43) and pivotally movable sections (139l, 139r) which can be pivoted by means of a drive 167 about the axes (63, 65). The drive 167 has rotational knobs (163l, 163r). The drive 167 includes a shaft 173 wherein a first slot curve 178 and a second slot curve 177 are formed. The slot curves (177, 178) each operate on a slot stone (179, 181). The slot stone 179 is fixed in the pivotally movable section 139. The slot stone 181 is fixed in the pivotally movable section (139l, 139r). By rotating the shaft 173 and by means of the slot curves (177, 178), a pivot position of the sections (139l, 139r) is effected which changes the pupil distance of the oculars (41, 43). The oculars (41, 43) are accommodated in the sections (139l, 139r).

(44) FIG. 10 shows a modified tube 200 for a surgical microscope having two interfaces (202, 204) for the connection of documentation units, for example, documentation units in the form of a camera.

(45) FIG. 11 shows the optical component groups of the tube 200. These have the same reference characters insofar as the component groups of tube 200 correspond to the component groups of the tube 1 having a magnification changer which is explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9.

(46) In lieu of a magnification changer in the left and right imaging beam paths, the imaging beam path having the optical axes (37, 39) pass through a beam splitter 206 and through a beam splitter 208 in the tube 200. The beam splitter 206 is mounted in the left imaging beam path having the optical axis 37. The beam splitter 208 is correspondingly in the right imaging beam path having the optical axis 39 between the lens unit 681 having positive refractive power and the window in the opening 108l on the connecting piece of the tube 200. A fraction of the left imaging beam path is directed to the interface 202 by the beam splitter 206. The beam splitter 208 couples out a portion of the right imaging beam to the interface 204.

(47) The left and right imaging beam paths pass through the windows (110l, 110r) in the opening on the connecting piece and pass through the lens units of positive refractive power (68l, 68r) of the left and right tube lens systems (67l, 67r). The imaging beam path is then directed by the first and second mirror elements (71, 73) in the intermediate part 5 of the tube 200 to the lens units (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power. The lens units (69l, 69r) are mounted in the ocular part 7 of the tube. The tube lens system 67 is configured as a telesystem and generates an intermediate image in the intermediate image plane 170. The intermediate image can be viewed by the viewing person with an eye adapted to infinity through the oculars (41, 43) with magnification. The imaging beam path having the optical axes (37, 39) is guided from the connecting piece of the tube 200 having windows (110l, 110r) via the first and second mirror elements (71, 73) to the lens units (69l, 69r) having negative refractive power with a constant stereo basis 210.

(48) It is noted that the invention relates to a tube 1 for a surgical microscope. The tube 1 has a base part 3, an intermediate part which is pivotable about a rotational axis on the base part 3, and an ocular part 7 which is pivotable about a rotational axis 25 on the intermediate part 5. The imaging beam path is guided through the base part 3, the intermediate part 5 and the pivotable ocular part 7. The tube 1 has a tube lens system 67 which passes a parallel imaging beam path (37, 39) into an intermediate image. The imaging beam path (37, 39) enters via an opening 108 into a connecting piece 105 of the base part 3. The tube has a first adjustable mirror element 71 which can be moved on the base part 3 about the rotational axis 21. The tube includes a further adjustable mirror element 73 which is movable on the intermediate part 5 about the rotational axis 25. The first mirror element 71 directs the imaging beam path (37, 39), which enters via the connecting piece 105, to the further mirror element 73. According to the invention, the tube lens system is a telesystem 67, which has a lens unit having positive refractive power (68l, 68r) and a lens unit having negative refractive power (69l, 69r). The first mirror element 71 and the further mirror element 73 are arranged in the imaging beam path (37, 39) between the lens unit having positive refractive power (68l, 68r) and the lens unit having negative power (69l, 69r).

(49) It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.