Abstract:
The invention relates to a stereo microscope, which as a microscope used for operations comprises a viewing output for a surgeon ( 41 ) and at least one additional viewing output for an assistant ( 40 ). The stereo microscope is characterized by shutters ( 17   a  to  20   b ) for selectively screening off object information.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP02/03748 filed Apr. 4, 2002, which claims priority of German Application No. 101 18 703.3 filed Apr. 12, 2001. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to shutter control for the integration of additional data into an observation beam path or a plurality of observation beam paths of a stereo microscope, for selectively switching off an undesired observation channel. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
     In modern surgical microscopes, it is customary to insert additional information into one of the two intermediate images. This additional information is either superimposed directly on the optical object image (e.g., correlated data, CT, MRI-contours) or displayed without reference to the optical object image (non-correlated image data, standard sections, etc.), by stopping the relevant object beam or by superimposing it in a limited subregion (monitoring curves, menus, etc.). 
     In the case of fading out the object beam, a shutter is moved into the object beam path between the object and the beam splitter which inserts the additional information, so that only the additionally inserted information can be seen. In case a number of users are to be permitted to observe the additional information by utilizing the further course of the beam, the merge of the beams is created by the first beam splitter (such as e.g.  11   b  in  FIG. 1 ). In surgical microscopes, a distinction is to be drawn in principle with regard to their functions between three different types of observers:
         1) A surgeon, who almost exclusively uses the observation outputs  21   a  and  21   b  stereoscopically, generally decides as to the type and time of the input reflection of the additional information;   2a) An assistant almost exclusively uses either the right-hand observation output  20   b  (as in  FIG. 6 ) or the left-hand observation beam path  20   a  (as in  FIG. 7 ) monoscopically, when he/she is standing at right angles to the surgeon  41  and the microscope (such as in craniotomy) or   2b) the assistant  40  uses the observation beam path  20   a  and  20   b  is used stereoscopically when the assistant  40  stands opposite the surgeon  41  and behind the microscope, as illustrated in  FIG. 5  (such as in spinal operations).   3) An observer group, that is beside the microscope, is intended to see substantially that information on a monitor which the surgeon  41  sees.
 
In the “observer”-case  1  based the additional information in a single image channel, in particular in the case of data substitution by the insertion of video data, for example, into this image channel, the surgeon  41  is provided with two different items of information, which may irritate him/her.
       

     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore a central object of the present invention to eliminate the aforementioned disadvantages and to allow the surgeon to switch off object information which is not desired at a certain time by using additional shutters and an appropriate shutter control. 
     By means of additional shutters at the observation outputs (the oculars), the observer, if desired, can concentrate on just the additional information reflected into an observation beam path. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For further explanation see the Figures, wherein the  FIGS. 1–4  are schematic illustrations of various embodiments of the present invention showing shutter positions; and 
         FIGS. 5–7  illustrate the known positioning variants of the surgeon and the assistant with respect to the patient being observed. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , a display  16  projects an image provided with additional information along the common input reflection beam path  3  for the additional information and into the right-hand beam path  2   b  by means of a lens  15  and a switchable or movable deflection prism  14  (which may be switched for projection into the left-hand beam path  2   a  or the right-hand beam path  2   b ). By means of the input reflection beam splitter  11   b , this additional information may be superimposed on the image of the object  1  supplied to the optional image sensor  13   b  and other observation beam paths). 
     By means of the shutters  18   a  and  18   b , the observer, if desired, can concentrate on just the additional information. In  FIG. 2  the additional information is switched to the right-hand beam path  2   b . Because shutter  18   a  is closed, the surgeon  41  sees only the additional information with the right eye. The left eye does not see anything. 
     The assistant observation outputs  20   a ,  20   b  may likewise be switched either to the two lateral monoscopic outputs or to the rear stereoscopic output, depending on the surgical intervention. 
     In a cranial intervention an assistant  40  positioned on the left-hand side sees the object information monoscopically through the left-hand observation output  20   a , but does not see the additional information; an assistant  40  positioned on the right-hand side perceives only the additional information monoscopically through the right-hand observation output  20   b.    
     In a spinal intervention the assistant  40  perceives both items of information stereoscopically through the outputs  20   a  and  20   b . He/she therefore also sees both items of information with differing content. 
     Particular surgeons&#39; preferences can be stored in the controller  31  and called up for use. For example, one surgeon always likes to see both items of information at the same time (in which case the shutters  18   a  and  18   b  always remain open), while another surgeon only likes to see the additional information (in which case, depending on the position of the prism  14 , the shutter controller  30  closes shutter  18   a  or  18   b ). 
       FIG. 3  shows the setting with inserted additional information in the left-hand beam path  2   a  with shutters  17   b ,  18   a ,  18   b  open. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates the arrangement of the shutters for the assistant observation outputs  20   a ,  20   b . These are essentially the shutters  19   a  and  19   b , one of which may be closed if an assistant  40  is positioned behind (such as in a spinal arrangement). 
     The invention provides at least the following advantages:
         selectively switching off an object image which is temporarily undesired or which distracts the surgeon  41 ;   providing the assistant  40  with an image of the object  1  in any application;   enabling a connected camera system to always detect the object  1 ;   and automatically adapting the shutter positions depending on the additional information.       

     LIST OF DESIGNATIONS 
     
         
         
           
               1  Object (patient) 
               2   a  Object beam, left-hand beam path 
               2   b  Object beam, right-hand beam path 
               3  Input reflection beam path for additional information 
               10  Main objective 
               11   a  Input reflection beam splitter for left-hand beam path, video and additional information 
               11   b  Input reflection beam splitter for right-hand beam path, video and additional information 
               12   a  Output reflection beam splitter for left-hand beam path, first and second observer 
               12   b  Output reflection beam splitter for right-hand beam path, first and second observer 
               13   a  Video image sensor for left-hand beam path 
               13   b  Video image sensor for right-hand beam path 
               14  (Switchable) deflection prism (additional information beam path) 
               15  Lens imaging objects for ( 16 ) 
               16  Display for additional information 
               17   a  Switchable first shutter for stopping the object light in the left-hand beam path 
               17   b  Switchable first shutter for stopping the object light in the right-hand beam path 
               18   a  Switchable second shutter for stopping the object light in the left-hand beam path 
               18   b  Switchable second shutter for stopping the object light in the right-hand beam path 
               19   a  Switchable third shutter for stopping the object light in the left-hand assistant beam path 
               19   b  Switchable third shutter for stopping the object light in the right-hand assistant beam path 
               20   a  Secondary observation output (assistant output) for monocular observer ( 40 ), left 
               20   b  Secondary observation output (assistant output) for monocular observer ( 40 ), right 
               21   a  Main observation output for stereo observation for ( 41 ), left-hand beam path 
               21   b  Main observation output for stereo observation for ( 41 ), right-hand beam path 
               30  Shutter controller (for detecting the position or setting and/or for controlling the shutters) 
               31  Controller for data-type information with memory and user setup 
               32  Control and sensors of the rotation prisms (for detecting the position or setting and/or for controlling the prisms) 
               40  Assistant 
               41  Surgeon 
               42  Patient 
               45  Lens holder