Microscope having a microscope body and a stand formed by a plurality of components to provide a supporting function or to enable positioning of the microscope in the room

[0001] This application claims priority of German patent application number 10 2009 034 309.1 filed Jul. 23, 2009, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein. This application also claims priority of German patent application number 10 2010 025 114.3 filed Jun. 25, 2010, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0002] The present invention relates to a microscope including a microscope body and a stand formed by one or more components to provide a supporting function or to enable positioning of the microscope in the room. These components are hereinafter jointly referred to as a stand. The stand includes one or more support arms, for example, in the form of a parallelogram linkage support.

[0003] Many different techniques are known for illuminating objects to be observed using a wide variety of different microscopes. Moreover, in particular for surgical stereomicroscopes, various techniques are known whereby additional information, such as, for example, information on the various operating conditions, or operating mode indications of the microscope, can be projected into one or more observation beam paths of such a microscope.

[0004] Thus, conventional microscopes typically have a light source for illuminating the object field to be viewed. The design and operation of the microscope and/or its stand are of minor importance in this connection. Also, to date, the microscope has not been used as a light source for the room in which it is located, and information on the microscope could only been read from a display or from discrete control elements, indicators, or the like.

[0005] Document DE102005036230B3 describes a microscope having light-emitting diodes mounted in the body or stand thereof to illuminate the object field.

[0006] Accordingly, the light-emitting diodes are used for purposes of object field illumination.

[0007] Document DE102007051909A1 discloses a microscope having a light source provided in the body thereof, said light source illuminating the object field via a deflection mirror. Thus, this light source is also used for purposes of object field illumination and does not have any other function.

[0008] Document U.S. Pat. No. 2,766,655A1 describes a phase contrast microscope whose object field illumination means is arranged within the stand, from where illumination light is directed into the microscope body, and from there via a mirror onto the object field. Here, too, the illumination system is used exclusively for purposes of object field illumination.

[0009] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a microscope having an improved device, using the existing housings of the microscope and/or its stand.

[0010] More specifically, it is an object of the present invention to use the microscope and/or its stand more universally and, by implementing at least one additional light source besides a light source that may be provided for object field illumination, to enable the microscope and/or its stand to be used also for room illumination purposes or to illuminate the microscope or its stand (apart from the area to be viewed through the microscope) and, optionally, to make light available for further information purposes.

[0011] The present invention includes at least one light source which is disposed within the microscope body and/or the stand and which emits its light outwardly into the room through passage openings when in the operating condition, independently of the microscope illumination, and which is not used for purposes of object field illumination.

[0012] The light source and the passage openings may be designed to merely improve the perception of the microscope or the stand in space (for example, in twilight conditions).

[0013] More specifically, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to simulate different appearances of the microscope or stand using different light intensities or colors.

[0014] Yet more specifically, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to provide illumination effects which vary over time so as to distract the patient, and thus to increase the safety of the treatment.

[0015] Variation of the light color can best be accomplished by inserting color filters, or by using colored light-emitting diodes which are driven as needed and according to the desired color mixture.

[0016] The light source and the passage openings may also be designed to provide indirect room illumination.

[0017] In addition, the light source and the passage openings may be designed to deliver signals to a user and/or to change the visible exterior appearance of the microscope or stand using different light colors.

[0018] This illumination system for indirect external illumination may also include a plurality of light sources and a plurality of passage openings for the passage of this light into the room external to the microscope or stand.

[0019] To date, no techniques or devices are known which, except for external indicator lamps, such as externally mounted LEDs, would allow the appearance of the microscope or stand to be changed, or different operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, on the exterior of the microscope body or stand and/or which would provide means for providing indirect room illumination.

[0020] However, it appears desirable to provide such additional display options so as to allow selected operating conditions of a microscope, or changes thereto, to be made visible not only to the operator, but also to other people, especially for example a patient, who are present in the room in which the microscope is located, and to do so independently of the image acquired by the microscope; i.e., the image of an object being viewed.

[0021] The present invention achieves the object described above, making it possible to implement both indirect room illumination and a means for distracting patients, and allowing operating conditions or operating mode indications, and also the extent of the microscope or its stand, to be displayed or made visible externally in a simple manner. In accordance with the present invention, at least one cavity of the microscope and/or the stand has/have a light source disposed therein whose light can pass outwardly into the room through one or more passage openings.

[0022] It is preferred for the light source to be variable, particularly preferably to be variable over time.

[0023] The passage openings are preferably disposed and configured such that the emerging light indirectly illuminates the exterior of the microscope or its stand, or the room in which it is located.

[0024] It is also preferred that the color and/or intensity of the light be adjustable and/or selectable.

[0025] The microscope is preferably a surgical microscope or a dental microscope.

[0026] The light sources preferably used for the indirect external illumination include inorganic light-emitting diodes (LED), organic light-emitting films (OLED), or what is known as “nanotubes”. It is also possible to use laser diodes, which may be advantageous because of the spectrum and orientation of their radiation.

[0027] It is preferred that the light color of the one or more light sources used for the external illumination also be variable and/or freely selectable. This is preferably done in an automatically controlled manner. Thus, it is possible, for example, to drive a plurality of different color LEDs alternatively or together to produce specific light colors.

[0028] Preferably, a specific light color and/or light intensity, or the change thereof, is assigned to a specific operating condition of the microscope, or its further above-mentioned mechanical components, and to changes in such an operating condition. Such operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, and their respective changes, may refer, for example, to a magnification setting of the microscope, diopter settings of eyepieces of the microscope, the balancing of a stand of the microscope, the operational readiness of accessories, such as a camera, the making of a video recording, the remaining service life of illumination devices for object illumination, etc.

[0029] Among a group of different operating conditions or operating mode indications to be displayed, particular preference is given to the following options:

• • [0030] the light color is used to indicate a magnification setting of the microscope;
  • [0031] the light color is used to indicate the operating condition of a zoom system or the diopter setting of an eyepiece of the microscope;
  • [0032] in the common case of a microscope having two eyepieces which are individually adjustable to different diopter settings, it is preferred that different light colors be producible on two different exterior sides of the microscope body or the stand.

[0033] Particularly advantageous embodiments of the present invention are those in which a plurality of operating conditions or operating mode indications of the microscope can be displayed simultaneously by one or more different light colors.

[0034] It is also advantageous if at least one sensor is provided which measures the color temperature and/or the light intensity of an external room lighting and adapts the color and/or intensity of the light from the light source accordingly via an electronic control system (e.g., chameleon function).

[0035] It may also be advantageous if the light colors produced by the illumination system for the external illumination are complementary to, for example, the color of an external room lighting.

[0036] Preferably, the microscope according to the present invention has an aesthetically appealing and compact design, which advantageously minimizes space requirements. This appearance may be further enhanced by the choice of light.

[0037] Further embodiments of the present invention and variants thereof will become apparent from the dependent claims and the Figures.

[0038] The list of reference numerals is part of the disclosure.

[0039] The present invention is schematically described in more detail by way of example and with reference to Figures.

[0055] Referring to FIG. 1, a dental microscope 1 is mounted on a stand 2 in such a way that it can be adjusted in three degrees of freedom. Stand 2 includes a rolling base 3, a pole 4, a first support arm 5, a second support arm 6, and a third support arm 7. Support arms 5, 6, 7 are linked together by joints 8 and 9.

[0056] The entire arrangement is set up in a room 11 which is used as a treatment room and provided with what is referred to as external room lighting 12. Dental microscope 1 includes a head portion 13 which carries an eyepiece 14 and is mounted on microscope body 15.

[0057] As is shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, light sources 17, which may be in the form of three LEDs, are arranged in cavity 16 of microscope body 15, the rays of light from said light sources emerging from the walls in a more or less downward direction through passage openings 18 formed in the sides and being partly reflected at inclined wall sections 19a. As a result, both the side walls 19 of microscope body 15 and their surroundings in room 11 are discreetly illuminated, which positively influences the appearance of microscope 1 and affects the treatment environment and the position of the microscope in an ergonomically favorable manner, even in a semi-darkened room 11.

[0058] A sensor 21 mounted on microscope body 15 measures the light intensity provided in room 11 by external room lighting 12 and is capable of controlling the color and intensity of the light from light source 17 via an electronic control system 64 according to corresponding, predetermined parameters (FIG. 14).

[0059] The balancing of the stand or microscope, or of other mechanical components or accessories of the microscope, may be accomplished using, for example, force sensors or torque sensors and may be associated with an electronic control system, which is also used to drive the light source(s) for the external illumination.

[0060] The remaining service life of light sources used in a microscope for object illumination may be determined, for example, from a table value read into the electronic control system of the external illumination system, for example, in accordance with a decay curve in tabular form, or based on an intensity value that is actually measured by a light-sensitive sensor and compared with stored reference values.

[0061] The operational readiness of electronic microscope accessories, such as a camera, may be deduced, for example, from an electronic feedback signal provided by such an accessory to the electronic control system. Therefore, the illumination system is advantageously associated with a microprocessor- or computer-controlled electronic control system.

[0062] The light intensity of light sources 17 can also be controlled manually, for example, using a rotary knob 22 on microscope body 15.

[0063] As is shown particularly in FIG. 3, light rays 17a from light sources 17 emerge downwardly here and are reflected into room 11 by an the inclined section 19a of wall 19, so that they illuminate both microscope body 15 and room 11.

[0064] FIG. 4 shows two variants of light passage openings. The left side shows the variant of FIG. 3, which features an open, slotted opening. This embodiment is suitable, for example, for illuminating room 11 away from the practitioner, making it possible to increase the brightness of the background to maximum levels. Light exit opening 24 shown on the right side is closed dust-tight with a transparent ground glass plate 25 which has light-diffusing properties and is inserted in a pocket or recess 26 flush with the exterior of wall 19. In this manner, wall 19 of microscope body 15 turns into a large-area luminous element which illuminates room 11 with diffuse, homogenized light, preferably toward the side of the practitioner. Alternatively, it is possible to equip both walls 19; i.e., the one on the left and the one on the right in FIG. 4, with a ground glass plate 25 as a luminous element having light-diffusing properties.

[0065] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment in which light passage openings 27 are closed dust-tight with cover plates 28. These cover plates may have diffusing properties, and may thus be capable of diverging the light rays into sets of rays 17c. A portion of rays 17c may enter room 11 directly, while another portion is initially reflected at inclined wall sections 19a.

[0066] Preferably, at least one passage opening (optical passage) has a surface configuration which prevents light from being emitted directly into the room and produces diffuse light emission. This may be achieved, for example, by a special geometric design (e.g., a sheet-metal cover) or optical design of the passage opening (for example, as a plate of milk glass), or by a special arrangement of the light source, or by a suitable surface roughness of, for example, the boundaries of the passage opening, which diffusely scatters the light of the light source provided for external illumination. Techniques for designing diffusely scattering surfaces or diffusely scattering light passage openings are generally known to those skilled in the art.

[0067] The optical passage may, in principle, be disposed anywhere on the microscope or the stand. Preferably, the passage opening is disposed on the microscope body or on a parallelogram linkage support.

[0068] The at least one optical passage is preferably configured as a gap or slot on the microscope body or the stand. Preferably, provision is made for a plurality of narrow slots or gaps.

[0069] Preferably, at least one of the passage openings is closed with a transparent cover so as, for example, to prevent even the smallest quantities of dust particles or other types of air pollution particles from entering the microscope or its components. This may advantageously be achieved by designing the cover itself as a diffuser for homogenizing the emerging light. However, it is also possible to dispose a diffuser inside of the microscope body or the stand in the vicinity of the light source.

[0070] Light sources 17 are arranged in a row within cavity 16, here, for example, along a central line and such that said row of light sources does not extend into the area of the optical path of the microscope. Inner surfaces 29 of walls 19 and 31 of cavity 16 may be provided with reflectors or reflective coatings.

[0071] FIG. 6 shows in greater detail the portion of control panel 32 of microscope body 15. In particular, for example, reference numeral 33 denotes the adjustment means of objective 37, numeral 34 designates the control of light sources 17, and numeral 35 denotes the control of room lighting 12. Here, opening 18 for the exit of light is in the form of a longitudinal slot extending obliquely and convexly from top left to bottom right.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 7, transparent light-guiding elements 36 are inserted in passage openings 18 on both sides between walls 19, 19a. These light-guiding elements provide a dust-tight seal on the one hand and, on the other hand, produce diverging light rays 17b, and thus homogenized illumination, because of their diffusing properties.

[0073] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, passage openings 18 may be provided with angle sections 38 to provide a means for adjusting the width B of passage openings 18.

[0074] FIG. 1 and FIGS. 9 through 12 illustrate the arrangement of light sources 17 for indirect illumination on support arms 6 and 5.

[0075] Referring in particular to FIGS. 1 and 9, support arm 6 is configured as a parallelogram linkage arm which ensures constant vertical guidance during height adjustment of microscope 1. The parallelogram linkage arm is formed by two arm members arranged parallel to one another. The upper arm member is denoted by 41, while the lower arm member is denoted by 42.

[0076] A U-shaped covering 43 including a bottom web 44 and two lateral flanges 45 and 46 is mounted to hub 8a (FIG. 1) of joint 8 in such a way that bottom web 44 is located under lower arm member 42 at a distance 47 therefrom.

[0077] The resulting clearance 49 accommodates indirect illumination means in the form of light sources 17, which are arranged in such a way that two rows of light sources 17 direct indirect light radiation 51 upwardly through gaps 48 between support arm 6, which is formed by arm members 41 and 42, and lateral flanges 45 and 46, thereby also illuminating the side surfaces of the two arm members 41 and 42.

[0078] The indirect illumination means on first support arm 5 are configured similar to those mentioned above. Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, first support arm 5 is provided in its lower region with a U-shaped covering 52 which follows the tapering design of support arm 5.

[0079] Provided on bottom web 53 are two rows of light sources 17 which emit light upwardly through narrow gaps 54, respectively. Inner surfaces 55 of the covering are reflective, which enables the sets of indirect light rays 56 to travel upwardly and exit to the outside as multiply reflected rays, thereby also illuminating the side walls of first support arm 5. At the right end portion (FIG. 10), covering 52 projects beyond support arm 5, forming a gap 57, so that indirect light can also exit in this region.

[0080] FIG. 12 is a view of a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 11, showing only a single strip of light sources 17 arranged centrally along bottom web 53 of U-shaped covering 52. Here, the sets of light rays 56 are multiply reflected at underside 58 of support arm 5 and inner upper side 59 of bottom web 53 in directions toward two sides.

[0081] As illustrated in the partially cut away view of FIG. 13, a light exit opening 18 is also provided at the rear of the microscope body 15, opposite the eyepieces mounted on the microscope body 15. In particular, rear walls 61 and 62 are offset from each other, forming and bounding a further slotted opening 63. Thus, the microscope body is provided on three sides with passage openings 18, 63, 18 for indirect light exit.

[0082] In addition to the technical advantages mentioned above, the present invention and the described embodiments provide further advantages for a user:

• • [0083] The exterior appearance of a microscope according to the present invention may be adapted to the surrounding space, for example, in a dentist's office. Prior art microscope bodies, stands, and support arms thereof, are known to have either untreated surfaces or surfaces treated with paints or other surface finishes. The use of indirect illumination by light that emerges from the unit through gaps or slots and is emitted indirectly to provide a surface appearance and an exterior appearance that are variable over time and/or variable in color has been unknown.
  • [0084] Unlike conventional microscopes, the visually apparent space requirements of the unit in a doctor's office or an operating room can be influenced by means of the indirect external illumination. The present invention enables the appearance of a microscope, in particular a dental microscope or a surgical microscope, to be adapted to the needs of the user, or to the conditions of the room, by turning the external illumination on/off, by controlling its brightness and/or by selecting the color of its light.
  • [0085] In an environment with high requirements on cleanliness, such as a doctor's or dentist's office, it is preferred to use blue light for the external illumination, because it is known from experience that blue light enhances the impression of hygiene and, in addition, because bacteria avoid blue tones. Blue tones are therefore bacteriophic. Moreover, light having shorter wavelengths down to the UV region has a bactericidal effect and, therefore, allows a microscope equipped in accordance with the present invention to be brought into a bactericidal condition when no people are present. As such, the light can be automatically selected from bacteriophic wavelengths of light when the microscope is out of use.
  • [0086] Accordingly, in addition to the purely technical effects, it is also possible to change the coloring of surfaces without the need to replace components or covers, or apply new paint, which allows microscopes and stands to be dynamically adapted to the requirements of users or facilities.

• • [0087] 1 microscope, preferably a dental microscope
  • [0088] 2 stand
  • [0089] 3 base
  • [0090] 4 pole
  • [0091] 5 first support arm
  • [0092] 6 second support arm
  • [0093] 7 third support arm
  • [0094] 8 joint
  • [0095] 8a hub of 8
  • [0096] 9 joint
  • [0097] 11 room
  • [0098] 12 room lighting (referred to as external room lighting)
  • [0099] 13 head portion of 1
  • [0100] 14 eyepiece
  • [0101] 15 microscope body
  • [0102] 16 cavity of 15
  • [0103] 17 light sources (LEDs)
  • [0104] 17a light rays (direct reflection)
  • [0105] 17b light rays (homogenized light)
  • [0106] 17c light rays (divergent)
  • [0107] 18 passage openings (in the form of slots in 19)
  • [0108] 19 walls
  • [0109] 19a inclined wall section
  • [0110] 21 sensor
  • [0111] 22 rotary knob for light control
  • [0112] 24 light exit opening
  • [0113] 25 transparent ground glass plate (having light-diffusing and homogenizing properties)
  • [0114] 26 pocket, recess, retaining receptacle
  • [0115] 27 light passage opening
  • [0116] 28 cover plate
  • [0117] 29 inner surfaces (reflective)
  • [0118] 31 wall of 15 (at the top)
  • [0119] 32 control panel
  • [0120] 33 adjustment means for objective 37
  • [0121] 34 control for light source 17
  • [0122] 35 control for room lighting 12
  • [0123] 36 light-guiding elements (having diffusing properties)
  • [0124] 37 objective
  • [0125] 38 angle section (for the adjustment of B)
  • [0126] 41 upper arm member of 6
  • [0127] 42 lower arm member of 6
  • [0128] 43 U-shaped covering
  • [0129] 44 bottom web of 43
  • [0130] 45 lateral flange of 43
  • [0131] 46 lateral flange of 43
  • [0132] 47 distance
  • [0133] 48 gap
  • [0134] 49 clearance
  • [0135] 51 indirect light radiation
  • [0136] 52 covering
  • [0137] 53 bottom web
  • [0138] 54 gap
  • [0139] 55 surface
  • [0140] 56 sets of light rays
  • [0141] 57 gap
  • [0142] 58 underside
  • [0143] 59 upper side
  • [0144] 61 upper rear wall of 15
  • [0145] 62 lower rear wall of 15
  • [0146] 63 slotted opening
  • [0147] B width of opening 18 (FIG. 8)
  • [0148] 64 electronic control system