UNIVERSAL DUAL CAMERA ADAPTER

• US 20130100271A1
• Filed: 08/21/2012
• Published: 04/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transamerican Technologies International
• Original Assignee: Transamerican Technologies International
• Inventors: Howes, Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,438,773 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/78
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/135 Slit-lamp microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/145 by video means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0012 Surgical microscopes counterbalanced structures for surgical microscopes G02B7/001
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/362 Mechanical details, e.g. mountings for the camera or image sensor, housings G02B21/364 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/365 Control or image processing arrangements for digital or video microscopes G02B21/361, G02B21/362 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/367 providing an output produced by processing a plurality of individual source images, e.g. image tiling, montage, composite images, depth sectioning, image comparison

Abstract

A universal adapter system having a video camera mount and a digital camera mount for attaching a video camera and a digital camera to a single port of an optical observation device, such as a standard microscope, that allows for simultaneous video and digital camera imaging. An example digital camera mount includes a C-clamp attachment for attaching a standard, off-the-shelf digital camera and a sleeve attached to the adapter housing that allows use of an extendable zoom lens of the digital camera. The adapter may provide increased capabilities by use of a rotatable portion to allow positioning of the digital camera relative to the optical observation device, a parfocal zoom lens for simultaneous zoom adjustment of video and digital cameras, an auxiliary zoom lens, a fine focus adjustment for adjusting the video image independent of the digital image, a smartphone adapter, a Toric reticule and a light filter.

Claims

1. An adapter system for mounting a video camera and a digital camera on an optical observation device, said adapter comprising:

a main body including a housing and an internal beam splitter oriented to receive light along an axial input image path and to reflect a portion of the light so as to form a first optical path and a second optical path,

an optical device mount on the main body housing, the optical device mount being configured to attach to an optical port of the optical observation device such that, when attached, light enters the main body housing along the input image path through the optical device mount;

a video camera mount on the main body housing, the video camera mount being configured to attach to the video camera such that, when attached, the video camera is optically coupled to the first optical path; and

a digital camera mount on the main body housing, the digital camera mount being configured to attach to the digital camera such that, when attached, the digital camera is optically coupled with the second optical path,

wherein, when attached, the video camera and digital camera are optically coupled with the first and second optical paths so as to allow for simultaneous video imaging with the video camera and digital imaging with the digital camera of an image from the optical observation device.

2. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the optical observation device comprises a surgical microscope or an ophthalmic slit lamp.

3. The adapter system of claim 2, wherein the digital camera mount and the video camera mount are detachable from the main body housing.

4. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the system further includes a parfocal optical zoom disposed along the axial input image path between the optical device mount and the internal beam splitter.

5. The adapter system of claim 4, wherein the parfocal optical zoom has a range of focal lengths from at least about 40 mm to about 80 mm.

6. The adapter system of claim 4, further comprising an adjustable iris having an adjustable aperture, the adjustable iris positioned along the axial input image path such that light passes through the adjustable aperture before passing through the parfocal optical zoom.

7. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the main body housing further includes a plurality of lenses of differing fixed focal lengths, each of the plurality of lenses positionable within the axial input image path between the optical device mount and the internal beam splitter.

9. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the internal beam splitter directs a greater portion of the light along the first optical path than the second path.

10. The adapter system of claim 9, wherein the internal beam splitter splits the light from the axial input image path between the first and second paths at a ratio of about 70/30.

11. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the internal beam splitter splits roughly equal portions of the light from the axial input image path between the first and second paths.

12. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the digital camera mount is configured to fixedly attach to a base of the digital camera and is configured to allow movement of an objective zoom lens of the digital camera along the second optical path.

13. The adapter system of claim 12, wherein the digital camera mount includes a C-clamp for fixedly attaching to the base of the digital camera and a passage extending therethrough and through which the objective zoom lens of the digital camera can extend while the digital camera is fixedly attached to the C-clamp.

14. The adapter system of claim 12, wherein the main body housing includes a rotatable portion that attaches to the digital camera mount, the rotatable portion including a reflective surface for directing a portion of the second path along a direction transverse to the axial input image path and through the digital camera mount.

15. The adapter system of claim 13, wherein the digital camera mount comprises an open-ended, hollow cylindrical member, the C-clamp being disposed near one end of the cylindrical member, while the opposite end is attached to the main body housing.

16. The adapter system of claim 13, wherein the C-clamp includes a screw for engaging with a tripod mount in the base of the digital camera.

17. The adapter system of claim 12, further comprising a centration feature for centering the digital camera mount on a center of the second optical path.

18. The adapter system of claim 17, wherein the centration feature comprises a portion of the main body housing having a plurality of screws surrounding and extending inwardly toward the second optical path extending therethrough, such that a user may adjust one or more screws in the plurality when the digital camera mount is positioned therein so as to center the digital camera mount on the second optical path.

19. The adapter system of claim 12, wherein the adapter system includes two lenses positioned along the second optical path so as to focus and/or magnify an image of the second optical path for imaging with the digital camera.

20. The adapter system of claim 19, wherein the adapter system includes a reflective surface disposed along the second optical path between the two lenses so as to correct an orientation of the image of the second optical path for imaging with the digital camera.

21. The adapter system of claim 12, wherein the digital camera mount is attachable to any of a plurality of differing types or brands of digital cameras.

22. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the video camera mount includes an interface for fixedly securing the video camera to the adapter in alignment with the first optical path, the first optical path extending through an aperture of the video camera mount.

23. The adapter system of claim 22, wherein the interface includes a threaded opening.

24. The adapter system of claim 22, further comprising an auxiliary lens positioned along the first optical path that when used in conjunction with a zoom lens increases the zoom range while video imaging with the video camera.

25. The adapter system of claim 24, wherein when the zoom range of the zoom lens is about 40 mm to 80 mm, the auxiliary lens provides an increased zoom range of about 70 mm to about 140 mm.

26. The adapter system of claim 24, further comprising a fine focus adjustment disposed within the first optical path so as to allow the user to adjust focus during video imaging.

27. The adapter system of claim 22, wherein the video camera mount is attachable to any of a plurality of differing types or brands of video cameras.

28. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the optical device mount is attachable to any of a plurality of differing types or brands of optical observation devices.

29. The adapter system of claim 28, wherein the plurality of different types of optical observation devices include differing brands of surgical microscopes and ophthalmic slit lamps using mechanical beam splitters.

30. The adapter system of claim 29, wherein the optical device mount includes one or more detachable portions corresponding to at least one particular type or brand of optical observation device.

31. The adapter system of claim 1, wherein the digital camera mount comprises a smartphone adapter having a recess configured to fittingly receive a smartphone and a cylindrical sleeve defining an axial passageway along the second optical path, wherein the axial passageway extends from a location in the recess is aligned with a camera disposed on an underside of the smartphone when secured within the recess.

32. The adapter system of claim 31, wherein the sleeve includes an adjustable locking ring disposed a distance away from the recess in which the smartphone is received, the locking ring configured to secure the smartphone adapter to the main body of the adapter.

33. The adapter system of claim 1 further comprising:

a light filter positionable within the second optical path extending through the adapter system to the digital camera.

34. The adapter system of claim 33, wherein the light filter is integrated with the digital camera mount.

35. The adapter system of claim 33, wherein the light filter is pivotally coupled to the adapter so that the light filter is movable relative to the second optical path to allow a user to selectively pivot the light filter into or out of the second optical path as desired.

36. The adapter system of claim 33, wherein the light filter is a yellow light filter that filters certain wavelengths of light including wavelengths of about 525 nm.

37. The adapter system of claim 1 further comprising:

a Toric reticule disposed within the second optical path coupled with the digital camera to allow documentation imaging of the eye through the Toric reticule.

38. The adapter system of claim 37 wherein the Toric reticule is attached to the digital camera mount and positionable within the second optical path.

39. An adapter for mounting a smartphone on an optical observation device, said adapter comprising:

a main support body having a recess configured to fittingly receive a smartphone and a cylindrical sleeve extending from the main support body and defining an axial passageway about an optical path,

wherein the axial passageway extends from a location in the recess so that the optical path is aligned with a camera lens disposed on an underside of the smartphone when disposed within the recess, and

wherein the cylindrical sleeve is attachable to the optical observation device or the adapter of claim 1, and wherein the cylindrical sleeve includes an eyepiece lens.

40. The adapter of claim 39, further comprising:

a binocular tube interface by which the cylindrical sleeve attaches to the optical observation device, the binocular tube interface comprising a cylindrical body defining an axial passageway extending therethrough into which the cylindrical sleeve slides and is secured by one or more locking rings, and

wherein a proximal portion of the cylindrical body comprises a binocular tube coupling means for attaching the binocular tube interface to the binocular tube and a distal portion of the cylindrical body includes an attachment means attachable to one or both of the smartphone adapter and the digital camera mount.

45. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging the second optical path comprises switching between a plurality of lenses of differing fixed focal lengths attached to the adapter, wherein each of the plurality of interchangeable lenses that are alternately positionable within the input image optical path, the plurality of interchangeable lenses being attached to a proximal end of the main body of the adapter of claim 1 and surrounded by the optical device mount which is attached to the main body with a locking ring.

8. The adapter system 7, wherein the plurality of lenses of differing fixed focal lengths include fixed focal lengths lenses of F55, F65, F85, F107 and F135, respectively.

41. A method of imaging with an optical observation device, said method comprising:

directing a beam of light from a single beam splitter port of the optical observation device through an input aperture of an adapter;

splitting the beam of light into a first and a second optical path to a video camera and a digital camera attached to the adapter;

video imaging the first optical path with a video camera attached to the adapter and simultaneously digitally imaging the second optical path with a digital camera attached to the adapter.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein splitting the beam of light into a first and second optical path comprises directing a greater portion of light along the first optical path than the second optical path.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging the second optical path comprises adjusting a focal length of a parfocal optical zoom disposed within the input image optical path.

44. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging with the digital camera further comprises image zooming with an objective zoom lens of the digital camera while attached to the adapter.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging the second optical path comprises forming a recorded digital image of an eye through a Toric reticule attached to the adapter, the Toric reticule being disposed within the second optical path so that measurement markings of the Toric reticule are visible in the recorded digital image of the eye to allow documentation of a measurement of the eye.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging the second optical path in a pre-operative exam forms a first recorded image of an eye;

forming a second recorded image of the eye by digital imaging the second optical path through the Toric reticule during a surgical operation procedure subsequent to the pre-operative exam; and

comparing the first and second images during the surgical procedure to confirm placement of a Toric intraocular lens on the eye.

48. The method of claim 41, wherein digital imaging the second optical path forms a recorded digital image of an eye through a light filter attached to the adapter, the light filter being disposed along the second optical path.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the light filter comprises a yellow filter that substantially blocks transmission of wavelengths below 475 nm and wavelengths above 620 nm.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

applying fluorescein dye on a cornea of the eye before forming the recorded digital image of the eye through the light filter; and

illuminating the eye imaged along the second optical path with cobalt blue light to excite the fluorescein dye on the cornea thereby enhancing visibility of corneal defects or diseases of the eyes during digital imaging of the cornea through the yellow filter so as to allow for increased visibility and documentation of corneal defects or disease in the recorded digital image of the eye.