Illuminance dosage device for an operation microscope
First Claim
1. In an operation microscope, comprising an objective and a viewing ocular at spaced locations along an optical-viewing path, and field-illumination means including a light source establishing an illuminating path via said objective to the viewing-path field of said objective, the improvement in which illumination-sampling means is positioned in said illuminating path, said sampling means including a detector producing an electrical-signal output responsive to a sampled fraction of illuminating flux at a location in the illuminating path, and field-dosage integrating means including a clock timer and connected for response to the output of said detector, said integrating means integrating detector output as a function of time of illumination on said illumination path, and said integrating means including display means for displaying the instantaneous integration value thereof.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention contemplates dose-integrating instrumentation which relies upon continuously monitoring the illuminance level of a small sampling fraction of the total projected-light flux of the field-illuminating system of an operating microscope, the sampling being optionally within the projection system, or taken elsewhere. The sampled illuminance is in the form of an electrical signal which is continuously time-integrated to provide a continuous display of the dosage as it builds in the course of an operative procedure. Provision is made for the surgeon to preset what he chooses to be the safe upper limit of integrated exposure, beyond which he does not wish to go for fear of possible jeopardy to the retina of his patient, and the instrument continuously indicates the remaining time for him to complete his operation, should he continue at the current level of illumination. The instrument also provides a succession of different indications throughout the progress of the operation, as successive predetermined thresholds of building dosage (exposure) are reached.
67 Citations
10 Claims
- 1. In an operation microscope, comprising an objective and a viewing ocular at spaced locations along an optical-viewing path, and field-illumination means including a light source establishing an illuminating path via said objective to the viewing-path field of said objective, the improvement in which illumination-sampling means is positioned in said illuminating path, said sampling means including a detector producing an electrical-signal output responsive to a sampled fraction of illuminating flux at a location in the illuminating path, and field-dosage integrating means including a clock timer and connected for response to the output of said detector, said integrating means integrating detector output as a function of time of illumination on said illumination path, and said integrating means including display means for displaying the instantaneous integration value thereof.
- 7. In an operation microscope, comprising an objective and a viewing ocular at spaced locations along an optical-viewing path, and field-illumination means including a light source establishing an illuminating path via said objective to the viewing-path field of said objective, the improvement in which illumination-sampling means is positioned in said illuminating path, said sampling means including a detector producing an electrical-signal output responsvie to sampled fraction of illuminating flux at a location in the illuminating path, and field-dosage integrating means including a clock timer and connected for response to the output of said detector, said integrating means integrating detector output as a function of time of illumination on said illumination path, and presettable signal means for providing a predetermined reference signal value representing a predetermined maximum tolerable dosage level of said integration value, and indicator means responsive to said reference signal value and to the instantaneous integration value and producing an indicator signal upon attainment of an instantaneous integration value which is a predetermined fraction of said reference signal value.
- 9. In an operation microscope, comprising an objective and a viewing ocular at spaced locations along an optical-viewing path, and field-illumination means including a light source establishing an illuminating path via said objective to the viewing-path field of said objective, the improvement in which illumination-sampling means is positioned in said illuminating path, said sampling means including a detector producing an electrical-signal output responsive to a sampled fraction of illuminating flux at a location in the illuminating path, and field-dosage integrating means including a clock timer and connected for response to the output of said detector, said integrating means integrating detector output as a function of time of on said illumination path, and a presettable signal means for providing a predetermined reference signal value representing a predetermined maximum tolerable dosage level of said integration value, and indicator means differentially responsive to said reference signal value and to the instantaneous integration value to produce a difference signal value which is indicative of remaining tolerable dosage.
Specification