Surgical microscopy system

• US 7,248,402 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2003
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Original Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH (Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung)
• Inventors: Kraus, Martin, Obrebski, Andreas, Gaida, Gerhard, Weber, Lauric, Monz, Ludwin, Geiss, Gu, Knupfer, Klaus-Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Thong Q
• Application Number:
  US10/730,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057800A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,323 Days
• Field of Search: 359368-390, 362/216, 362/551
• US Class Current: 359/368
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/306 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/20 Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/001 Counterbalanced structures, e.g. surgical microscopes

Abstract

The present invention relates to a surgical microscopy system, comprising a surgical microscope, a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base, and wherein a conventionally provided lead is replaced by one or more leads fulfilling the function of the single lead together. The present invention also relates to a surgical microscopy system, wherein data or/and energy is transmitted to the surgical microscope by wireless transmission.

Claims

1. A surgical microscopy system, comprising:

a surgical microscope; and

a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base;

wherein the surgical microscope comprises a device powered by electrical current and wherein the surgical microscope comprises a power supply of the device,

the power supply comprising a contact rail disposed on a first arm and a sliding contact disposed adjacent to the contact rail, wherein the sliding contact is disposed on a second arm and wherein the second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm.

2. A surgical microscopy system, comprising:

a surgical microscope;

a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base;

wherein the surgical microscope comprises a device powered by electrical current and wherein the surgical microscope comprises a power supply of the device, and

wherein a mechanically supporting component of the stand is configured to form part of a current path to or from the device powered by electrical current, said mechanically supporting component of said stand includes a portion of one of said pivotally connected arms and further wherein at least one of current and data flow through said portion.

3. The surgical microscopy system of claim 2, further comprising:

at least one light emitter, mounted on the surgical microscope, for illuminating a field for surgery,

wherein the at least one light emitter comprises at least one of a light generating semiconductor device mounted on the surgical microscope, an organic light generating device mounted on the surgical microscope, and a light emitting polymer device mounted on the surgical microscope.

4. The surgical microscopy system of claim 3, wherein the organic light generating device is an organic light emitting diode.

5. The surgical microscopy system of claim 3, further comprising at least one electrochemical cell mounted on the surgical microscope, the at least one electrochemical cell being provided for generating electrical power and supplying electrical power to the at least one light emitter.

6. The surgical microscopy system of claim 5, comprising a pair of electrochemical cells which are independently removable from the surgical microscope.

7. The surgical microscopy system of claim 5, wherein the electrochemical cell comprises a fuel cell.

8. The surgical microscopy system of claim 3, comprising at least two semiconductor devices, wherein a first semiconductor device generates light of a wavelength range at least partially different from at least a wavelength range of light generated by a second semiconductor device.

9. The surgical microscopy system of claim 8, wherein the light emitter comprises a light mixer configured such that the light generated by the at least two semiconductor devices is reflected a plurality of times before being emitted.

10. The surgical microscopy system of claim 9, wherein the light mixer comprises a light guide, which is at least partially disposed around an objective lens of the surgical microscope, and wherein the light for illuminating the field for surgery is emitted by the light guide.

11. A surgical microscopy system, comprising:

a surgical microscope;

a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base;

wherein the surgical microscope comprises a device powered by electrical current and wherein the surgical microscope comprises a power supply of the device, and

wherein the base of the stand is adapted to be disposed on a floor of a room, wherein the base comprises an induction receiver to be used in combination with at least one induction transmitter disposed on or in the floor of the room, and wherein the induction receiver supplies the device powered by the electrical current with operating power.

12. A surgical microscopy system, comprising:

a surgical microscope;

a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base;

wherein the surgical microscope comprises a device powered by electrical current and wherein the surgical microscope comprises a power supply of the device, and

wherein a mechanically supporting component of the stand is configured to form part of a current path to or from the device powered by electrical current,

wherein said power supply further comprises a contact rail disposed on a first arm and a sliding contact disposed adjacent to the contact rail, wherein the sliding contact is disposed on a second arm and wherein the second arm is pivotally connected to the first arm.

13. A surgical microscopy system, comprising:

a surgical microscope;

a stand comprising a base and a plurality of pivotally connected arms, the surgical microscope being mounted to one of the arms, wherein the pivotally connected arms are arranged to be movable with respect to each other such that the surgical microscope is movable relative to the base;

wherein the surgical microscope comprises a device powered by electrical current and wherein the surgical microscope comprises a power supply of the device, and

wherein a mechanically supporting component of the stand is configured to form part of a current path to or from the device powered by electrical current, wherein the base of the stand is adapted to be disposed on a floor of a room, wherein the base comprises an induction receiver to be used in combination with at least one induction transmitter disposed on or in the floor of the room, and wherein the induction receiver supplies the device powered by the electrical current with operating power.