Surgical microscope system and method

US8810907B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Carl Zeiss Meditec AG · DE

Inventors

• Michael Haisch · Aalen, DE
• Christoph Hauger · Aalen, DE
• Hartmut Wolf · Bellinghauserhohn, DE
• Joachim Hug · Oberkochen, DE
• Schwarz Brigitta · Oberkochen, DE
• Gerhard Gaida · Aalen, DE
• Andreas Raabe · Frankfurt am Main, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 2011
• Grant date: Aug 19, 2014
• Expiry date: Dec 11, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2027/014
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A microscopy system and method allow observing a fluorescent substance accumulated in a tissue. The tissue can be observed at a same time both with visible light and with fluorescent light. It is possible to observe a series of previously recorded fluorescent light images in superposition with the visible light images. An end of the series of images may be automatically determined. A thermal protective filter may be inserted into a beam path of an illuminating system at such automatically determined end of the series. Further, the fluorescent light image may be analyzed for identifying a coherent fluorescent portion thereof. A representation of a periphery line of the coherent portion may be generated, and depths profile data may be obtained only from the coherent portion. An illuminating light beam for exciting the fluorescence may be modulated for improving a contrast of fluorescent images.