# US 10,122,991 B2 · Surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus

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- Number: US 10,122,991 B2
- Document ID: US10122991B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/229,375
- Filed: 2016-08-05
- Published: 2017-02-16
- Granted: 2018-11-06
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-11
- Assignees: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Mitaka Kohki Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Katsuyuki Nakamura
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122991B2

## CPC

- H04N 13/254: in combination with electromagnetic radiation sources for illuminating objects
- A61B 90/20: Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
- G02B 21/0012: {Surgical microscopes (counterbalanced structures for surgical microscopes G02B7/001)}
- G02B 21/361: {Optical details, e.g. image relay to the camera or image sensor (G02B21/364 takes precedence; illumination details G02B21/06 and subgroups)}
- G02B 21/368: {details of associated display arrangements, e.g. mounting of LCD monitor}
- H04N 13/243: using three or more two-dimensional [2D] image sensors
- H04N 13/296: Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus has a pair of main optical paths A and a pair of secondary optical paths B, an aligning direction of the paths B differing by 90 degrees from that of the paths A. The main and secondary optical paths involve imaging elements D1 and D2, respectively. This apparatus is able to provide not only electronic images oriented for a main operator and an assistant positioned opposite to the main operator but also electronic images orientated for an assistant positioned on the left or right side of the main operator, thereby allowing the main operator and assistants to cooperatively conduct an operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus comprising: a camera including:
two main optical paths defined within the a range of light flux passed through an objective optical system and guiding a pair of first beams from the objective optical system to a pair of first imaging elements through a pair of first variable power optical systems; and
two secondary optical paths defined within the range of light flux passed through the objective optical system and aligned in a direction differing by 90 degrees from an aligning direction of the main optical paths, and guiding a pair of second beams from the objective optical system to a pair of second imaging elements through a pair of second variable power optical systems; and
a display displaying electronic images taken by the camera, orientations of the electronic images differing by 90 degrees from one another,
wherein the pair of first variable power optical systems and the pair of second variable power optical systems are each within the objective optical system, parallel to an optical axis of the objective optical system, orthogonally aligned about the optical axis, and do not interfere with one another.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the camera includes a light emitter.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of claim 1, wherein
the camera includes two focusing beam emitters wherein each emits focusing beams toward the objective optical system in parallel with the optical axis of the objective optical system, and
the two focusing beams converge at a point of focal length of the objective optical system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The surgical stereoscopic observation apparatus of claim 3, wherein the two focusing beams enter the objective optical system at locations that are different from locations where the pairs of the first and second beams for the first and second variable power optical systems exit from the objective optical system.