# US 11,310,477 B2 · Exoscope with enhanced depth of field imaging

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- Number: US 11,310,477 B2
- Document ID: US11310477B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/703,179
- Filed: 2019-12-04
- Published: 2020-05-07
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2018-08-02
- Assignees: Synaptive Medical Inc.
- Applicants: Synaptive Medical Inc.
- Inventors: William La; Siu Wai Jacky Mak
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11310477B2

## CPC

- H04N 13/239: using two two-dimensional [2D] image sensors having a relative position equal to or related to the interocular distance (H04N13/243 takes precedence)
- A61B 90/361: {Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras}
- A61B 90/37: {Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation}
- G02B 3/14: of variable focal length
- G02B 21/0012: {Surgical microscopes (counterbalanced structures for surgical microscopes G02B7/001)}
- 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}
- G02B 27/0075: {with means for altering, e.g. increasing, the depth of field or depth of focus}
- G02B 27/1013: {for colour or multispectral image sensors, e.g. splitting an image into monochromatic image components on respective sensors (spectral imaging systems G01J)}
- G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors}
- H04N 13/156: Mixing image signals
- H04N 13/296: Synchronisation thereof; Control thereof
- A61B 17/34: Trocars; Puncturing needles
- A61B 90/20: Surgical microscopes characterised by non-optical aspects
- A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
- A61B 2034/2051: {Electromagnetic tracking systems}
- A61B 2034/2055: {Optical tracking systems}
- A61B 2090/367: {creating a 3D dataset from 2D images using position information}
- A61B 2090/371: {with simultaneous use of two cameras}
- A61B 2090/373: {using light, e.g. by using optical scanners}
- G02B 21/22: Stereoscopic arrangements
- H04N 2213/001: Constructional or mechanical details
- H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An exoscope with enhanced depth of field imaging is provided. The exoscope includes first and second sets of optical devices, the first set having a fixed image plane, the second set having a variable image plane adjacent the fixed image plane of the first set. The second set includes at least one variable device configured to change the position of the variable image plane. A beamsplitter splits light from a combined optical path of the first and second set to respective image devices of the first and second set of optical devices. A controller controls the at least one variable device to change the position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane, combines images acquired by the respective image devices, and controls a display device to render a combined image.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An exoscope comprising:
a first image detector and a second image detector;
respective optical filters to filter respective light directed to the first image detector and the second image detector;
optical devices, forming: a first optical path having a fixed path length and a fixed image plane; and a second optical path having a variable optical path length and a variable image plane adjacent the fixed image plane
at least one variable device configured to change a length of the variable optical path length and a position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane;
a beamsplitter positioned to: combine the first optical path and the second optical path between the beamsplitter and both the fixed image plane and the variable image plane; and direct the respective light from each of the first optical path and the second optical path respectively towards the first image detector and the second image detector;
a display device; and
a controller configured to:
control the at least one variable device to change the length of the variable optical path length and the position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane;
control the first image detector to acquire the first image at the fixed image plane;
control the second image detector to acquire the second image at the variable image plane;
generate a combined image of the first image and the second image; and
control the display device to render the combined image.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable device comprises a liquid-based varifocal lens configured to change between a parallel plane mode and a lens mode.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable device comprises a varifocal lens having a variable focal length.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable device comprises a moveable lens and an apparatus for moving the moveable lens along the second optical path.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the at least one variable device comprises an apparatus for moving the second image detector along the second optical path.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the first image detector and the second image detector have different respective wavelength sensitivity ranges.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to control the display device to change between rendering the: first image, the second image and the combined image.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein one or more of the first optical path and the second optical path include an optical filter for filtering respective light of one or more of the first image and the second image.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to correct at least one of the first image and the second image prior to combining the first image and the second image to correct for one or more of magnification and spatial offsets.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The exoscope of claim 1, wherein the second image detector is configured to acquire fluorescence images at the variable image plane.

### Claim 11

A three-dimensional image detector comprising:
a first exoscope and a second exoscope, each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope comprising:
a first image detector and a second image detector, and respective optical fitters to filter respective light directed to the first image detector and the second image detector;
optical devices forming: a first optical path having a fixed path length and a fixed image plane; a second optical path having a variable optical path length and a variable image plane adjacent the fixed image plane of the first optical path;
at least one variable device configured to change a length of the variable optical path length and a position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane;
a beamsplitter positioned configured to: combine the first optical path and the second optical path between the beamsplitter and both the fixed image plane and the variable image plane; and direct respective light from each of the first optical path and the second optical path respectively towards the first image detector and the second image detector;
a display device; and
a controller configured to:
control the at least one variable device of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope to change the length of the variable optical path length and the position of the variable image plane relative to the fixed image plane;
control the first image detector of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope to acquire the first image at the fixed image plane;
control the second image detector of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope to acquire the second image at the variable image plane;
generate a combined image of the first image and the second image of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope; and
control the display device to render the combined image of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope as a stereoscopic image.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable device of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope comprises a liquid-based varifocal lens configured to change between a parallel plane mode and a lens mode.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable device of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope comprises a varifocal lens having a variable focal length.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable device of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope comprises a moveable lens and an apparatus for moving the moveable lens along the second optical path.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the at least one variable device of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope comprises an apparatus for moving the second image detector along the second optical path.

### Claim 16 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the first image detector and the second image detector of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope have different respective wavelength sensitivity ranges.

### Claim 17 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein one or more of the first optical path and the second optical path of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope include an optical filter for filtering respective light of one or more of the first image and the second image.

### Claim 18 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to correct at least one of the first image and the second image of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope prior to combining the first image and the second image of each of the first exoscope and the second exoscope to correct for one or more of magnification and spatial offsets.

### Claim 19 (depends on 11)

The three-dimensional image detector of claim 11, wherein the second image detector is configured to acquire fluorescence images at the variable image plane.