Medical handling device and method for controlling a handling device

A medical handling device, comprising:

• an instrument holder that holds an observation instrument that comprises an image capturing unit that captures an image section,
• a robotic handling unit that supports the instrument holder,
• a control device that comprises a handling control unit that controls the robotic handling unit and an instrument control unit that controls the observation instrument, and
• an input device that is coupled to the control device that selects an image section to be displayed,
• wherein the control device is adapted to control the robotic handling unit in response to user inputs at the input device to change the selected image section,
• wherein the control device is adapted to convert operating commands at the input device into movement instructions for the robotic handling unit, depending on a present orientation of the image capturing unit, wherein the movement instructions at least include a digital shifting of the selected image section without a movement of the observation instrument, wherein the digital shifting is enabled since the captured image section is larger in size than the selected image section,
• wherein the input device is arranged as a multi-axis input device that allows operating movements in the form of travel motions or pivot motions in at least two axes, in order to detect movement signals for the two-dimensional movement of the image section in a plane, and
• wherein the control device is adapted to align the two movement axes of the input device with the present orientation of the image capturing unit, so that operating movements of an input element of the input device result in movements of the displayed image section in the same direction.

A method that controls a handling device comprising a robotic handling unit having an instrument holder and an observation instrument mounted thereon, and comprising an image capturing unit that captures an image section, the method comprising:

• providing an observation instrument at the instrument holder,
• acquiring control commands that select an image section to be displayed via an input device that is coupled to a control device that controls the observation instrument and that controls the robotic handling unit, wherein the input device is arranged as a single-handed multi-axis input device that allows operating movements in the form of travel motions or pivot motions in at least two axes, in order to detect movement signals for the two-dimensional movement of the image section in a plane, and
• controlling the robotic handling unit in response to user inputs at the input device to change the selected image section, wherein the movement instructions at least include a digital shifting of the selected image section without a movement of the observation instrument, wherein the digital shifting is enabled since the captured image section is larger in size than the selected image section,
• comprising:
• converting direction commands at the input device into movement instructions, depending on the present orientation of the image capturing unit,
• aligning the two movement axes of the input device with the present orientation of the image capturing unit, so that operating movements of an input element of the input device result in movements of the displayed image section in the same direction.