U.S. patent application number 11/835748 was filed with the patent office on 2008-02-14 for stereomicroscope.
This patent application is currently assigned to MITAKA KOHKI CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Katsushige NAKAMURA.
Application Number | 20080037113 11/835748 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38691091 |
Filed Date | 2008-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080037113 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
NAKAMURA; Katsushige |
February 14, 2008 |
STEREOMICROSCOPE
Abstract
A stereomicroscope includes a microscope main body and a camera
for assistant. The microscope main body includes therein an
objective optical system, a zoom optical system and an eyepiece
optical system. The camera for assistant is detachably mounted to
the microscope main body. The microscope main body provides to a
main operator a pair of optical images including a certain
binocular disparity as viewed from an observation direction of the
main operator. The camera for assistant provides to an assistant a
pair of electron images including a certain binocular disparity as
viewed from an observation direction of the assistant. The
observation directions of the main operator and the assistant cross
at a certain angle. The camera for assistant outputs the pair of
electron images into a stereo viewer which is separated from the
microscope main body.
Inventors: |
NAKAMURA; Katsushige;
(Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1950 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
MITAKA KOHKI CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
38691091 |
Appl. No.: |
11/835748 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
359/373 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 21/0012 20130101;
G02B 21/22 20130101; G02B 21/362 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/373 |
International
Class: |
G02B 21/18 20060101
G02B021/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 9, 2006 |
JP |
2006-217083 |
Claims
1. A stereomicroscope comprising: a microscope main body including
therein an objective optical system, a zoom optical system and an
eyepiece optical system; and a camera for assistant detachably
mounted to the microscope main body, wherein the microscope main
body provides to a main operator a pair of optical mages including
a certain binocular disparity as viewed from an observation
direction of the main operator, the camera for assistant provides
to an assistant a pair of electron images including a certain
binocular disparity as viewed from an observation direction of the
assistant, the observation directions of the main operator and the
assistant cross at a certain angle, and the camera for assistant
outputs the pair of electron images into a stereo viewer which is
separated from the microscope main body.
2. The stereomicroscope according to claim 1, wherein the
observation directions of the main operator and the assistant cross
at about right angles.
3. The stereomicroscope according to claim 1, wherein the camera
for assistant includes an objective optical system and a zoom
optical system which are independent from the microscope main body.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based upon the prior Japanese Patent
Application No. 2006-217083, filed on Aug. 9, 2006, the entire
contents of which are Incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a stereomicroscope, and
more specifically to a stereomicroscope provided with a camera for
assistant which is detachably mounted to the stereomicroscope.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A stereomicroscope for use in a cranial nerve surgery or the
like introduces beams reflected on a surgical portion into beam
introduction holes provided at a lower portion of a microscope main
body. The introduced beams are guided to right and left eyes of a
main operator through an objective optical system, a zoom optical
system and an eyepiece optical system. This allows the main
operator to observe a zoomed surgical portion by his/her naked
eyes.
[0006] The main operator generally performs a surgical operation in
cooperation with an assistant. This requires a lateral vision scope
provided at a side face of the microscope main body. The assistant
can perform the assistance for the surgical operation while
observing a zoomed surgical portion by his/her naked eyes, using
the lateral vision scope. A conventional lateral vision scope is
disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No.
H11-244301.
[0007] A beam splitter guides into the lateral vision scope a part
of beams to be guided to right and left eyes of a main operator in
a stereomicroscope. Thereby, an assistant can observe a zoomed
surgical portion by his/her naked eyes. The assistant can not
however observe a stereoscopic zoomed surgical portion because the
beam splitter guides only the part of beams into the lateral vision
scope. Further, since the lateral vision scope is provided at the
side face of the microscope main body, the lateral vision scope
moves together with the microscope main body when the main operator
tilts the microscope main body. This requires the assistant to
always care about the movement of the microscope main body by the
main operator.
[0008] In order to resolve the above problem, as disclosed in
Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-117049, a new device
is developed to realize that a main operator and an assistant
perform a surgical operation while observing a stereoscopic zoomed
surgical portion simultaneously. In the new device, an optical
image is converted into an elctron image by a stereographic camera
including an objective optical system and a zoom optical system
therein. The electron image is displayed on a plurality of stereo
viewers (stereo display devices) supported independent from the
stereographic camera, in real-time. The main operator and the
assistant simultaneously observe the stereoscopic zoomed surgical
portion through the electron image displayed on these stereo
viewers. According to the new device, even if the main operator
tilts the stereographic camera, the assistant observes the
stereoscopic zoomed surgical portion without caring about the
movement of the stereographic camera by the main operator because
his/her stereo viewer is supported independent from the
stereographic camera.
[0009] However, since the stereographic camera includes no eyepiece
optical system in the new device, the main operator can not observe
the zoomed surgical portion through an optical image by his/her
naked eyes. Therefore, with respect to the new device, there is a
requirement that the main operator wants to observe the zoomed
surgical portion through the optical image by his/her naked eyes
because he/she is forced to observe the zoomed surgical portion
through the electron image by an assistant's side reason.
[0010] It is hoped to develop a stereomicroscope configured to
allow a main operator to observe a zoomed surgical portion through
an optical image by his/her naked eyes by using an eyepiece optical
system in a microscope main body and allow an assistant to observe
the zoomed surgical portion through an electron image by his/her
naked eyes by using a stereographic camera and a stereo viewer.
[0011] Usually, an assistant is located at a side of an main
operator and an observation direction of the assistant for
observing a zoomed surgical portion differs from an observation
direction of the main operator for observing the zoomed surgical
portion at about 90 degrees. This requires optical processing for
one pair of beams which is guided to the main operator side and for
another pair of beams which is guided to the assistant side and
orthogonal to the one pair of beams, in a microscope main body Into
which a camera for assistant is built into.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention has an object to provide a
stereomicroscope configured to allow a main operator to observe a
zoomed surgical portion through an optical image by his/her naked
eyes and allow an assistant to observe the zoomed surgical portion
through an electron image with a stereo viewer, without building a
camera for assistant into a microscope main body.
[0013] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention
provides a stereomicroscope comprising: a microscope main body
including therein an objective optical system, a zoom optical
system and an eyepiece optical system; and a camera for assistant
detachably mounted to the microscope main body, wherein the
microscope main body provides to a main operator a pair of optical
images including a certain binocular disparity as viewed from an
observation direction of the main operator, the camera for
assistant provides to an assistant a pair of electron images
including a certain binocular disparity as viewed from an
observation direction of the assistant, the observation directions
of the main operator and the assistant cross at a certain angle,
and the camera for assistant outputs the pair of electron images
into a stereo viewer which is separated from the microscope main
body.
[0014] According to the present invention, since the microscope
main body includes therein the objective optical system, the zoom
optical system and the eyepiece optical system, the main operator
can obtain the pair of optical images including a certain binocular
disparity as viewed from the observation direction of the main
operator to sterically observe a zoomed surgical portion by his/her
naked eyes. Thus, the microscope main body includes only minimum
optical systems therein, which allows the configuration of the
microscope main body to be simply and easily produced. When the
assistant wants to observe the zoomed surgical portion with the
stereo viewer, the camera for assistant is mounted to the
microscope main body. The camera for assistant captures the pair of
electron images including a certain binocular disparity as viewed
from the observation direction of the assistant and then outputs
the pair of electron images Into the stereo viewer. Thus, the
assistant can satirically observe the zoomed surgical portion in
the observation direction different from the observation direction
of the main operator.
[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
observation directions of the main operator and the assistant cross
at about right angles.
[0016] According to the embodiment, a direction of binocular
disparity of the pair of electron images differs from one of the
pair of optical images at about right angles. Thus, the observation
direction of the assistant corresponds to a general observation
direction, which provides a user-friendly observation apparatus to
the assistant.
[0017] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the
camera for assistant includes an objective optical system and a
zoom optical system which are independent from the microscope main
body.
[0018] According to the embodiment, the camera for assistant
includes the objective optical system and the zoom optical system
which are independent from the microscope main body. Thus, these
optical systems can be controlled independent from or in
conjunction with the microscope main body, which provides a
user-friendly operation to the assistant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a state where one
main operator and two assistants use a stereomicroscope system
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of a part of the
stereomicroscope according to the embodiment of the present
invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating optical
systems of a microscope main body and a camera for assistant
according to the embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the stereomicroscope
along the line IV-IV shown in FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] A stereomicroscope system according to an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention will be described below in
detail, with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. In FIGS. 1 and 3, a
direction A is an observation direction of a main operator D1. A
direction B is opposed to the direction A and an observation
direction of an assistant (a person opposed to the main operator
D1) D2. In this embodiment, the directions A and B are defined as
an anteroposterior direction of the stereomicroscope system. It is
noted that the main operator D1 side and the assistant D2 side are
a front side and a rear side, respectively. A direction C is
positioned at right side with respect to the direction A and
orthogonal to the direction A. The direction C is an observation
direction of an assistant D3. A direction D is opposed to the
direction C and an observation direction of an assistant (a person
opposed to the assistant D3) (not shown). In this embodiment, the
directions C and D are defined as a horizontal direction of the
stereomicroscope system. It is noted that the assistant D3 side and
the not-shown assistant side are a right side and a left side,
respectively.
[0024] The stereomicroscope system comprises a stand apparatus (not
shown), a top link 1, a support arm 3, an electromagnetic clutch 4,
a stereomicroscope 5 and holding arms 8 and 9. The top link 1 is
mounted to the stand apparatus placed on a floor of an operating
room. The top link 1 can be moved at arbitrary position while
keeping a state where the top link 1 is orthogonal to the
floor.
[0025] The support arm 3 has a substantial U-letter shape and is
mounted to a lower portion 2 of the top link 1. The
stereomicroscope 5 is supported at a lower portion of the support
arm 3 via the electromagnetic clutch 4. The stereomicroscope 5 can
be rotated about an axis a in the anteroposterior direction
(.theta. 1 direction) and tilted in the horizontal direction
(.theta. 2 direction), by a support configuration of the
electromagnetic clutch 4.
[0026] The stereomicroscope 5 comprises a microscope main body 6, a
camera 7 for assistant, a movable tube 11, a pair of eyepiece
portions 12 and 12, a camera 13 for assistant, stereo viewers S1
and S2 and an illuminating means (not shown).
[0027] The stereo viewer S1 is used by the assistant D3 and
supported by the holding arm 8 extending from a lower portion 2 of
the top link 1, to be positioned at a right side of the microscope
main body 6. The stereo viewer S2 is used by the assistant D2 and
supported by the holding arm 9 extending from the lower portion 2
of the top link 1, to be positioned at a rear side of the
microscope main body 6. It is noted that the stereo viewer S2 is
originally set at a position where a zoomed surgical portion T is
observed from the observation direction A. From the position, the
stereo viewer S2 is turned about a vertical axis at 180 degrees to
be positioned at the rear side of the microscope main body 6. The
stereo viewers S1 and S2 are well-known viewers (see Japanese
Patent No. 2607828). Each stereo viewer includes a pair of display
screens (small size LCDs) therein. The assistant D3 watches a pair
of electron images E1 displayed on the pair of display screens
through an eyepiece portion to sterically observe a zoomed surgical
portion T from the observation direction C. The assistant D2
watches a pair of electron images E2 displayed on the pair of
display screens through an eyepiece portion to sterically observe
the zoomed surgical portion T from the observation direction B.
[0028] A pair of beam introduction holes 10 is formed at a lower
portion of a front side of the microscope main body 6. The beam
introduction holes 10 are employed to introduce beams L1 and L1
from the surgical portion T into the microscope main body 6. The
movable tube 11 is provided at an upper portion of the front side
of the microscope main body 6. The movable tube 11 can be tilted up
or down. The eyepiece portions 12 and 12 are provided to the
movable tube 11. A distance between the eyepiece portions 12 and 12
can be adjusted such that the distance corresponds to a distance
between eyes of the main operator D1.
[0029] The camera 13 for assistant is provided at an upper portion
of the rear side of the microscope main body 6 such that the camera
13 for assistant upward protrudes from the upper portion. The
camera 7 for assistant has a substantial L-letter shape in the
front view and is provided in the vicinity of the beam introduction
holes 10.
[0030] Next an optical system in the stereomicroscope system will
be described.
[0031] The illuminating means illuminates the surgical portion T.
The microscope main body 6 is set to be positioned above the
surgical portion T. The surgical portion T is shown in FIG. 1 in
the form that an arrow mark is drawn on one end of a rear side of a
cross and a circle mark is drawn on one end of a right side of the
cross.
[0032] The pair of beams L1 and L1 which is a part of beams
reflected on the surgical portion T and positioned at right and
left sides is introduced into the microscope main body 6 through
the beam introduction holes 10 along a vertical direction of the
microscope main body 6. More specifically, the beams L1 and L1 pass
through a non-reflection portion of a prism 14 in the camera 7 for
assistant and then are introduced into the microscope main body 6
through the beam introduction holes 10.
[0033] First, an optical system of the microscope main body 6 will
be described.
[0034] It is necessary to obtain a pair of optical images K
including a certain binocular disparity in the horizontal
direction, when the main operator D1 observes the zoomed surgical
portion T from the observation direction A by using the microscope
main body 6. Thereby, the pair of beams L1 and L1 is introduced
Into the microscope main body 6.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 3, the microscope main body 6 includes
three lenses 15, 16 and 17, a pair of prisms 19 and 19, a pair of
zoom optical systems 20 and 20, a pair of prisms 21 and 21, a pair
of beam splitters 22 and 22, a pair of lenses 23 and 23, a pair of
lenses 24 and 24 and an eyepiece optical system 25 therein. The
three lenses 15, 16 and 17 are vertically aligned in the microscope
main body 6 and form an objective optical system 18. The zoom
optical systems 20 and 20 are disposed in parallel with each other.
Each zoom optical system 20 includes two first lenses and two
second lenses therein. A diameter of each second lens is smaller
than one of each first lens. The two second lenses are movably
disposed between the two first lenses. A vertical size of each zoom
optical system 20 is smaller than one of a conventional zoom
optical system.
[0036] The beams L1 and L1 having been introduced into the
microscope main body 6 pass through the objective optical system 18
and are focus-adjusted in the objective optical system 18. The
beams L1 and L1 having passed through the objective optical system
18 are reflected toward the rear side by the prisms 19 and 19. The
beams L1 and L1 having been reflected by the prisms 19 and 19 are
introduced into the zoom optical systems 20 and 20.
[0037] The beams L1 and L1 having passed through the zoom optical
systems 20 and 20 are reflected toward an upper side of the
stereomicroscope system by the prisms 21 and 21, and then are split
and guided toward the front side by the beam splitters 22 and 22.
The beams L1 and L1 having been guided toward the front side by the
beam splitters 22 and 22 pass through the lenses 23 and 23 and the
lenses 24 and 24, and then are introduced into the eyepiece optical
system 25 disposed in the movable tube 11 side in the microscope
main body 6. The eyepiece portions 12 and 12 provide an image on
the basis of the beams L1 and L1 having passed through the eyepiece
optical system 25. Therefore, the main operator D1 can obtain the
pair of optical images K including a certain binocular disparity in
the horizontal direction as viewed from the observation direction
A, and sterically observe the zoomed surgical portion T by his/her
naked eyes when the obtained optical images K are introduced into
his/her naked eyes. The optical images K each has the form that the
arrow mark is positioned on the upper side and the circle mark is
positioned on the right side regarding the surgical portion T.
[0038] The beams L1 and L1 having been guided toward the upper side
to penetrate through the splitters 22 and 22 are introduced into
the camera 13 for assistant. The camera 13 for assistant includes a
pair of lenses 26 and 26, a pair of lenses 27 and 27 and a camera
main body 28 therein. The beams L1 and L1 having been introduced
into the camera 13 for assistant pass through the lenses 26 and 26
and the lenses 27 and 27, and then are captured by the camera main
body 28. The camera 13 for assistant converts the captured beams L1
and L1 into the pair of electron images E2. Then, the electron
images E2 are output into the stereo viewer S2 opposed to the
microscope main body 6.
[0039] The camera 13 for assistant generates the electron images E2
in the form that the arrow mark is positioned on the upper side and
the circle mark is positioned on the right side regarding the
surgical portion T, because the camera 13 for assistant captures
the beams L1 and L1 from the same direction as the eyepiece
portions 12 and 12. However, if the stereo viewer S2 is turned
about the vertical axis about 180 degrees and turned about an axis
.beta. in the anteroposterior direction, the electron images E2
into which the beams L1 and L1 are converted are also flipped about
the vertical axis and the axis .beta.. It is here noted that the
term "the stereo viewer S2 is turned about the axis .beta. in the
anteroposterior direction" used in this embodiment means that the
stereo viewer S2 is turned about the axis .beta. at 180 degrees in
the anteroposterior direction.
[0040] By carrying out this turn, the assistant D2 can obtain the
pair of electron images E2 including a certain binocular disparity
in the horizontal direction as viewed from the observation
direction B, and sterically observe the zoomed surgical portion T
by his/her naked eyes when the obtained electron images E2 are
introduced into his/her naked eyes. The electron images E2 each has
the form that the arrow mark is positioned on a lower side of the
stereomicroscope system and the circle mark is positioned on the
right side regarding the surgical portion T. Therefore, the
assistant D2 easily performs the assistance for the surgical
operation because the form of each electron image E2 is matched to
the form of the surgical portion T which the assistant D2 observes
from the observation direction B.
[0041] Second, an optical system of the camera 7 for assistant will
be described.
[0042] The camera 7 for assistant is detachably mounted to the
microscope main body 6 in the vicinity of the beam introduction
holes 10. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the camera 7 for assistant
includes a base portion 71 and a protrusion portion 72. The base
portion 71 has a substantial L-letter shape in the plan view. The
protrusion portion 72 is made of metal material and fixed to an
upper surface of the base portion 71. The protrusion portion 72
surrounds a protrusion portion of the base portion 71. The
protrusion portion 72 has tapered surfaces at both sides thereof.
The microscope main body 6 has a groove portion 61 at a lower
surface thereof. The groove portion 61 has a tapered surface at one
side thereof.
[0043] In a case where the camera 7 for assistant is mounted to the
microscope main body 6, the protrusion portion 72 is received into
the groove portion 61. Then, a pin 81 penetrates through the lower
portion of the microscope main body 6 and presses the protrusion
portion 72 toward the groove portion 61 at a tip end thereof so
that one tapered surface of the protrusion portion 72 abuts on the
tapered surface of the groove portion 61.
[0044] A pair of beams L2 and L2 which is a part of beams reflected
on the surgical portion T and positioned at front and rear sides is
reflected by a reflection portion 14a of the prism 14 and then are
introduced into the camera 7 for assistant side. A reflection means
for introducing the beams L2 and L2 into the camera 7 for assistant
side is not limited to the prism 14. For example, the reflection
means may be a mirror.
[0045] As shown in FIG. 3, the camera 7 for assistant includes
lenses 29 and 30, a mirror 32, a pair of zoom optical systems 33
and 33, a pair of lenses 34 and 34, a pair of lenses 35 and 35, and
a camera main body 36. The prism 14 and the two lenses 29 and 30
are horizontally aligned in the camera 7 for assistant. The two
lenses 29 and 30 form an objective optical system 31. The zoom
optical systems 33 and 33 are vertically disposed in parallel with
each other.
[0046] The beams L2 and L2 reflected by the prism 14 pass through
the objective optical system 31 and then are reflected upward by
the mirror 30. The beams L2 and L2 reflected by the mirror 30 pass
through the zoom optical systems 33 and 33 and then are introduced
into the camera main body 36 through the lenses 34 and 34 and the
lenses 35 and 35. Then, the beams L2 and L2 are captured by the
camera main body 36. The camera 7 for assistant converts the
captured beams L2 and L2 into the pair of electron images E1. Then,
the electron images E1 are output into the stereo viewer S1.
[0047] It is noted that the objective optical system 31 and the
zoom optical systems 33 and 33 are independent from the microscope
main body 6. Therefore, an operator can perform a focus-adjustment
and a zoom-adjustment in the camera 7 for assistant by using the
objective optical system 31 and the zoom optical systems 33 and 33,
without concerning about a focus-adjustment and a zoom-adjustment
in the microscope main body 6.
[0048] The camera 7 for assistant captures the surgical portion T
from the observation direction C which is orthogonal to the
observation direction A and positioned at a ride side of the
observation direction A. Therefore, the assistant D3 can obtain the
pair of electron images E1 including a certain binocular disparity
in the anteroposterior direction as viewed from the observation
direction C, without turning the stereo viewer S1, and sterically
observe the zoomed surgical portion T by his/her naked eyes when
the obtained electron images E1 are introduced into his/her naked
eyes. The electron images E1 each has the form that the arrow mark
is positioned on the right side and the circle mark is positioned
on the lower side regarding the surgical portion T. Therefore, the
assistant D1 can easily perform the assistance for the surgical
operation because the form of each electron image E1 is matched to
the form of the surgical portion T which the assistant D1 observes
from the observation direction C. For example, if a left hand 37 of
the assistant D3 reaches for the surgical portion T from a near
side of the assistant D3, the left hand 37 also reaches for the
surgical portion T from the near side in the electron images E1
which the assistant D3 observes.
[0049] A magnification-adjustment of the optical image K for the
main operator D1 is performed independent from one of the electron
image E1 for the assistant D3 because the objective optical system
31 and the zoom optical systems 33 and 33 axe independent from the
microscope main body 6. Therefore, the main operator D1 can
effectively perform the surgical operation in cooperation with the
assistant D3. For example, the main operator D1 operates a deep
portion of the surgical portion T and the assistant D3 operates a
shallow portion of the surgical portion T.
[0050] In a case where the assistant D3 observes the zoomed
surgical portion T from the left side of the main operator D1,
firstly, the stereo view S1 and the holding arm 8 are attached to
an opposite side (the left side of the main operator D1) of the
lower portion 2 of the top link 1 without moving the camera 7 for
assistant. Next, the stereo viewer S1 is turned about an axis in
the horizontal direction, in order to match the form of each
electron image E1 viewed by the stereo viewer S1 to the form of the
surgical portion T which the assistant D3 observes from the
observation direction D.
[0051] Next, the advantageous features of the stereomicroscope
system will be described.
[0052] Since the microscope main body 6 includes the objective
optical system 18, the pair of zoom optical systems 20 and 20 and
the eyepiece optical system 25 therein, the main operator D1 can
obtain the pair of optical images K including a certain binocular
disparity in the horizontal direction as viewed from the
observation direction A, by using the eyepiece optical system 25,
to sterically observe the zoomed surgical portion T by his/her
naked eyes. Thus, the microscope main body 6 includes only minimum
optical systems therein, which allows the configuration of the
microscope main body 6 to be simply and easily produced.
[0053] In a case where the assistant D3 obtain the electron images
E1 of the surgical portion T with the stereo viewer S1, the camera
7 for assistant is attached to the microscope main body 6 at the
Introduction holes 10 so as to capture the electron images E1
including a certain binocular disparity in the anteroposterior
direction as viewed from the observation direction C and then
output the captured electron images E1 into the stereo viewer S1.
Therefore, the assistant D3 can observe sterically the zoomed
surgical portion T through the electron images E1 from the
observation direction C, which is an observation direction of the
assistant D3, orthogonal to the observation direction A, which is
an observation direction of the main operator D1. As a result, the
assistant D3 can easily perform the assistance for the surgical
operation.
[0054] The camera 7 for assistant is detachably mounted to the
microscope main body 6. Therefore, the main operator's view is
widened in the vicinity of the microscope main body 6 when the
camera 7 for assistant is detached from the microscope main body 6.
As a result, the main operator D1 directly observes the surgical
portion T by his/her naked eyes from an oblique upper direction of
the surgical portion T.
[0055] The stereomicroscope system can distribute a large amount of
light to the microscope main body 6 in comparison with a
conventional stereomicroscope system that includes a sub
microscope, which provides a pair of optical images to an
assistant, instead of the camera 7 for assistant, which provides a
pair of electron images to an assistant, because the camera 7 for
assistant does not need a large amount of light.
[0056] Although the objective optical system 31 and the zoom
optical systems 33 and 33 are independent from the microscope main
body 6, these optical systems may be controlled in conjunction with
the microscope main body 6. This allows the assistant D3 to observe
the surgical portion T at the same magnification as the
magnification at which the main operator D1 observes the surgical
portion T.
* * * * *