Stand for an optical observation unit, optical observation apparatus, method for calibrating an optical observation apparatus, and computer program

{
  "publication_number": "US11977212B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Stand for an optical observation unit, optical observation apparatus, method for calibrating an optical observation apparatus, and computer program",
  "abstract": "To simplify the optical calibration of an optical observation apparatus, a stand for an optical observation unit including a calibration object arranged directly on the stand in a fixed location is specified. Moreover, an optical observation apparatus, which includes such a stand and an optical observation unit connected to the stand, a method for calibrating such an optical observation apparatus, and a computer program are specified.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A stand for positioning, aligning and holding an optical observation unit, the stand comprising: a stand body including a mount for said optical observation unit; a calibration object arranged directly on said stand body at a fixed location; said optical observation unit having a plurality of cameras; and, said calibration object being arranged so as to be observable from different viewing angles by said plurality of cameras of said optical observation unit.",
    "2. The stand of claim 1, wherein said calibration object is a two-dimensional calibration pattern.",
    "3. The stand of claim 1, wherein said calibration object is a three-dimensional calibration body.",
    "4. The stand of claim 1, wherein said calibration object is part of said stand body.",
    "5. An optical observation apparatus comprising: an optical observation unit having a plurality of cameras; a stand for positioning, aligning and holding said optical observation unit and said stand including a mount for said optical observation unit; a calibration object arranged directly on said stand at a fixed location; said optical observation unit being connected to said stand via said mount; and, said calibration object being arranged so as to be observable from different viewing angles by said plurality of cameras of said optical observation unit.",
    "6. The optical observation apparatus of claim 5 further comprising: a control unit configured to output control signals to at least one of said stand and said optical observation unit in order to carry out a calibration method.",
    "7. The optical observation apparatus of claim 5, wherein said optical observation unit is a surgical microscope.",
    "8. An optical observation apparatus comprising: an optical observation unit having a camera; a stand for positioning, aligning and holding said optical observation unit and said stand including a mount for said optical observation unit; a calibration object arranged directly on said stand at a fixed location; said optical observation unit being connected to said stand via said mount; and, said calibration object being arranged so as to be observable from different viewing angles by said camera of said optical observation unit.",
    "9. A method for calibrating an optical observation unit apparatus including: an optical observation unit having a camera; a stand for positioning, aligning and holding the optical observation unit and the stand including a mount for said optical observation unit; a calibration object arranged directly on the stand at a fixed location; the optical observation unit being connected to the stand via the mount; and, the calibration object being arranged so as to be observable from different viewing angles by the camera of the optical observation unit, the method comprising: making recordings of the calibration object via the camera of the optical observation unit; and, evaluating the recordings to provide evaluated recordings.",
    "10. The method of claim 9 further comprising: aligning the optical observation unit with respect to the calibration object.",
    "11. The method of claim 10, wherein said aligning the optical observation unit is performed in an automated manner.",
    "12. The method of claim 9 further comprising: carrying out an adjustment of a diopter setting on an eyepiece of the optical observation unit using the evaluated recordings.",
    "13. The method of claim 9 further comprising: calibrating the camera of the optical observation unit using the evaluated recordings.",
    "14. The method of claim 9 further comprising: performing an intrinsic calibration of the camera of the optical observation unit using the evaluated recordings.",
    "15. The method of claim 9 further comprising: performing a hand/eye, calibration of the camera of the optical observation unit using the evaluated recordings.",
    "16. The method of claim 9 further comprising: performing an extrinsic calibration of internal cameras for at leas one of topography applications and augmentation applications using the evaluated recordings.",
    "17. The method of claim 9 further comprising: calibrating kinematics of the stand using the evaluated recordings.",
    "18. The method of claim 9, wherein the optical observation unit has a plurality of cameras and the plurality of cameras is used for making the recordings of the calibration object."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The disclosure relates to a stand for an optical observation unit, an optical observation apparatus, a method for calibrating an optical observation apparatus, and a computer program.\n\nSurgical microscopes are used in various medical disciplines, such as ophthalmic surgery, dental surgery or neurosurgery. Here, microscopes for neurosurgery have the greatest technical complexity since interventions on the brain usually require assistance by way of numerous add-on functions on account of their significant criticality and great variety. In addition to the basic functionality of imaging the site, visualization using fluorescence, navigation, and tracking of instruments (tool tracking), for example, also play a role.\n\nOn account of the increasing complexity of surgical microscopes, there is an increased need for testing, adjustment and calibration methods to test the functionality and to be able to undertake changes or apply specific settings where necessary. These methods, which are subsumed by the term calibration method below, can be carried out during the intended use of the surgical microscope, or else within the scope of manufacture, and servicing and upkeep. Calibration methods within the aforementioned meaning may include, inter alia: diopter settings on the eyepiece, checking and setting the X, Y, Z-position of cameras and other optical components, checking and setting intrinsic camera parameters, temporal calibration of cameras, checking and setting zoom and autofocus, establishing the absolute fluorescence intensity, checking and setting the kinematics of the stand for improving the absolute positioning accuracy.",
  "cpc": [
    "G02B 21/0012",
    "B25J 9/1692",
    "B25J 9/1697",
    "G02B 27/32",
    "G02B 7/001",
    "G05B 2219/39045"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B25J 9/16",
    "G02B 21/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Carl Zeiss Meditec AG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Andreas Raab",
    "Jonathan Essig",
    "Dominik Scherer",
    "Christian Voigt",
    "Stefan Saur"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-11-20",
  "publication_date": "2024-05-07",
  "grant_date": "2024-05-07",
  "priority_date": "2019-11-22",
  "application_number": "US-202017100406-A",
  "family_id": "75783972",
  "cited_by_count": 0,
  "citations": [
    "US2112449A",
    "JP2004070036A",
    "TWI420144B",
    "US20170066131A1",
    "US20150248003A1",
    "DE102016225613A1",
    "US20200016758A1",
    "DE102018115824A1",
    "US20200004003A1",
    "DE102018125422A1"
  ]
}