Surgical microscope system with automatic zoom control

Abstract

A surgical microscope system and methods involving: an optical assembly operable in response to a selected operation mode, the optical assembly having adjustable optics; a controller coupled with the optical assembly, the controller configured to: select an operation mode corresponding to at least one phase of the medical procedure and defining a setting for adjusting an adjustable optics; control the optical assembly to adjust an adjustable optics according to a setting; select another operation mode if at least one of an abnormal phase and an emergency phase of the medical procedure is determined to exist, the other mode of operation corresponding to another setting for adjusting the adjustable optics, the other setting having at least one of a magnification setting and a focus setting; and control the optical assembly to adjust the adjustable optics according to the other setting.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A surgical microscope system for use in a medical procedure, the system comprising:
 an optical assembly operable in response to a selected operation mode, the optical assembly comprising a plurality of adjustable optics;   a controller coupled with the optical assembly, the controller configured to:   select an operation mode corresponding to at least one phase of the medical procedure and defining at least one setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics;   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one setting;   select another operation mode if at least one of an abnormal phase and an emergency phase of the medical procedure is determined to exist, the other mode of operation corresponding to at least one other setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics, the at least one other setting comprising at least one of a magnification setting and a focus setting; and   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one other setting.   
     
     
         2 . The surgical microscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the operation mode comprises a plurality of available operation modes, at least one available operation mode of the plurality of available operation modes corresponding to the at least one phase of the medical procedure. 
     
     
         3 . The surgical microscope system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one available operation mode defines at least one setting relating to historical usage of the surgical microscope system. 
     
     
         4 . The surgical microscope system of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one available operation mode defines at least one setting relating to a user-specific preference. 
     
     
         5 . The s surgical microscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to: select the operation mode in response to an initial user input; and select the other operation mode in response to a subsequent user input. 
     
     
         6 . The surgical microscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of adjustable optics comprises at least one of a plurality of adjustable zoom optics and a plurality of adjustable focus optics. 
     
     
         7 . The surgical microscope system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate control signals according to one of the operation mode and the other operation mode and transmit the control signals to a positioning system, the positioning system comprising a robotic arm, and wherein the optical assembly is positionable by the robotic arm. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to generate a signal to provide a notification indicating that the other operation mode is selected prior to changing the selected operation mode from the operation mode to the other operation mode. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the controller is further configured to change the selected operation mode from the operation mode to the other operation mode after receiving a signal indicating a user confirmation of the other operation mode. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the controller is coupled with at least one other component, the at least one other component comprising at least one of: at least one light source, a light sensor, at least one camera, and at least one display, and   wherein the controller is further configured to at least one of: receive a signal, representing a change in a lighting condition, from a light sensor; transmit a signal to adjust the least one component parameter of a captured image according to one of the at least one setting and the at least one other setting, that least one component parameter comprising at least one of: illumination, color, brightness; receive tracking information relating to a tracked tool; and control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to one of the at least one setting and the at least one other setting based on the tracking information.   
     
     
         11 . A method of providing a surgical microscope system for use in a medical procedure, the method comprising:
 providing an optical assembly operable in response to a selected operation mode, providing the optical assembly comprising providing a plurality of adjustable optics;   providing a controller coupled with the optical assembly, providing the controller comprising configuring the controller to:   select an operation mode corresponding to at least one phase of the medical procedure and defining at least one setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics;   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one setting;   select another operation mode if at least one of an abnormal phase and an emergency phase of the medical procedure is determined to exist, the other mode of operation corresponding to at least one other setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics, the at least one other setting comprising at least one of a magnification setting and a focus setting; and   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one other setting.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller to select the operation mode comprising a plurality of available operation modes, at least one available operation mode of the plurality of available operation modes corresponding to the at least one phase of the medical procedure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one available operation mode defines at least one setting relating to historical usage of the surgical microscope system. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one available operation mode defines at least one setting relating to a user-specific preference. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller further configured to: select the operation mode in response to an initial user input; and select the other operation mode in response to a subsequent user input. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of adjustable optics comprises at least one of a plurality of adjustable zoom optics and a plurality of adjustable focus optics. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller to generate control signals according to one of the operation mode and the other operation mode and transmit the control signals to a positioning system, the positioning system comprising a robotic arm, and wherein providing the optical assembly comprises configuring the optical assembly as positionable by the robotic arm. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller to at least one of: generate a signal to provide a notification indicating that the other operation mode is selected prior to changing the selected operation mode from the operation mode to the other operation mode; and change the selected operation mode from the operation mode to the other operation mode after receiving a signal indicating a user confirmation of the other operation mode. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller to couple with at least one other component, the at least one other component comprising at least one of: at least one light source, a light sensor, at least one camera, and at least one display, and wherein providing the controller further comprises configuring the controller to at least one of: receive a signal, representing a change in a lighting condition, from a light sensor; transmit a signal to adjust the least one component parameter of a captured image according to one of the at least one setting and the at least one other setting, that least one component parameter comprising at least one of: illumination, color, brightness; receive tracking information relating to a tracked tool; and control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to one of the at least one setting and the at least one other setting based on the tracking information. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using a surgical microscope system in a medical procedure, the method comprising:
 providing the surgical microscope system, providing the surgical microscope system comprising:   providing an optical assembly operable in response to a selected operation mode, providing the optical assembly comprising providing a plurality of adjustable optics;   providing a controller coupled with the optical assembly, providing the controller comprising configuring the controller to:   select an operation mode corresponding to at least one phase of the medical procedure and defining at least one setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics;   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one setting;   select another operation mode if at least one of an abnormal phase and an emergency phase of the medical procedure is determined to exist, the other mode of operation corresponding to at least one other setting for adjusting the plurality of adjustable optics, the at least one other setting comprising at least one of a magnification setting and a focus setting; and   control the optical assembly to adjust the plurality of adjustable optics according to the at least one other setting; and   operating the surgical microscope system in the medical procedure.