Microscope for surgical purposes and method for the use of the microscope, in particular in the case of eye operations

摘要

A surgical microscope apparatus and method for using the same for use while suturing an incision in the cornea for reconfiguring the cornea to a spherical surface having a radius of curvature of a predetermined magnitude, the microscope system including means for projecting an image onto the cornea, means for optically splitting the image into a plurality of images within the surgical field of view for viewing through the binocular eyepieces and means for adjusting the optical system to orient the images into a predetermined alignment and configuration indicative of the radius of curvature, the alignment and configuration occurring when the cornea sutures are tensioned correctly to indicate a spherical surface of the predetermined radius of curvature. The means for optically splitting the images are so-positioned to permit a portion of the surgical field of view to pass through the microscope undeviated to enable the surgeon to utilize the necessary suturing tools without multiple images of the tools. In a first embodiment a fixed location prism array is utilized for optically splitting the image and the optical system is adjusted by varying the magnification powers of the microscope. In a second embodiment, rotary prisms are in a fixed position within the optical path for optically splitting the image and the optical system is adjusted by varying the prism power. The optical system adjusting means in either embodiment are calibrated to an electrical signal indicative of the radius of curvature.