Self adjusting operation lamp system

1. A combined operation lamp image detecting system for use in a medical workspace, comprising:

an operation lamp attached to a movable mount;

an emitter configured to emit light in the non-visible spectrum;

at least one camera arranged in a fixed, known and/or detectable positional relationship relative to the operation lamp, the at least one camera operable to detect non-visible light emitted by the emitter;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to the movable mount for effecting a change in position of the operation lamp; and

a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one camera, wherein the controller receives image signals of the medical workspace from the at least one camera and based on the image signals, commands the actuator to adjust a position of the operation lamp so as to maintain shadow free illumination of the medical workspace.

2. The system according to claim 1 , further comprising data transfer devices operable to transfer data between the actuators and the camera.

3. The system according to claim 2 , wherein the data transfer devices include wireless data transfer devices.

4. The system according to claim 2 , further comprising a control/regulating unit for directing the data transfer.

5. The system according to claim 4 , wherein the control/regulating unit is a medical navigation system.

6. The system according claim 5 , further comprising at least one instrument identifiable by the navigation system.

7. The system according to claim 6 , wherein said instrument is known to and/or stored in the navigation system on the basis of a characteristic reference array.

8. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera is arranged centrally in the operation lamp housing.

9. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the camera comprises a housing that serves as a shaft for a sterile holding grip of the operation lamp.

10. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one camera includes a plurality of cameras that are operable to be used together, individually and/or alternately.

11. The system according to claim 1 , wherein the emitter is arranged on the at least one camera.

12. A combined operation lamp image detecting system for use in a medical workspace, comprising:

an operation lamp attached to a movable mount;

at least one camera arranged in a fixed, known and/or detectable positional relationship relative to the operation lamp;

at least one actuator operatively coupled to the movable mount for effecting a change in position of the operation lamp; and

a controller operatively coupled to the actuator and the at least one camera, wherein the controller receives image signals of the medical workspace from the at least one camera and based on the image signals, commands the actuator to adjust a position of the operation lamp so as to maintain shadow free illumination of the medical workspace, wherein the camera is operable to detect positions in three-dimensional space of an object.

13. A method for operating a combined operation lamp image detecting system including an operation lamp which is attached to a movable mount, and at least one camera which is arranged in a fixed, known and/or detectable positional relationship relative to the operation lamp, comprising:

collecting image data of a medical workspace;

determining from the image data if the medical workspace is receiving shadow-free illumination; and

based on the determination, automatically adjusting a position of the operation lamp to provide shadow free illumination of the medical workspace.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein the camera comprises a plurality of cameras arranged in a fixed, known and/or detectable positional relationship relative to the operation lamp, comprising evaluating signals from at least two cameras of the plurality of cameras to determine whether the field of view of one of the two cameras is restricted.

15. The method according to claim 14 , wherein if a camera field of view is restricted, then using another camera of the plurality of cameras whose field of view is not restricted.

16. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising arranging a plurality of light sources on individual mounts, wherein said light sources can be individually controlled by the individual cameras.

17. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the cameras are used to match the image signals and to determine mismatches.

18. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising:

using a light source to emit light in a delimited spectral range;

controlling a position of the light source together with a position of the cameras, said cameras operable to detect light in the delimited spectral range; and

aligning the operation lamp based on data captured by the camera.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein controlling a position includes controlling actuators coupled to the moveable mount based on signals from the camera so as to move the operation lamp image detecting system to a desired position.

20. The method according to claim 19 , wherein data are transferred between the actuators and the camera via a control/regulating unit.

21. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising using the camera to positionally track an instrument.

22. The method according to claim 13 , further comprising changing the focus or illumination field of the operation lamp on the basis of the image signals captured by the camera.

23. A method for operating a combined operation lamp image detecting system comprising an operation lamp attached to a mount, and at least one camera arranged in a fixed, known and/or detectable positional relationship relative to the operation lamp, comprising:

using the camera to detect a position in three dimensional space of an instrument; and

altering a relative position of the camera together with the operation lamp based on the detected spatial position of the instrument.

24. The method according to claim 23 , further comprising controlling a moveable mount via actuators based on signals from the camera so as to move the operation lamp image detecting system to a desired position.