IP Library Granted Patent US 8,542,440
Granted Patent B2
US 8,542,440 · App. 12/378,595 · Granted Sep 24, 2013

Tube for an observation device

Inventors: Nadine Kolster (Aalen, DE); Alfons Abele (Schwaebisch Gmuend, DE); Christian Luecke (Oberkochen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
A61B19/5223G02B21/24
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,542,440
App. No.
12/378,595
Granted
Sep 24, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

A tube for an optical observation device, in particular for a microscope, with a viewing level that is linearly variable in length and/or height, wherein the tube has an optical light path, in which at least two optical elements are disposed, for example, deflecting elements. The tube can be designed, for example, as a swing-in tube, with a base part, wherein a deflecting element is disposed in the base part so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation, and with an eyepiece support that can swing in relative to the base part, wherein a deflecting element is disposed in the eyepiece support so that it can rotate around an axis of rotation. The optical elements may be disposed so that they can move independently of one another in the optical light path.

Claims (14)

1. A tube for an optical observation device, having a viewing level that is linearly variable in length and/or height, wherein the tube has an optical light path, in which at least two optical elements are disposed, wherein at least two optical elements are disposed so that they can move independently of one another in the optical light path, wherein the tube has a base part, in which as an optical element a deflecting element is disposed so that it can rotate around a first axis of rotation, wherein the tube has an eyepiece support which can swing relative to the base part and in which as an optical element a deflecting element is disposed so that it can rotate around a second axis of rotation, wherein an intermediate support is provided which is joined with the base part and with the eyepiece support so that the eyepiece support can swing relative to the base part, via the intermediate support, wherein the intermediate support is joined with the base part via a rotating joint and with the eyepiece support via a rotating joint, wherein the deflecting element of the base part is coupled with the rotating joint which joins the base part and the intermediate support, and wherein the deflecting element of the eyepiece support is coupled with the rotating joint which joins the eyepiece support and the intermediate support, hereby characterized, that the deflecting element of the base part is connected to a coupling element, said coupling element cooperating with a driver element being connected to the base part, and with a driver element being connected to the intermediate support, and that the deflecting element of the eyepiece support is connected to a coupling element, said coupling element cooperating with a driver element being connected to the eyepiece support, and with a driver element being connected to the intermediate support.

2. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that it is designed such that the optical light path of the tube varies by less than 30% when the viewing level is varied.

3. A tube according to claim 1 , wherein the tube is variably adjustable in its mechanical length.

4. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the tube has a base element for mounting with an optical observation device.

5. The tube according to claim 4 , further characterized in that at least one optical decoupling element and/or at least one optical coupling element is/are disposed in the base part.

6. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the tube is designed as a swing-in tube.

7. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the deflecting elements contain a translatory component.

8. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the deflecting elements are disposed so that they can swing in, but are also rotationally independent of one another.

9. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the deflecting element of the base part and/or the deflecting element of the eyepiece support is/are disposed in the region of a rotating joint.

10. The tube according to claim 9 , further characterized in that the deflecting element of the base part and the rotating joint have an identical axis of rotation and/or that the deflecting element of the eyepiece support and the rotating joint have an identical axis of rotation.

11. The tube according to claim 10 , further characterized in that the axis of rotation of the deflecting element of the base part is disposed parallel to the axis of rotation of the deflecting element of the eyepiece support.

12. The tube according to claim 1 , further characterized in that the tube is designed for a monocular view or as a binocular tube.

13. The tube according to claim 1 , characterized in that the tube is adapted for being used with a microscope.

14. The tube according to claim 1 , characterized in that the deflecting element of the eyepiece support and the deflecting element of the base part are designed as tilted mirrors.

Assignments (2)
MERGER Recorded Aug 12, 2013
From: CARL ZEISS SURGICAL GMBH
To: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
Reel/Frame 031003/0447 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 12, 2009
From: KOLSTER, NADINE; ABELE, ALFONS; LUECKE, CHRISTIAN
To: CARL ZEISS SURGICAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 022817/0037 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2008 009 303 · Feb 15, 2008 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090244704A1 · Oct 1, 2009