Imaging system and observation method

1. A medical stereo imaging system, comprising:

an observation instrument that comprises an image acquisition unit that is configured to detect first image data and second image data, which can be combined for stereo observation,

at least one position sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of a stereo base of the instrument in relation to a position reference, and

image data processing software, which is stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, that when executed:

is operable in a first representation mode and a second representation mode, depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument,

is operable to output an image signal for display, which, in the first representation mode, includes a stereo signal based on the first image data and the second image data from the instrument, and, in the second representation mode, includes a mono signal based on the first image data or the second image data from the instrument, and

is operable to erect images that are output with the image signal in the second representation mode, depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument.

2. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the software is further adapted to orient output images in the second representation mode so that an orientation of the displayed output image in relation to a display horizon does not change or only changes within defined limits.

3. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the software is further adapted in the first representation mode to output images to be output in a non-erected state, so that changes in the orientation of the output images are associated with changes in the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument.

4. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the software is further operable in a first rotation angle range of the stereo base of the instrument in the first representation mode, and

wherein the software is further operable in a second rotation angle range of the stereo base of the instrument in the second representation mode.

5. The imaging system of claim 4 ,

wherein the first rotation angle range comprises two sections that are off-set from each other by 180°.

6. The imaging system of claim 5 ,

wherein the software is adapted to swap a first image signal and second image signal, and to rotate the first image signal and the second image signal by 180°.

7. The imaging system of claim 4 ,

wherein the second rotation angle range involves at least one position of the stereo base of the instrument that is rotated by 90° with respect to the position reference.

8. The imaging system of claim 4 ,

wherein the first rotation angle range comprises, in terms of an angular scale, in which 0° indicates an ideal orientation of the stereo base of the instrument in relation to the position reference, a first section covering a range having a first limit between 310° and 350° and a second limit between 10° and 50°.

9. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the software is further operable to provide an adapted transition when switching between the first representation mode and the second representation mode,

wherein the transition comprises an adaptation between an orientation of the mono signal in the second representation mode and an orientation of the stereo signal in the first representation mode at a switching angle between the first representation mode and the second representation mode.

10. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the orientation detected by the at least one position sensor is a rotation angle, and

wherein the control device is configured in the second representation mode to orient output images dependent on the rotation angle.

11. The imaging system of claim 10 ,

wherein the software is operable to produce a low-skip or skip-free transition between the first representation mode and the second representation mode.

12. The imaging system of claim 10 ,

wherein the software interpolates in the second representation mode the output images dependent on the rotation angle between the non-erected state and the erected state.

13. The imaging system of claim 10 ,

wherein the software is configured to erect output images in the second representation mode between a switching angle, which is associated with the transition between the first representation mode and the second representation mode, and a limit angle or limit angle range of the stereo base of the instrument in the second representation mode.

14. The imaging system of claim 13 ,

wherein the switching angle, in terms of an angular scale, in which 0° indicates an ideal orientation of the stereo base of the instrument in relation to the position reference, is between 25° and 50°.

15. The imaging system of claim 13 ,

wherein the software is adapted to rotate output images in the second representation mode between the limit angle or limit angle range and a further switching angle such that the orientation of the displayed image is adapted to the further switching angle when the instrument is rotated towards the further switching angle.

16. The imaging system of claim 15 ,

wherein the further switching angle, in terms of an angular scale at which 0° describes an ideal orientation of the stereo base of the instrument in relation to the position reference, is between 130° and 155°, and

wherein the limit angle is 90°.

17. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the observation instrument is arranged as an instrument having an inclined direction of view.

18. The imaging system of claim 1 ,

wherein the observation instrument accommodates the image acquisition unit, and

wherein the image acquisition unit comprises a stereo image sensor or two individual sensors that are offset relative to one another.

19. A stereo observation method comprising:

providing an observation instrument comprising an image acquisition unit that detects first image data and second image data, which can be combined for stereo observation,

detecting an orientation of a stereo base of the instrument in relation to a position reference, and

operating the imaging system depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument in a first representation mode or a second representation mode, comprising:

in the first representation mode, outputting an image signal that includes a stereo signal based on the first image data and the second image data from the instrument,

in the second representation mode, outputting an image signal that includes a mono signal from the instrument, and

erecting the output images depending on the detected orientation, at least in the second representation mode.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium including computer program instructions, which, when executed by a processor of an imaging system cause the imaging system to perform a method comprising:

detecting an orientation of a stereo base of an observation instrument in relation to a position reference, and

operating the imaging system depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument in a first representation mode or a second representation mode, comprising:

in the first representation mode, outputting an image signal that includes a stereo signal based on the first image data and the second image data from the instrument,

in the second representation mode, outputting an image signal that includes a mono signal from the instrument, and

erecting the output images depending on the detected orientation, at least in the second representation mode.

21. A medical stereo imaging system, comprising:

an observation instrument comprising an image acquisition unit that is configured to detect first image data and second image data, which can be combined for stereo observation,

at least one position sensor that is configured to detect an orientation of a stereo base of the instrument in relation to a position reference, and

a data processor that is connected to the image acquisition unit and the at least one position sensor and that is configured to:

operate in a first representation mode and a second representation mode, depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument,

output an image signal on a display, which, in the first representation mode, includes a stereo signal based on the first image data and the second image data from the instrument, and, in the second representation mode, includes a mono signal based on the first image data or the second image data from the instrument, and

erect images that are output with the image signal in the second representation mode, depending on the orientation of the stereo base of the instrument.