IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,259,537
Granted Patent B2
US 12,259,537 · App. 18/117,377 · Granted Mar 25, 2025

Method for operating a microscopy system, and microscopy system

Inventors: Christian Voigt (Abtsgmünd, DE); Markus Philipp (Aalen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
G02B21/0012G02B21/0044G02B21/006G02B21/008G02B21/025G02B21/24G02B21/36
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,259,537
App. No.
18/117,377
Granted
Mar 25, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for operating a microscopy system and to a microscopy system are provided. A pivot point is defined, wherein the microscopy system is operated such that a microscope of the microscopy system moves at a constant distance around the pivot point, wherein a reference surface is determined, wherein an intersection of an optical axis of the microscope and the reference surface is determined as the pivot point, wherein the pose of the reference surface is defined in a focal position-independent reference coordinate system and the pivot point is determined as the intersection of the optical axis with the thus defined reference surface in the reference coordinate system.

Claims (29)

1. A method for operating a microscopy system, the method comprising:

defining a pivot point as an intersection between an optical axis of a microscope of the microscopy system and a reference surface;

operating the microscopy system such that the microscope of the microscopy system moves around the pivot point;

determining a pose of the reference surface in a focal position-independent reference coordinate system independently of a focal position of the microscope; and

storing information about the pose of the reference surface in a retrievable form in a memory,

retrieving the information about the pose of the reference surface to determine the pivot point after a change in a pose of the optical axis of the microscope of the microscopy system, and

wherein the pivot point is determined as the intersection between the optical axis in a current pose and the reference surface defined by the stored information.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pose of the reference surface is defined in an object plane-independent reference coordinate system.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the reference surface is determined by defining at least one reference surface point, with the reference surface being defined as or being arranged in a plane which is oriented perpendicular to the optical axis of the microscope and in which the reference surface point is arranged.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the at least one reference surface point is determined as a focal point set by a user, or

wherein the at least one reference surface point is defined by a positioning of a pose marking instrument, or

wherein the at least one reference surface point is determined based on a position and/or orientation of at least one marker, or

wherein the at least one reference surface point is defined based on a viewing direction detection.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the pose of a reference surface point is defined by changing the pose of an already defined reference surface point.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the pose and/or a shape of the reference surface is defined such that an area encompassed by a situs opening forms the reference surface or is at least partially encompassed by the reference surface.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the situs opening is defined automatically or manually.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein topographical information of a situs is determined, the pose and/or a shape of the reference surface being determined based on this topographical information.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the focal position is changed based on a change in a distance of the microscope from the pivot point.

10. A microscopy system, comprising:

a microscope;

a stand for holding the microscope; and

a controller configured to control the microscopy system,

wherein the microscopy system is operable such that the microscope moves around a pivot point defined as an intersection between an optical axis of the microscope and a reference surface,

wherein a pose of the reference surface is determined in a focal position-independent reference coordinate independently of a focal position of the microscope,

wherein information about the pose of the reference surface is stored in a retrievable form in a memory,

wherein the information about the pose of the reference surface is retrieved to determine the pivot point after a change in a pose of the optical axis of the microscope, and

wherein the pivot point is determined as the intersection between the optical axis in a current pose and the reference surface defined by the stored information.

11. The microscopy system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the pose of the reference surface is defined in an object plane-independent reference coordinate system.

12. The microscopy system as claimed in claim 10 , wherein the microscopy system comprises a device for generating topographical information and/or at least one pose detection device for detecting a pose of a pose marking instrument and/or a marker.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2023
From: PHILIPP, MARKUS; VOIGT, CHRISTIAN
To: CARL ZEISS MEDITEC AG
Reel/Frame 064325/0058 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 211 133.2 · Sep 3, 2020 · national
Continuity (2)
Continuation PCTEP2021074011 · Aug 31, 2021
Related Publication 20230204933A1 · Jun 29, 2023
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