Carl Zeiss Meditec Ag

Carl Zeiss Meditec Gmbh

Carl Zeiss Surgical Gmbh

Optiscan Pty Ltd.

Werner Nahm

Roland Guckler

Christoph Hauger

Thomas Holzhauer

Joachim Steffen

Helge Jess

Ady Naber

Martin Hacker

Theo Lasser

Gerhard Gaida

Delbert Peter Andrews

Frank Rudolph

Dieter Quendt

Ralf Kuschnereit

Hans-Joachim Miesner

Peter Maxwell Delaney

Marcel Leutenegger

Erica Martin-Williams

Antonio Lopez

Guido Hattendorf

Peter Andrews

Gabor Scharioth

Gundel Papke

Daniel Berwanger

Jana Gieske

Christian Müller

John D Allen

The invention relates to a computer-implemented method () for determining the blood volume flow (I) through a portion (, i=1, 2, 3, . . . ) of a blood vessel () in an operating region () using a fluorophore. A plurality of images (, . . . ) are provided, which are based on fluorescent light in the form of light having wavelengths lying within a fluorescence spectrum of the fluorophore, and which show the portion () of the blood vessel () at different recording times (t, t, t, t, . . . ). By processing at least one of the provided images (, . . . ), a diameter (D) and a length (L) of the portion () of the blood vessel () and also a time interval for a propagation of the fluorophore through the portion () of the blood vessel () are determined, which time interval describes a characteristic transit time (&#x3c4;) for the fluorophore in the portion () of the blood vessel (), in which a blood vessel model (M) for the portion () of the blood vessel () is specified, which blood vessel model describes the portion () of the blood vessel () as a flow channel () having a length (L), having a wall () with a wall thickness (d), and having a free cross section Q. A fluid flow model Mfor the blood vessel model (M) is assumed, which fluid flow model describes a local flow velocity () at different positions over the free cross section Q of the flow channel () in the blood vessel model (M), and a fluorescent light model Mis assumed, which describes a spatial probability density for the intensity of the remitted light at different positions over the free cross section Q of the flow channel () in the blood vessel model (M), which light is emitted by a fluid, which is mixed with fluorophore and flows through the free cross section Q of the flow channel () in the blood vessel model (M), when said fluid is irradiated with fluorescence excitation light. The blood volume flow (I) is determined as a fluid flow guided through the flow channel () in the blood vessel model (M), which fluid flow is calculated from the length (L) and the diameter (D) of the portion () of the blood vessel () and from the characteristic transit time (&#x3c4;) for the fluorophore in the portion () of the blood vessel (), using the fluid flow model Mand the fluorescent light model M.

Computer-implemented method, computer program and surgical system for determining the volumetric flow rate of blood through a portion of a blood vessel in a surgical field

A computer-implemented method determines a geometric feature of a section of a blood vessel in an operating region. An image of the section is provided. An adapted blood vessel model is provided via image processing for the section by adapting a blood vessel model, which describes the section as a flow channel with a wall delimiting the latter and with an axis of symmetry. A centerline of the section of the blood vessel is determined as a contiguous pixel line. A relative spatial position of the side of the wall is ascertained based on the centerline and the image provided. The geometric feature is derived from the adapted blood vessel model. The disclosure also relates to a method for determining the length of a contiguous pixel line in an image and a system for determining a geometric feature of a section of an object.

Computer-implemented method, computer program and diagnostic system, in particular for determining at least one geometric feature of a section of a blood vessel

The invention relates to a system for visualizing characteristic tissue with a colorant in a surgical region. The system contains a detection unit which detects light from at least one object point in the surgical region. The system has a computer unit which is connected to the detection unit and drives a visualization unit which displays an image of an area in the surgical region. The computer unit determines the color coordinate in a color space with respect to the light from a point from the object point in the surgical region. Depending on the position of the color coordinate determined with respect to the object point, the computer unit calculates a color coordinate information ('0', '1') for controlling the visualization unit by comparing information concerning the determined color coordinate of the object point with information concerning a characteristic reference color coordinate.

System for visualizing tissue in a surgical region

An imaging apparatus and method are provided. The probe for an imaging apparatus includes a manually manipulable proximal portion; a straight distal portion with a distal tip for locating at a site to define an observational field; and a curved portion between the proximal portion and the distal portion. The imaging method includes the steps of locating a distal tip of an imaging probe at a site to define an observational field; irradiating the observational field from the distal tip; and collecting a return signal at the distal tip; wherein the probe comprises a manually manipulable proximal portion. The apparatus and method provided herein are useful for various applications including but not limited to endomicroscopy and other microsurgical procedures performed under optical stereoscopic magnified visualization, such as neurosurgery, ENT/facial surgery and spinal surgery.

Imaging method and apparatus

This disclosure generally relates to medical systems and methods. In one aspect of the invention, a method includes determining a fluorescent light intensity at one or more points on each of multiple recorded images, and producing an image based on the determined fluorescent light intensity at the one or more points.

Medical systems and methods

In a system and a method for examining an object containing a fluid liquid, the object is illuminated with measuring light and images are temporarily shortly subsequently recorded. The images are evaluated per pixel to determine perfusion data from a high frequency portion above 1 kHz and to determine further information about properties of the object from a low frequency portion below 100 Hz, such as a degree of oxygenation of hemoglobin, a concentration of hemoglobin or a concentration of ICG. This information determined by evaluation is displayed in a form of an image in superposition with a white light image of the object.

System and method for examining an illuminated object

A surgical microscope for observing an infrared fluorescence includes a camera systemhaving three chips, wherein infrared light emanating from an object is supplied to only one of the three camera chips via a dichroic beam splitter.

Surgical microscope for observing an infrared fluorescence and corresponding method

An arrangement quantitatively determines the blood flow within blood vessels through which blood flows in a volume of a tissue defining a surface. Three-dimensional first image data of a first volume portion of the volume is detected and optical second image data is detected continuously in time of a first surface portion of the surface. A calibrating unit of the arrangement calibrates the relative value of the flow speed and/or the volumetric flow of the blood flowing through the blood vessels disposed directly below the first surface portion based on the absolute values of the flow speed and/or of the volumetric flow of the blood. An output unit outputs the absolute values of the flow speed and/or the volumetric flow of the blood flowing through the blood vessels arranged directly below the first surface portion.

Arrangement and method for quantitatively determining the blood flow within blood vessels

Systems and methods are described for imaging an eye portion or for treating glaucoma in an eye of a patient. In a first step an optical microscopic image of a portion of the eye is acquired. In the optical microscopic image a distinguishable anatomical structure is identified to predict a location of a volume portion to be imaged three-dimensionally. Three-dimensional imaging of the located volume portion is performed by acquiring an optical coherence tomography image of the located volume portion. The volume portion is treated by either directing a laser beam to the volume portion or inserting an implant based on the OCT-image.

Systems and methods for treating glaucoma and systems and methods for imaging a portion of an eye

An ophthalmologic surgical work station has a microscope and a foot switch corresponding thereto. The microscope is connected to the foot switch via a console. The microscope and the foot switch are coarsely prepositioned and a change of the relative position between the microscope and the foot switch with respect to each other is only possible via a fine positioning.

Ophthalmologic surgical work station

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Buehlerzell, Germany

Werner Nahm