Gone are the days of purchasing
surgical microscopes based simply on magnification, illumination, and focusing. When purchasing a new surgical microscope—which can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars—medical centers must now consider a plethora of features, such as balance, stability, positioning, viewing, Image Guided Surgery (IGS) and documentation capabilities, and more. Microscope manufacturers have also improved apochromatically-corrected color, which provides the surgeon a truer color of structures that was not possible previously. Floorstands have also improved to offer smoother, easier movement, often using electromagnetic release for easy positioning. Assisting microscopes have also improved, with some microscopes providing the assistant stereoscopic imaging.
Despite the advancements in the multifarious features of today’s microscopes, however, the primary purpose of the microscope remains the optimization of the surgeon’s view, and therefore optics — i.e., resolution, illumination, and magnification — are still important considerations when purchasing a surgical microscope. But since many manufacturers offer high-quality optics in their microscopes, these other considerations—such as IGS compatibility—play an ever increasingly important role in the purchasing decision.
Three premium surgical microscopes available today are the OPMI Vario/NC33 System from Carl Zeiss, the Leica M520 OH3 from Leica Microsystems, and the ilunas Surgical Microscope from Opto Global.
The OPMI Vario/NC33 system from Carl Zeiss is a compact system that advances Carl Zeiss into the minimally invasive spine market. The OPMI’s apochromatic design delivers improved image quality, resolution, and color fidelity, which bring the deepest anatomical structures into sharp focus. The Varioscope enables the surgeon to move the focal plane up and down without changing lenses. A stereo bridge turns the instrument into a double microscope for both surgeons, which offers optimum viewing of the surgical field. The instrument contains a 1:6 Zeiss zoom lens which features control functions for motorized magnification and focus settings and a Superlux high performance xenon light source.
The OPMI Vario/NC33 also provides the ease of use and compatibility features common in today’s high-end surgical microscopes, such as a graphical touch screen that makes key system settings always instantly visible and easily changeable. The NC33 floorstand is easily balanced via the graphical touch screen and the FlexiTrak mobility system makes moving and repositioning the floorstand almost effortless. Surgeons need only press a key in the handgrip to release or engage the magnetic brakes. Also, the scope takes advantage of the Carl Zeiss Open Interface standard for seamless integration into every major IGS platform.
The Leica M520 OH3 from Leica Microsystems is a premium system ideal for neurosurgery, ENT, and spine surgery and represents the highest standards in quality, such as brilliant optics, superior reach, easy positioning, enormous range of movement, electromagnetic brakes, and IGS compatibility. The intraoperative autobalance feature provides quick and precise correction at anytime with a push of a button. Precision mechanics provide unmatched ease of intraoperative movement. The system boasts a compact design for ease in transport, placement, and storage, and contains six built-in electromagnetic brakes. The system uses a motorized zoom and focus through multifocal lens from 207mm to 470mm and allows for adjustable speed. The instrument contains two independent 300 watt xenon arc-illumination light sources. The stand has a patented advanced movement system that achieves perfect balance in six axes and all angles of the surgical microscope.
The ilunas Surgical Microscope from Opto Global contains world-famous optics that provide exceptional depth of focus, excellent contrast and detail recognition. This system was designed around the demanding needs of the ophthalmic surgeon. The semi-automatic bulb swap mechanism is unique, as is the 60mm illumination field. The apochromatic optics enhance the ability to work in low illumination intensity because of the high light transmission. The system provides stereoscopic imaging for both surgeons and contains a balancing mechanism that allows the instrument to be easily maneuvered. Accessories for videography, photography, and safety filters for the use of 810nm and 532nm lasers are available. The 5-function ergonomic foot pedal allows for full hands-free operation by giving the surgeon control of the important functions of the microscope: focus, zoom, XY, light intensity and light on/off.
These three surgical microscopes are only three examples of the premium systems on the market today that provide a wide range of advanced functions while continuing to improve the most important feature of any surgical microscope: its optics.