Patents by Inventor George Themelis

George Themelis has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 12352947
    Abstract: Examples relate to a microscope, and to an apparatus, method and computer program for a microscope. The microscope comprises a light emission module for providing illumination for a sample of organic tissue in a plurality of wavelength bands. The microscope comprises one or more imaging sensor modules configured to independently sense light in a plurality of mutually separated wavelength bands of the plurality of wavelength bands. The microscope comprises a processing module configured to control the light emission module such, that in a first operating mode light in a first subset of the plurality of wavelength bands is emitted towards the sample of organic tissue, and that in a second operating mode light in a second subset of the plurality of wavelength bands is emitted towards the sample of organic tissue. The first and second subset of wavelength bands are at least partially different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2025
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 12262125
    Abstract: Examples relate to systems, methods and computer programs for a microscope system and for determining a transformation function, and to a corresponding microscope system. The system for the microscope system comprises one or more processors and one or more storage devices. The system is configured to obtain first imaging sensor data from a first imaging sensor of a microscope of the microscope system and second imaging sensor data from a second imaging sensor of the microscope, the first imaging sensor data comprises sensor data on light sensed in a first plurality of mutually separated wavelength bands. The second imaging sensor data comprises sensor data on light sensed in a second plurality of mutually separated wavelength bands. The wavelength bands of the first plurality of mutually separated wavelength bands or of the second plurality of mutually separated wavelength bands are wavelength bands that are used for fluorescence imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2025
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Inventors: George Themelis, Tobias Wilken
  • Patent number: 12156769
    Abstract: Examples relate to a surgical microscope system and a corresponding apparatus, method and computer program. The surgical microscope system comprises one or more sensors for providing sensor information about a balance of the surgical microscope system. The surgical microscope system comprises one or more brakes for holding at least one component of the surgical microscope system in place. The surgical microscope system comprises a surgical microscope. The surgical microscope system comprises a processing module, configured to process the sensor information. The processing module is configured to determine an information about the balance of the surgical microscope system. In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to provide a warning to a user of the surgical microscope system based on the information about the balance of the surgical microscope system. The warning indicates danger of imbalance in the surgical microscope system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 12150720
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical microscope with a field of view and comprising an optical imaging system which images an inspection area which is at least partially located in the field of view, and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope having an optical imaging system. The surgical microscope further comprises a gesture detection unit for detection of a movement of a surgical instrument, the gesture detection unit having a detection zone which is located between the inspection area and the optical imaging system and is spaced apart from the inspection area, and the gesture detection unit being configured to output a control signal to the optical imaging system depending on the movement of the surgical instrument in the detection zone, the optical imaging system being configured to alter its state depending on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11978199
    Abstract: Examples relate to an optical system and to an apparatus, method and computer program for an optical system. The optical imaging system comprises a camera for providing a camera image of a surface of an object. The optical imaging system further comprises one or more measurement modules for performing one or more measurements at one or more points of the surface of the object. The optical imaging system further comprises a display module. The optical imaging system further comprises a processing module configured to obtain the camera image of the surface of the object from the camera. The processing module is configured to obtain the one or more measurements at the one or more points of the surface of the object from the one or more measurement modules. The processing module is configured to determine a spatial location of the one or more points of the surface relative to the camera image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11921275
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an illumination filter system (2) for medical imaging, in particular multispectral fluorescence imaging, as performed e.g. in a microscope (1) or endoscope, such as a surgical microscope, in particular a surgical multispectral fluorescence microscope, comprising a first optical filter (35). The present invention also relates to an observation system (3) for medical imaging, in particular multispectral fluorescence imaging, as performed e.g. in a microscope (1) or endoscope, in particular a multispectral fluorescence microscope, comprising a beam splitter (21) adapted to split a light image (13) into a first light portion (16, 17) along a first light path (18) and a second light portion (20) along a second light path (19).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Manfred Kuster, George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11857164
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method, an image processor (26) and a medical observation device (1), such as a microscope or endoscope, for observing an object (4) containing a bolus of at least one fluorophore (12). The object (4) is preferably live tissue comprising several types (16, 18, 20) of tissue. According to the method, a set (34) of component signals (36) is provided. Each component signal (36) represents a fluorescence intensity development of the fluorophore (12) over time in a different type of tissue. A time series (8) of input frames (10) is accessed, one input frame (10) after the other. The input frames (10) represent electronically coded still images of the object (4) at subsequent time. Each input frame (10) contains at least one observation area (22) comprising at least one pixel (23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11800980
    Abstract: The invention relates to an augmented reality surgical microscope (1) having a camera (2), preferably a multispectral or hyperspectral camera. The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) retrieves input image data (22) of an object (8) comprising in particular live tissue (10). The input image data (22) comprise visible-light image data (26) as well as fluorescent-light image data (24) of at least one fluorophore (14). The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) permits the automatic identification and marking in pseudo-color (86) of various types of vascular plexus structures (54a 54b, 54c) and/or of blood flow direction (56) depending on the fluorescent-light image data (24). A pre-operative three-dimensional atlas (36) and/or ultrasound image data (39) may be elastically matched to the visible-light image data (26). The augmented reality surgical microscope (1) allows different combinations of the various image data to be output simultaneously to different displays (75).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11744653
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical microscope with a field of view and comprising an optical imaging system which images an inspection area which is at least partially located in the field of view, and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope having an optical imaging system. The surgical microscope further comprises a gesture detection unit for detection of a movement of a surgical instrument, the gesture detection unit having a detection zone which is located between the inspection area and the optical imaging system and is spaced apart from the inspection area, and the gesture detection unit being configured to output a control signal to the optical imaging system depending on the movement of the surgical instrument in the detection zone, the optical imaging system being configured to alter its state depending on the control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11663716
    Abstract: Examples relate to an optical imaging system, and to a corresponding apparatus, method and computer program for an optical imaging system. The optical imaging system comprises one or more information sources for providing information about a current orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least a part of an object of interest. The optical imaging system comprises one or more output modules for providing guidance information for a user of the optical imaging system. The optical imaging system comprises a processing module configured to determine information on a desired orientation of the optical imaging system towards at least a part of the object of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE., LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11588986
    Abstract: Examples relate to apparatuses, methods and computer programs for a microscope system, more specifically, but not exclusively, to the use of two optical imaging modules to obtain image data having a first and a second field of view. The apparatus comprises an interface. The interface is suitable for obtaining first image data of a sample from a first optical imaging module. The first image data has a first field of view. The interface is suitable for obtaining second image data of the sample from a second optical imaging module. The second image data has a second field of view. The first field of view comprises the second field of view. The apparatus comprises a processing module. The processing module is configured to generate an image output signal for a display of the microscope system. In some embodiments, the processing module is configured to process the first image data to detect an abnormality outside the second field of view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11536938
    Abstract: Method for automatically setting at least a unit parameter for a medical unit or unit part with parameter values relating to a particular user. According to the method, a user is identified, a corresponding parameter set is selected and unit parameters are set with the selected parameter set. The preceding steps are only implemented when an authentication signal for activating the identification, selection and setting processes is received or present. The authentication signal can be based on use of a user priority database. The invention also relates to a corresponding medical unit and medical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11501427
    Abstract: A medical imaging apparatus (1) and method for imaging a light-sensitive object (2), such as tissue (3) of the eye (4), displays the object (2) in spectral bands (30) of the visible light range (37) in which the object is sensitive and cannot be illuminated. The apparatus (1) has a camera (8) for capturing input images (10) in which a spectral signature (36) of the object is represented by an input set (15) of spectral bands (16). The apparatus generates output images (22) in which the spectral signature (60) in the visible light range (37) is represented by an output set (29) of spectral bands (30). Replacing at least one input-only spectral band (38) in the input set (15) by at least one output-only spectral band (39) in the output set (29) enables capture of input images (10) in spectral bands (16) where the object (2) has less sensitivity, such as in the non-visible light-range (18), and display of the object (2) in spectral bands (30) where the object would be too sensitive for illumination (40).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11494954
    Abstract: Examples relate to an optical system and to a corresponding apparatus, method and computer program. The optical system comprises a display module for providing a visual overlay to be overlaid over an object in an augmented reality or mixed reality environment. The optical system comprises at least one sensor for sensing at least one optical property of the object. The optical system comprises a processing module configured to determine the at least one optical property of the object using the at least one sensor. The processing module is configured to determine a visual contrast between the visual overlay to be overlaid over the object and the object, as perceived within a field of view of the augmented reality or mixed reality environment, based on the at least one optical property of the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11439306
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus (1) and method for automatically determining the blood flow direction (42) in a blood vessel (14) using the fluorescence light from a fluorophore (16). Blood flow direction (42) is determined by first identifying a blood vessel structure (38) in an input frame (6) from a camera assembly (2) using a pattern recognition module (26). Blood flow direction (42) is determined from the spatial gradient (dI/dx) of the fluorescence intensity (I) along the identified blood vessel structure (38) and the temporal gradient (dI/dt). An output frame (48) is displayed on a display (36) with time-varying marker data (52) overlaid on the identified blood vessels structure (38) and representative of the blood flow direction (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11422345
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arm (1) adapted to be attached to a microscope (10), in particular a surgical microscope (10), wherein the arm (1) comprises at a distal end (21) a light beam deflection member (3) or a camera. An inventive microscope (10) comprises an arm (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11379954
    Abstract: A signal to noise ratio adjustment circuit is configured to determine, whether a signal to noise ratio of a first image is below a first threshold and to determine, whether a variation of imaged content between the first image and a preceding second image of a video sequence is below a second threshold. The signal to noise ratio adjustment circuit is further configured to generate a third image having an increased signal to noise ratio as compared to the first image or the second image if the signal to noise ratio is below the first threshold and if the variation is below the second threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Leica Instruments (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11333873
    Abstract: A surgical microscope, a method for observing an object in an observation area during surgery, and a retrofit-kit for a surgical microscope are provided. The surgical microscope includes at least one optical carrier for variably deflecting an observation axis of an optical observation assembly into an optical viewing axis directed towards the observation area. The optical carrier includes at least one optical beam deflector and is arranged between the optical observation assembly and the observation area. The optical carrier further includes a movable range-setting system for supporting the at least one optical beam deflector and for positioning the at least one optical beam deflector at a variable distance from the optical observation assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11330237
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical inspection apparatus (1), such as a microscope or endoscope, and to a medical inspection method such as microscopy or endoscopy. Visible image data (11) representing a visible-light image (49) and fluorescence image data (12) representing a fluorescent-light image (51) and a pseudocolor (70, 71) are merged to give an improved visual rendition of an object (2) which comprises at least one fluorophore (6) to mark special features of the object (2). This is accomplished in that an image processing unit (18) of the microscope (1) or endoscope is configured to compute a color (ro, go, bo) of an output pixel (54) in the pseudocolor image (53) from at least one pseudocolor (rp, gp, bp), a color (ri, gi, bi) of a first input pixel (50) in the visible-light image (49) and an intensity (f) of a second input pixel (52) in the fluorescent-light image (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis
  • Patent number: 11284948
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a surgical microscope (1) with a field of view (9) and comprising an optical imaging system (3) which images an inspection area (11) which is at least partially located in the field of view (9), and to a method for a gesture control of a surgical microscope (1) having an optical imaging system (3). Surgical microscopes (1) of the art have the disadvantage that an adjustment of the microscope parameters, for instance the working distance, field of view (9) or illumination mode, requires the surgeon to put down his or her surgical tools, look up from the microscope's eyepiece (5) and perform the adjustment by operating the microscope handles. Also foot switches and mouth switches where proposed, whereas those are not intuitively operated, require training and are less accurate than hand control of the microscope handles. Thus, the surgeon may lose his or her focus, is confronted with inconveniences and delays and bears an increased risk of contamination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: LEICA INSTRUMENTS (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventor: George Themelis