Patents by Inventor Joachim Steffen

Joachim Steffen 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: 9727962
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Roland Guckler, Helge Jess, Joachim Steffen, Werner Nahm
  • Publication number: 20170065172
    Abstract: A surgical microscope for imaging structures of an eye includes: a front optical unit, an illumination device which has an illumination-radiation-emitting illumination source and which illuminates the retina of the eye with an illumination spot via an illumination beam path which extends through the front optical unit, a camera and an adjustable camera optical unit disposed upstream thereof, an imaging beam path which extends through the front optical unit and the camera optical unit, and a control device which controls the camera optical unit and sets the latter in such a way that the retina of the eye in the region of the illumination spot is imaged on the camera. The control device varies a focusing state of the camera optical unit and, as a result thereof, records a plurality of images of the retina in the region of the illumination spot, the images being focused in different depth planes, and establishes a refractive value of the eye from these images.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2016
    Publication date: March 9, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Artur Hoegele, Peter Reimer, Holger Matz, Joachim Steffen
  • Publication number: 20160235276
    Abstract: A visualization system includes a surgical microscope assembly for viewing a surgical region under magnification. The surgical microscope assembly is provided with a computer unit having a display for displaying image data. A detection arrangement is configured to detect endoscopic images in the surgical region and is operatively coupled to the surgical microscope assembly. A circuit actuable by a viewing person is configured to detect actuation data. The circuit is configured to set an operating state of the surgical microscope assembly matched to the detection arrangement in response to a presence of the actuation data for the surgical microscope assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Gerald Panitz, Christoph Hauger, Roland Guckler, Konstantinos Filippatos
  • Publication number: 20160142683
    Abstract: A visualization apparatus for a surgical site includes a recording unit for recording an image of an object arranged in a focal plane of the recording unit. The recording unit has a lens having an optical axis that intersects the focal plane at a point P. An electronic image representation unit has an image surface for reproducing the recorded image and point P is reproduced at image point P?. A mirror unit has a mirror surface, which has a center point S and is arranged relative to the image surface such that the reproduced image is reflected by the mirror surface. The focal plane, image surface and mirror surface are arranged relative to one another such that an observation point B results for which the following applies: ?2 D<?1??2<+2 D; wherein: ?1=?1/d1 ?2=?1/d2 d1=distance PB d2=distance P?S+distance SB.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: Markus Seesselberg, Joachim Steffen, Steffen Siegler, Christian Voigt
  • Patent number: 9279974
    Abstract: A microscopy system method for inspecting a retina of an eye including generating an inverted intermediate image of the retina using an opthalmoscopic lens; detecting a left image of the intermediate image from a left viewing direction and detecting a right image of the intermediate image from a right viewing direction; and displaying an inverted representation of the detected left image to a right eye of a user and displaying an inverted representation of the detected right image to a left eye of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: CARL ZEISS MEDITIC AG
    Inventors: Christian Luecke, Alfons Abele, Dirk Brunner, Frank Rudolph, Fritz Straehle, Joachim Steffen, Michael Wirth
  • Publication number: 20150265463
    Abstract: An ophthalmic device for treating tissue in the anterior of an eye includes a laser for generating a light beam, an optical device for reshaping the light beam into a line focus, wherein a ratio of length to width of the line focus is at least 10, preferably 100, particularly preferably 1000, and an optical system for guiding the light beam to an object plane, in which the tissue to be treated is arrangeable, wherein the laser emits yellow light in a wavelength range between 525 nm and 675 nm, preferably between 550 nm and 610 nm, particularly preferably between 580 nm and 610 nm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Artur Hoegele, Christian Beder, Christoph Hauger, Joachim Steffen, Michael Stefan Rill
  • Publication number: 20150265397
    Abstract: A method for transplanting an endothelial-layer/descemet-layer from a donor organ to a receiver organ include: staining the endothelial-layer/descemet-layer blue in both the donor organ and the receiver organ; making respective incisions of the same diameter into the endothelial-layer/descemet-layer in both the donor organ and the receiver organ using a yellow laser light; preparing the endothelial-layer/descemet-layer from the donor organ and removing the endothelial-layer/descemet-layer within the in particular circular cut in the receiver organ; and, inserting the donor preparation, more particularly circular donor preparation, into the corresponding cutout in the receiver organ. A correspondingly configured surgical microscope is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Joachim Steffen
  • Publication number: 20150265468
    Abstract: A surgical system for opening the lens capsule in an eye includes an application instrument introducible into the anterior chamber of the eye through an incision in the cornea and/or in the sclera. The application instrument has a contact body that is placeable against the anterior capsular wall of the lens capsule of the eye. Light provided by a light source for generating heat in a contact zone of the capsular wall contacting the contact body is appliable to the contact body. The heat has thermal energy that coagulates the biological tissue in the contact zone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Marco Wilzbach, Michael Stefan Rill, Johannes Heinrich Kindt
  • Publication number: 20150265470
    Abstract: A method of performing a capsulotomy comprises applying a light-absorbing agent to a lens capsule of an eye 1; illuminating the lens capsule using a first light beam and recording an image of the lens capsule using a camera 43; analyzing the recorded image and determining whether the light absorbing agent has been correctly applied to the lens capsule; if it is determined that the light absorbing agent has been correctly applied to the lens capsule, directing a shaped second light beam 19 onto a predetermined line on the lens capsule in order to modify a structure of a tissue of the lens capsule. The first light beam can be generated by defocusing the second light beam using a lens 37.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Publication date: September 24, 2015
    Inventors: Marco WILZBACH, Artur HOEGELE, Michael Stefan RILL, Joachim STEFFEN, Frederik SIEGMANN, Johannes Heinrich KINDT
  • Patent number: 8659651
    Abstract: A surgical microscope for observing an infrared fluorescence includes a camera system 25 having three chips, wherein infrared light emanating from an object is supplied to only one of the three camera chips via a dichroic beam splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Helge Jess, Dieter Quendt, Werner Nahm, Joachim Steffen
  • Publication number: 20130307953
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Christoph Hauger, Roland Guckler, Helge Jess, Joachim Steffen, Werner Nahm
  • Patent number: 8520303
    Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has a viewing optic (101, 104, 115) which allows a viewing person to view the enlarged display of an object region (116) in a viewing area (117). The viewing optic (101, 104, 115) has a continuously adjustable magnification system (104) with which a viewing optic adjusting unit (119) is associated. The surgical microscope (100) has an adjustable illuminating system (150), which provides illuminating light (151) for the object region (116), to illuminate the object region in an illuminated area (152) using illuminating light (151) of adjustable radiation intensity. An illumination system control unit (175) is provided in the surgical microscope (100), the control unit being connected to the viewing optic adjusting unit (119) for receiving information as to the adjusted magnification of the viewing optic (101, 104, 115).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Helmut Riesenegger, Klaus Abele, Hartmut Gaertner, Juergen Liegel, Gerhard Herrmann, Juergen Kahler
  • Patent number: 8306600
    Abstract: A filter set for observing fluorescent radiation in biological tissue includes at least one illumination filter and at least one observation filter. The at least one illumination filter is arrangeable in an illumination system of an optical system. The at least one least one observation filter is arrangeable in an imaging system of the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Christoph Hauger
  • Patent number: 8154797
    Abstract: A surgical microscope has an illuminating arrangement for illuminating light in an operating region to be examined with the surgical microscope. The arrangement contains a high-power light source which includes an intensity adjusting device. The device makes possible an adjustment of the intensity of the illuminating light, which is guided to the object region, between a maximum value and a minimum value. The microscope has a control unit for the illuminating arrangement which includes an operator-controlled module via which the illuminating arrangement can be activated and controlled. For adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light guided to the operating region, the control unit coacts with the adjustable filter unit. A signal generator outputs a warning signal when an intensity of the illuminating light is adjusted via the operator-controlled module which exceeds the safety limit value stored in a memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Meditec AG
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Michael Haisch, Frank Rudolph, Martin Schneider, Hans-Joachim Miesner, Nicole Brune
  • Patent number: 8040599
    Abstract: A microscope system is for sequential observation of different fluorescent dyes that are accumulated in a tissue in an object plane. An illumination system and an observation system have at least two operating states. In one operating state, illumination radiation has a spectrum that includes an excitation band of a first fluorescent dye and is partly free from an excitation band of another fluorescent dye. In one operating state of the observation system, observation radiation guided in the first observation optical path has a spectrum in sections of the first observation optical path, which includes a first fluorescence band of the first fluorescent dye, while in another operating state observation radiation has a spectrum in at least some sections which is partly free from the first fluorescence band. A controller is configured to selectively switch the illumination system and the observation system into the first and second operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Helge Jess, Christoph Hauger
  • Publication number: 20110164315
    Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) is especially suited for use in neurosurgery. The surgical microscope has an illuminating arrangement (101) for making available illuminating light in an operating region (117) to be examined with the surgical microscope (100). The illuminating arrangement (101) contains a high-power light source (102) which includes an intensity adjusting device (112). The intensity adjusting device (112) makes possible to adjust the intensity of the illuminating light (116), which is guided to the object region (117), between a maximum value and a minimum value. The surgical microscope (100) has a control unit (170) for the illuminating arrangement (101) which includes an operator-controlled module (172) via which the illuminating arrangement (101) can be activated and controlled. For adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light (116) guided to the operating region (117), the control unit coacts with the adjustable filter unit (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Michael Haisch, Frank Rudolph, Martin Schneider, Hans-Joachim Miesner, Nicole Brune
  • Patent number: 7933066
    Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) is especially suited for use in neurosurgery. The surgical microscope has an illuminating arrangement (101) for making available illuminating light in an operating region (117) to be examined with the surgical microscope (100). The illuminating arrangement (101) contains a high-power light source (102) which includes an intensity adjusting device (112). The intensity adjusting device (112) makes possible to adjust the intensity of the illuminating light (116), which is guided to the object region (117), between a maximum value and a minimum value. The surgical microscope (100) has a control unit (170) for the illuminating arrangement (101) which includes an operator-controlled module (172) via which the illuminating arrangement (101) can be activated and controlled. For adjusting the intensity of the illuminating light (116) guided to the operating region (117), the control unit coacts with the adjustable filter unit (112).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss Surgical GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Michael Haisch, Frank Rudolph, Martin Schneider, Hans-Joachim Miesner, Nicole Brune
  • Publication number: 20110028850
    Abstract: A method for the quantitative representation of the blood flow in a tissue or vascular region is based on the signal of a contrast agent injected into the blood. In the method, several individual images of the signal emitted by the tissue or vascular region are recorded at successive points in time and are stored. Based on the respective signal, a quantity characteristic for the blood flow and a quantity characteristic for the position of the blood vessels are determined for image areas of individual images. These quantities are represented superimposed for the respective image areas such that both the blood flow quantity and the position of the fine blood vessels become clearly visible in the representation and can be differentiated from the tissue.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Schuhrke, Guenter Meckes, Joachim Steffen, Hans-Joachim Miesner, Frank Rudolph, Werner Nahm
  • Patent number: 7846086
    Abstract: A holding apparatus is provided for holding a device to be used under sterile conditions. The apparatus includes a holder unit (1) to which the device (3) is to be fixed. The holder unit (1) has a holder portion for fixing a drape (9) so that a held device (3) and the holder portion are substantially air-tightly enclosed. A cavity (2) in the holder unit (1) has a cavity portion (10) for communicating with an intermediate space between a fixed drape (9) and the device (3). A pumping-out device (15) is in the cavity (2) for pumping air out of the cavity portion and the intermediate space. The cavity portion (10) is sealed in the pumping-out operation to prevent the make-up flow of air out of other regions than the intermediate space between a fixed drape (9) and the device (3) or the holder portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Carlzeiss AG
    Inventors: Roland Brenner, Joachim Steffen, Ottmar Rothaupt
  • Publication number: 20100302629
    Abstract: A surgical microscope (100) has a viewing optic (101, 104, 115) which allows a viewing person the enlarged display of an object region (116) in a viewing area (117). The viewing optic (101, 104, 115) has a continuously adjustable magnification system (104) with which a viewing optic adjusting unit (119) is associated. The surgical microscope (100) has an adjustable illuminating system (150), which provides illuminating light (151) for the object region (116), in order to illuminate the object region in an illuminated area (152) using illuminating light (151) of adjustable radiation intensity. An illumination system control unit (175) is provided in the surgical microscope (100), the control unit being connected to the viewing optic adjusting unit (116, 117) for receiving information as to the adjusted magnification of the viewing optic (101, 104, 115).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Joachim Steffen, Helmut Riesenegger, Klaus Abele, Hartmut Gaertner, Juergen Liegel, Gerhard Herrmann, Juergen Kahler