Research Project: ZEI Vision Science Lab Researches into D Vision in Surgery

T BINGEN/Germany, 02.02.2015.

During microsurgical procedures the surgeon relies on a stereoscopic microscope image in order to see the surgical field with magnification and in three dimensions. In digital systems, however, the need to constantly view a 3D monitor quickly leads to fatigue; this is strenuous on the surgeon. The definition and content of the monitor image do not change in the way to which he or she is accustomed in natural vision. In 2015 a research project is being launched at the ZEISS Vision Science Lab at the University of T bingen with the aim of optimizing 3D vision in microsurgery in such way that the reproduction on the monitor adapts to the surgeons view. The goal: less fatigue, more visual comfort and therefore greater safety in the OR.

Research into the interface between digital systems and human vision

"If we succeed in improving the ergonomics, this will considerably facilitate the surgeons work," says Dr. Siegfried Wahl, Head of the ZEISS Vision Science Lab and Manager of the research project. "This will enable gentler, safer surgery, from which patients will also benefit." Dr. Christopher Hauger is overseeing the project for the ZEISS Medical Technology business group. He envisions long-term benefits that even extend beyond the field of microsurgery: "Natural perception plays a key role in minimizing complications in surgery when using digital systems. Initially, we will concentrate on applications in microsurgery, but we are sure that we will gain important knowledge at the interface between digital systems and human vision that will also be beneficial for other areas."

Interdisciplinary and publicly funded

Focused primarily on T bingen, the project titled "Natural Visual Perception of Intraoperative Image Content in a Digital, Biologically Motivated 3D Presentation System" is partly funded by the ZEISS Medical Technology business group and will run until 2017. It is also funded by the Universities of Stuttgart and T bingen as well as by the German state of Baden-W rttemberg.

The ZEISS Vision Science Lab offers outstanding expertise in the fields of dynamic and 3D vision. Further project partners include the Institute of Computer Engineering in the areas of algorithmics and data processing, and the Institute of Applied Optics of the University of Stuttgart which is concentrating on optical system design and optical metrology.

An important innovation driver of these research efforts is the increasing digitization of the modern world right into our everyday lives. This poses new challenges to human vision. "Our eyes are simply not made for the digital world. If we want to understand and enhance our vision with digital systems, if we wish to visualize information safely and comfortably in such a sensitive area as medicine, we need an interdisciplinary approach," says Project Coordinator Dr. Katharina Rifai. This is why applications specialists, neuroscientists, computer scientists and other experts are all taking part in the project.

Little research has been conducted into many of the fundamental processes involved in vision. The complex interaction between the eye and the brain is far from fully deciphered. Against this background the Vision Care business group opened the ZEISS Vision Science Lab together with the University of T bingen in December 2013. In this interdisciplinary, practice-oriented collaboration ZEISS is conducting basic research into the development of vision, e.g. the interaction of light and the eye in conjunction with perception and image processing.

Joachim Kuss

ZEISS Vision Care

Phone: +49 7361 5578-1295

Fax:

joachim.kuss@zeiss.com

ZEISS

ZEISS is an international leader in the fields of optics and optoelectronics. The about 25,000 employees of ZEISS generated revenue of about 4.3 billion euros in fiscal year 2013/14. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. ZEISS has been contributing to technological progress for more than 160 years. ZEISS develops and produces solutions for the semiconductor, automotive and mechanical engineering industries, biomedical research and medical technology, as well as eyeglass lenses, camera and cine lenses, binoculars and planetariums. ZEISS is present in over 40 countries around the globe with more than 40 production facilities, around 50 sales and service locations and over 20 research and development sites. Carl Zeiss AG is fully owned by the Carl Zeiss Stiftung (Carl Zeiss Foundation).

Vision Care

The Vision Care business group of ZEISS is the one of the worlds leading manufacturers combining ophthalmic expertise and solutions with an international brand. The business group develops and produces instruments and offerings for the entire eyeglass value chain. In fiscal year 2013/14 the business group generated revenue of 761 million euros with around 8,300 employees. The Vision Care business group is represented by Carl Zeiss Vision International GmbH. The Management Board comprises Dr. Raymund Heinen (CEO), Manfred Klingel (COO), Ulrich Krauss (CSO) and Sven Herrmann (CFO).

Number: 0016-2015-ENG EL

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