Improve the ergonomics of binocular microscopes

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Apr 10, 2001

An innovative new add-on accessory from Vision Engineering is designed to enhance routine and research microscopes used in demanding laboratory and life sciences applications

Leading edge microscopy specialist, Vision Engineering Ltd, announces an innovative new add-on accessory designed to enhance routine and research microscopes used in demanding laboratory and life sciences applications.

Called Isis, the new device dramatically improves ergonomics and optical performance on a broad range of established stereo and mono binocular microscopes.

Isis replaces conventional eyepieces and is easily retrofitted to existing microscope instruments by simply plugging into the standard eyepiece tubes.

The device uses Vision engineering's newly patented multilenticular optical technology to deliver a bright 'Expanded Pupil' image.

For microscope users in laboratory, cytology and other life science disciplines, the impact of expanded pupil technology combined with high levels of magnification is immediate.

Isis increases the effective distance from the instrument to the user's eyes to a generous 38mm.

As well as significantly improved freedom of head movement for better posture, this distance allows users with corrected vision to continue to wear spectacles.

Glasses are normally removed for conventional eyepiece microscope use, which means the user must re-focus at a different distance.

This quickly leads to eyestrain fatigue.

In addition, Isis enhances the amount of usable optical information available.

Without needing to move their heads - or the subject being studied - users can clearly observe the outer edges of the optical field.

A small movement of the eye no longer means losing part of the field of vision, as the pupil easily stays within the latitude of the twelve-times-wider expanded pupil image.

For life sciences, especially those studying live cultures, Isis delivers one further benefit by eliminating the effects of 'Mouches Volantes'.

Mouches Volantes, or 'floaters' are minute specks of tissue within the human eyeball.

These artefacts appear to move across the field of vision and are accentuated by high magnification viewing, causing a distraction or even confusion with parts of the subject.

The ultimate advantage of deploying Isis is the easier use of quality microscope instruments in every life science application.

Improved ergonomics result in more efficient operation leading to greater productivity and a reduction in errors.

Using conventional eyepieces, authoritative studies clearly show how microscope operator efficiency can reduce by up to 25% near the end of a standard period.

In addition, the time taken to complete specific tasks degrades by over 50% after only four hours.

Mark Curtis, Marketing Director for Vision Engineering Worldwide, believes that the performance and ergonomic advances offered by Isis will result in all future quality laboratory instruments being fitted with Isis expanded pupil systems to reduce fatigue and improve efficiency.

Vision's Isis can be retrofitted to a broad range of quality microscope instruments with installation and set up taking only a few seconds.

Currently, Isis can be hosted by stereoscopic microscope systems from Leica, Motic, Nikon, Olympus, Wild and Zeiss; and by monoscopic routine and research microscopes from Leica, Nikon, Olympus, and Zeiss.

The complete 'plug-and-play' Isis solution is priced at less than UK ?1000 and US $1600.