Kerstin Pingel

The human skull is an especially delicate area for surgery. To differentiate healthy tissue from tumor cells, or treat an aneurysm for example, the surgeon needs a complete picture of the surgical area. Supplementary information provided by Image Guided Surgery (IGS) or neuro navigation systems, endoscope, and in some cases fluorescence, can support the surgeon’s visualization, insight and intra-surgical orientation. This supplementary visual information is often only viewable on a separate screen, but with image injection technology from Leica it can be overlaid in full high definition (HD) directly into the eyepieces of a surgical microscope.

One of the challenges of neurosurgery is orientation at the surgical site. When resecting tumors, removing arteriovenous malformations, or clipping aneurysms, surgeons often have to work near healthy and functional brain tissue. When resecting the tumor, the challenge is always to spare as much healthy tissue as possible. Neuronavigation technology, also referred to as Image Guided Surgery (IGS) enables surgeons to plan the ideal approach before making a cut and helps to execute that plan by providing intraoperative orientation.

With its high magnification and coaxial illumination, a dental microscope provides enhanced visualization that supports diagnosis and treatment. Its documentation capabilities also play a major role in a modern dental practice by supporting patient consultation. We interviewed Dr. Thorsten Wegner, an endodontist based in Stadthagen, Germany, to find out why he uses the microscope in all aspects of his dental practice.

In endodontics, accurate treatment is not only dependent on the technical skills and knowledge of the dentist, but also on clear, detailed visualization of the surgical field. As the outcome of an endodontic therapy is influenced by many factors that are not visible to the naked eye – e.g. additional root canals or anatomical variations – the high magnification and illumination provided by a dental microscope has become indispensable for both diagnosis and therapy. Today, it is widely agreed that the use of dental microscopes has helped to extend endodontic treatment potential.

Successful refractive surgery is all about accuracy. The aim is to deliver minimal residual astigmatism so the patient can be glasses- free. Latest IOL Positioning Systems such as IOLcompass Pro deliver precise, dependable and dynamically optimized guidance information designed to minimize inaccuracy throughout the entire process. This comparison highlights the impact on a typical cataract surgery using toric IOLs.

In dentistry a bright, magnified view into deep cavities supports detailed diagnosis and precise therapy, particularly in the field of endodontics. In this interview Dr. Dean Raicov explains the benefits of the dental microscope in his practice. Dr. Raicov is a dentist based in Röhrnbach, Germany and specializes in endodontics, parodontology, and prosthetics. He is a member of the European Society of Microscope Dentistry (ESMD) and the German Society of Endodontics and Paradontology.

Today’s automotive industry use a variety of decorative and functional treatment to improve the vehicles surfaces. Traditional quality control methods to inspect these multilayer samples have proven to be extremely time-consuming and bear the risk of missing defects. A new approach combining a target surface system and a light microscope offers new possibilities of speed and reliability. F. Javier Ruiz Balbas, Laboratory Manager at Atotech Spain, explains his experiences with the system.

In dental medicine, the surgical microscope has become increasingly important for high-quality and successful surgeries, particularly in the field of endodontics. A microscope supports the dentist to conduct micro-invasive surgeries which aim to preserve the tooth substance, conserve the tissue, minimize the risks and reduce healing time. To choose the microscope that best fits the dentist’s needs, it is helpful to know some of the decisive features of a modern dental microscope.

Typical ophthalmic procedures require specific levels of light, focus and magnification in each phase of surgery. Changing quickly between these settings is the prerequisite for an uninterrupted and smooth workflow where the surgeon can concentrate completely on his patient. The surgical microscope for ophthalmology Proveo 8 features a unique level of customization that allows to program complete surgical phases and single parameters. Dr. Devesh Varma is one of the first ophthalmologists having tested the Proveo 8 microscope.

3D visualization of microscopic images not only offers advantages for neurosurgery and ophthalmology, but also provides important benefits for ENT surgery and training. In this interview, Prof. Erwin Offeciers talks about his experiences with 3D visualization in ENT surgery. He is head of the European Institute for Otorhinolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery of the Sint-Augustinus Hospital in Antwerp, Belgium, and manages Skillslab, the hospital’s own training center for head and neck surgery, neurosurgery and obstetrics & gynaecology.

In cataract surgery, ophthalmologists rely on the red reflex which provides ideal contrast to visualize the capsule, lens and anterior chamber structure. A new illumination technology in the latest of ophthalmic microscopes now appears to provide great breadth of red reflex enhancement throughout the entire procedure. Dr. Ike Ahmed is one of the first ophthalmologists having tested the Proveo 8 microscope which features the CoAx4 illumination.

A stable red reflex is one of the most important features of an ophthalmic surgical microscope for cataract surgery. It’s the red reflex that makes the structure of the lens visible and thus makes for a uncompromised view for a successful and secure surgery. However, conventional red reflex illumination often decreases during the critical phases of the procedure like phacoemulsification. A new illumination technology with four individual beam paths overcomes these drawbacks.

Neurosurgeons and ophthalmologists deal with delicate structures, deep or narow cavities and tiny structures with vitally important functions. A clear, three-dimensional view on the surgical field is thus indispensable for the outcome of the operation and the patient’s safety. Until now, an increased depth of field for a larger three-dimensional area in focus was only achievable by reducing the resolution. A new technology is able to overcome this challenge.

Pain and muscle tension are common phenomena in a neurosurgeon’s workday: 78% of neurosurgeons surveyed reported pain after a day of surgery, 83% of these had musculoskeletal pain. By its nature, neurosurgery requires compromising positions. However, with a few simple steps and the right ergonomic accessories for the surgical microscope, the working environment in the OR can be made as comfortable as possible.

At the Institut de Minéralogie, de Physique des Matériaux et de Cosmochimie (IMPMC) of the Université Pierre et Marie Curie in Paris an new lab for EM Sample Preparation welcomes researchers of materials sciences and mineralogy: the lab has been equipped with Leica EM TXP target surfacing systems and Leica EM TIC3X ion beam systems.

For some years now, the search for alternative sources of raw materials has concentrated on oil shale deposits. As the exploitation of these raw materials is still extremely complex and expensive, analysis of oil shale samples is therefore extremely important for identifying the deposit’s potential in advance and optimizing mining methods.

If medication and laser techniques have no prospect of success in the treatment of glaucoma, surgery is essential to stop further damage to the optic nerve. A new surgical method is showing promising results for reducing the potential complications of an operation. Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Franz Grehn, Director of Würzburg University Eye Hospital, has developed the new method and produced a video to accompany a clinical comparison study. This film was awarded the Video Award 2013 sponsored by Leica Microsystems at the 111th Congress of the German Ophthalmological Society.

The find of an almost life-sized sandstone statue of a Celtic "prince" in Glauberg in the German state of Hessen marked the beginning of an exciting journey to the early Celtic past of the 5th century BC, an age rich in myths and mystery due to the absence of written records. With their meticulous restoration of the valuable finds under the stereo microscope, restorers are helping to piece together the puzzle of our Celtic ancestors.

In the automobile industry, even the smallest particles on single components can cause malfunctioning. Fuel, lubricant and urea filter systems are particularly vulnerable. Component cleanliness has therefore become a central quality characteristic in the modern manufacturing process, especially when fitting components of various suppliers.

"The lack of pathological examinations is one of the most pressing issues of medical care in developing countries." Dr. Roberto Monaco, pathologist in Neaples, knows the disastrous consequences from his own experience. He is a member of the board of the Italian NGO "Patologi oltre Frontiera" ("Pathologists beyond the Borders") and campaigns in this capacity for the implementation of pathological examinations as the basis for diagnosis and therapy even in the poorest countries.

Operations not only demand maximum concentration of the surgeon but also maximum physical fitness. Physiotherapist John Ludescher explains how the body can be given optimal support to perform at its best. The Austrian qualified as physiotherapist in Switzerland and has had his own practice for nine years. He is the author of the book “Aufrecht – Bewusst – Stark” (Upright – Aware – Strong) and designer of the “PhysioCap”.

Modern image analysis systems perform highly sophisticated image processing functions on images from an automated microscope and digital camera. 50 years ago, the first image analysis system was analogue, based on a video camera and the area measurements could be read from a meter. Nevertheless, it marked the beginning of automation in this field.

Nobody is the same. Whether large or small, well- or slightly built, left- or right-handed, everyone has different demands of the tool they work with for many hours a day. This is particularly true of laboratory workstations, where routine tasks such as pipetting or microscope or microtome work require a static posture.

Every ant has a story to tell. And what better person to tell it than Brian Fisher? Fisher is an entomologist at the California Academy of Sciences and Project Manager of AntWeb.org. The internet portal illustrates the diversity of ants by providing information and high quality color images of many of the approximately 10,000 known species of ants.

“Germanic barbarians defeat super army!” That is the kind of news headline you might have seen in the year 9 AD about the victory of the Germanic tribes over three Roman legions under the command of Publius Quinctilius Varus. The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest is regarded as one of the most momentous battles of antiquity, and for a long time scientists have puzzled over where the fighting may have taken place.