Microscope ergonomics

Microelectronics International

ISSN: 1356-5362

Article publication date: 1 April 2001

118

Keywords

Citation

(2001), "Microscope ergonomics", Microelectronics International, Vol. 18 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/mi.2001.21818aad.003

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited


Microscope ergonomics

Microscope ergonomics

Keywords: Vision Engineering, Microscopes, Vision

Vision Engineering Ltd has applied newly patented multilenticular technology to a new device designed to enhance the ergonomics of all conventional binocular microscopes. Vision's Isis accessory fits directly into the microscope's eyepiece tubes to deliver Expanded Pupil technology, offering an exit ray bundle 12 times larger than a traditional eyepiece (Plate 2).

Expanded Pupil technology allows a much greater freedom of operator head movement which can dramatically reduce fatigue. This is achieved by expanding the ray bundle exiting the eyepieces, which results in a fourfold increase in working distance between the operator's eyes and the Isis unit.

Plate 2 Isis ® expanded pupil eypiece accessory

Critically, this increased distance permits users who require corrected vision to continue to wear prescription spectacles or contact lenses while using the microscope. Operators who need reading glasses normally remove them for microscope viewing and must then re-focus at a different distance, which quickly leads to fatigue. Operators with astigmatism fare worse: removing spectacles immediately spoils their vision and even the independent adjustments of conventional microscope eyepieces cannot provide compensation.

The increased working distance offered by Isis also serves to eliminate any physical contact with the instrument, offering distinct hygiene benefits – especially where several operators share one microscope.

The ultimate ergonomic advantage of deploying Isis is the easier use of quality microscope instruments in every application. This results in more efficient operation which, in turn, leads to greater productivity and reduced error rates. In high magnification applications especially, the expanded pupil technology embodied in Vision's Isis accessory significantly improves the viewability of the outer parts of the optical field. Isis eliminates the need for users to precisely align their eye with the centre of each eyepiece. Now, 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 12-times-wider exit ray bundle. Users can simply move their eyes to view the full image area, rather than repositioning their heads or the workpiece to operate within the constraints of a narrow conventional exit field.

Authoritative studies clearly show how microscope operator efficiency can reduce by up to 25 percent near the end of a standard shift, using conventional eyepieces. In addition, the time taken to complete specific tasks degrades by over 50 percent after only four hours. Poor ergonomics leads to body fatigue and eyestrain, especially when coupled with the repetitive nature of shift work.

Mark Curtis, Marketing Director for Vision Engineering Worldwide, has acted on the evidence that ergonomic design plays a key role in efficiency and productivity: "The poor ergonomics of microscopes are primarily dictated by the design of conventional eyepieces. The higher the magnification, the more precise the operator must be in aligning their head and eyes with the instrument – and then keeping still while they view the magnified subjects. As a result, we have designed our new Isis accessory to eliminate this requirement and make using the microscope a more comfortable experience". He believes that the important advances offered by Isis will result in all future quality microscopes being fitted with Isis expanded pupil systems to cut fatigue and to improve operator performance and productivity.

Vision's Isis can be retrofitted to a broad range of quality microscopes. A pair of tiny multilenticular disks spin at high speed to generate the aberration-free, high-clarity expanded pupil image. Coupled with the choice of x 10, x 15 and x 20 Isis eyepieces, operators enjoy an effective axial latitude of 38mm.

Isis is adjustable to suit individuals' inter-pupil distance variations and to provide independent parfocal compensation. In addition, optional graticule modules can be fitted to one of the Isis eyepiece tubes and rotated in situ with a thumbwheel.

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

Further details: Mark Curtis, Vision Engineering: Tel: +44 (0)1483 248300; Fax: +44 (0)1483 248317; E-mail: 100721.1202@compuserve.com

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