operating microscope

McMillan, Darren

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Mar 11, 2015, 6:05:18 AM3/11/15

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Hi All,

can anyone provide a test and check procedure for an operating microscopes?

currently ours on a service contract with companies but looking to do the routine maintenance myself.

thanks in advance

Darren

medical physics

Tennant institute of Ophthalmology

Gartnavel Hospital

Glasgow

Scotland

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Robert Martin

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Mar 11, 2015, 7:18:14 PM3/11/15

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Hi Darren,

The type of microscope and level of tech will always be the deciding factor when it comes to a maintenance procedure. Nothing beats spending the money for the service manual and addendums. I've looked after a number of Zeiss and Leica microscopes. The more basic the microscope the easier it is for us to service. Mechanical, Optical, Electronics, Electrical. Verify all mechanical connections and joints. Replace any damaged housing sections as soon as possible. The worse the mic looks, the worse staff treat it. Lubricate if required, especially cabling at major joints in the arm. Check all mechanical and electromagnetic brakes. Check any gas pistons and replace if you have to keep adjusting the tension or if there is chronic drift. Clean and verify the optical path. Check for dust on the lenses and prisms. Check for stripped threads and install heli-coils if necessary. Check function of all accessories and remotes, including functions on all foot control panels. Sometimes the binoculars suffer mechanical shock and the lenses drift. They can be adjusted in the field, but you risk leaving the misaligned lenses or prisms and that can lead to surgeon migraines. Check the integrity of any fiber optic light guide cables. I usually replace the cable if there are 15% damaged fibers, or if the protective jacket has been damaged. Check any laser safety eye protection filters that are installed in the optical path. Verify the operation of any automatic eye protection filters by connecting the laser and test firing to ensure the filter engages and disengages properly. Follow the Verify all controls. Replace any worn actuators and balance motors. Check for overheated connectors, especially in the lamp compartment. Sometimes you can second source the lamps. Not sure about the new LED modules. Verify any built in camera systems and record licenses. I've had the licenses fail and the camera control module had to be replaced and a new license installed. Use your own program to verify programmed functions, since different users can have vastly different settings and controls programmed. Any software issues refer to the OEM immediately. If you cancel a contract, you will lose regular software updates and patches. Also, if you have a heads up system for integration with an image guided system, you may want to discuss service options with the OEM. Finally, electrical safety checks to verify ground impedance and low frequency leakage are within OEM specs and meet your country guidelines. Instead of a full-up gold plan, do a lot of the work yourself and save money. I haven't looked, but have you checked at www.ebme.co.uk ? The Americans have www.ecri.org and they have been working on some generic inspection procedures that may be helpful.

Hope this helps!

Rob Martin

Biomedical Engineering Technologist

Capital Health

Halifax, Canada

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Rob Martin

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Srinivasan

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Mar 12, 2015, 1:01:01 AM3/12/15

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Dear Darren: I would have the following checklist with me for the routine maintenance of an operating microscope.

1.Check the free movement of the microscope as a whole on its wheels. Some times the movement may not be smooth. Remove the dust and lint that may be clogging the wheels, gently lubricate the axle of the wheels, remove excess lubrication

2.Check the key that arrests locks the above movement. Check the locking and unlocking mechanism once or twice and remove any obstruction

3. Check the up down movement of the body of the microscope on the vertical stand.

4. Check the locking mechanism

5. Check the free movement of the arm that carries the microscope (optics) and check its locking mechanism (side ways and up down on the rotating arm)

6. Check the light source assembly. Make sure that all the bulbs ( 2 or 3 as the case may be) are in good condition. Any fused bulb to be replaced,

7. Check the cooling fan and the air vent. Remove dust and accumulated lint

8.Check the on off switch

9. Check that the optic fiber is firmly located (pushed in) at the two ends and make sure the fiber doesn't come in the way of free movement of the arm or gets twisted as the arm is moved

10.Check the X-Y and Up-down movements of the optics of the microscope in response to food pedal operations

11. Check the objective lens. If it requires cleaning clean it using mild soap solution. If is clean don't disturb it. There is no need to remove the objective lens from its position

12. Check the eye piece assembly. Clean the eye piece lenses (outside only) and check the free movement to change the IPD as desired

13. Check the various additions like the beam splitter, the camera attachment, assistants scope etc. Remove them all if they are not to be used and close all ports

14. Use a bag to cover the optics of the microscope when not in use

15. Keep a small bag of silica gel in the vicinity of the microscope

16. Remove the microscope from the operation theatre to a dry room if the theatre is to be washed and cleaned. Shift the microscope in to the theatre only after the theatre is dry.

17. Very rarely the axis of the beam of light that comes out from the optic fiber through the objective lens and axis of the microscope may not be aligned properly. This requires manipulation of certain screws positioning the end of the optic fiber by trial and error. This requires some skill that one can pick up by practice.

Best of luck. V.Srinivasan

McMillan, Darren

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Mar 12, 2015, 5:26:18 AM3/12/15

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Srinivasan & Robin

Thank you so much for your input. as I expected not out with my capabilities. not too dissimilar to slit lamp maintenance.

Robin very good point about software updates as some of the modern ziess scopes do get regular updates.

I do have the luxury of being able to contact the company for repairs if I run into serious difficulty.

thanks again

Darren

From: eye-care-equipm...@googlegroups.com [mailto:eye-care-equipm...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Srinivasan
Sent: 12 March 2015 05:01
To: eye-care-equipm...@googlegroups.com
Subject: [eye-care-equipment-maintainers:309] Re: operating microscope