Spotlight: On Technology And Technique
Seeing What You Need to See (for Less)
A new microscope offers plenty of features at an unusually low price.
BY CHRISTOPHER KENT, SENIOR ASSOCIATE EDITOR 

Many doctors purchase a used microscope for their office or ASC as a way of saving money. Given today's high-quality technology, a used microscope can be every bit as functional as a brand new one, but this strategy has a drawback: If you purchase a used microscope through a broker, you probably won't have any access to technical support or detailed product information.

Carl Zeiss Inc., a company known for the high quality of optics in its instruments, has now created an alternative to buying a used microscope. The new "pico i" microscope (pronounced "peek-oh-eye") is a compact, ergonomic, mobile microscope that provides everything you need for diagnosis and simple procedures in the office, ASC or hospital, at a price typically reserved for a used microscope. (The introductory price will be around $9,700.)

Back to (high-quality) basics

The idea behind the pico i, according to Zeiss, was to create an instrument whose features include "everything you need and nothing you don't." The result is an affordable, well-designed microscope with a wide variety of uses, including:

	The Pico i microscope from Carl Zeiss offers basic, high-quality features in a small, ergonomic, affordable instrument.

• general exams
• corneal flap inspection and treatment of complications following LASIK
• evaluation of foreign bodies
• use during procedures such as lid lesion removal or laceration repair.

The pico i is also designed to be ideal for use in emergency rooms, eliminating the need to move patients who have eye injuries to a different location for an exam and immediate surgical intervention.

Optics and design

In the pico i, Zeiss optics are complemented by focusing flexibility, clever lighting design and user-friendly controls, all intended to reduce eye strain and fatigue during use. Features include:

• optics free of both chromatic and spherical aberration, to ensure a clear image at low or high magnification
• comfortable, high-eyepoint widefield eyepieces and bi-nocular tubes that provide a large field of view for the surgeon
• easy pupillary distance adjustment
• a five-step magnification changer
• a manual fine-focusing objective lens with a range of 13 mm (The control knob can be positioned on either the right or left side.)
• coaxial, fiber optic illumination that provides a bright, homogeneously illuminated field of view. Because the light source isn't inside the microscope, heat buildup isn't a problem.
• a light-intensity control knob located directly above the viewing tube (not on the stand). This allows you to adjust the light to the exact level you need without looking away from the microscope. (See photo, right.)
• a permanent UV filter (406 nm) and a swing-in GG 475 (dark yellow) filter to protect the patient's retina
• one-touch switchover to a backup bulb, if the bulb fails during an exam or procedure (An indicator reminds you that you're now using the backup.)
• an automatic on/off switch for the lightsource. A microswitch located in the arm of the suspension turns the light on and off as the microscope is moved in and out of working position.

Other features and benefits

The pico i also includes:

• fully integrated cabling (no loose cables)
• a movable floor mount (or a wall or ceiling mount)
• friction-based locking mechanisms
• sterilizable caps for all knobs, to protect the patient and minimize wear on the instrument
• ease of mobility. According to Zeiss, the advanced mechanics of the S100 suspension system allow tremendous flexibility for easy, precise positioning of the microscope where you need it. (Also, when mounted on the floor stand, the system can easily be rolled to another room and then locked to prevent further movement.)
• repositionable handgrips to maximize ease of use
• attractive design that blends easily into the surroundings, with an exterior surface that's easy to keep clean
• a compact design that allows maximum eye contact between doctor and patient, and is far less daunting for the patient.

The pico-i also comes with Zeiss's 2-year warranty on parts and labor (with a variety of optional post-warranty plans) and complete after-sale support. According to Zeiss, no other company has a factory-trained field service organization with representatives across the country to provide technical support and service.

The light intensity control knob is placed to allow adjustment during a procedure without looking up from the eyepiece.

The service center is open 24 hours a day, and Zeiss guarantees that a qualified service technician will be working to solve your problem within 4 hours. (Non-repair issues can be handled any time of day or night by your sales rep, or by the Zeiss help desk center during business hours.)

Optional accessories

The pico i microscope is available with numerous optional features. For example, the system can include a single-chip video camera and camera control unit that's fully integrated into the suspension system -- an excellent resource for patient education or documenting findings during an exam. Because the camera is part of the suspension system, no extra structures need to be attached to the instrument, and all cables are routed inside the arm of the suspension system. Camera controls are simple and easy to operate.

Other options include:

• an inclinable binocular tube with a range of 0° to180°
• a T-bar handgrip in front of the microscope body
• moustache handgrips off one or both sides of the body
• an angled optics mount for maximum viewing flexibility
• 10x and 12.5x eyepieces with focusing reticule.

Just right

Zeiss's pico i (part of its OPMI line of microscopes) appears to be a worthwhile alternative to the traditional options of spending a lot for a new microscope or saving money by purchasing a used one. For more information about the OPMI pico i, call Rohini Rebello at (800) 442-4020, extension 7758, or visit www.pico-i.com on the Web. 

Are you aware of new products or technology that have made (or are likely to make) a significant difference in practice? Contact Christopher Kent at kentcx@boucher1.com to find out about possible coverage in a future issue.