US Patent 7800820 Microscope viewing device

A microscope, e.g., a surgical microscope, includes an image generation device in the light path or light paths of the microscope. Images based on real-time or static data concerning the object in view, e.g., a patient's MRI data and/or parameters of one or more surgical instruments being used to operate on the patient, are projected into the microscope's light path so the surgeon does not need to look away from the surgical field and does not require other personnel to read outloud the settings and data from the machines being used in the surgery.