Imaging device for use in the sterile area for visual monitoring and documentation of a surgical operation

Disclosed is an image pickup device for use in the sterile area for the visual monitoring and documentation of one, to be carried out on the human or animal body surgical operation within a specified operating range, with a camera unit and an image-receiving coupled thereto optics unit which is extracorporeally positionable together with the camera unit that the optical unit defines a receiving area that includes at least the operation area. DOLLAR A The invention is characterized in that the optical unit is configured in the manner of a viewing endoscope that includes at least one optical transmission channel whose distal end opposite the surgical field is spatially positioned extracorporeally that the optical transmission channel is surrounded by a jacket, the thus mechanically is formed stably, that the optical unit on the shell for positioning purposes is operable and that the optics unit in the region of its proximal end being connectable to a positioning and holding device, by means of the optical unit is largely freely pivotable and spatially fixed.