System and method for wearable user interface in computer assisted surgery

• US 20070200863A1
• Filed: 12/28/2005
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Guzman, Jose
• Granted Patent: US 7,810,504 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/581
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00207 with hand gesture control or hand gesture recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/74 Manipulators with manual electric input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A computer assisted surgery system includes a display for visual rendering of surgical data, a processor for receiving a control signal and performing operations associated with the control signal and for controlling the surgical data rendered by the display, and a wearable input device in communication with the processor. The wearable input device in one embodiment includes a mounting surface on a first side of the input device for mounting to a body portion of a user and a sensor assembly located on the side of the input device opposite the mounting surface.

Claims

1. A method of performing a medical procedure comprising:

mounting an input device on a user;

establishing a communications link between the input device and a computer;

placing a light permeable garment over the input device;

sensing with the input device a desired cursor control input through the light permeable material;

generating a cursor control signal based upon the control input; and

controlling the visual rendering on a display based upon the cursor control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein controlling the visual rendering further comprises:

rendering a cursor on the display at a first location based upon the cursor control signal;

rendering a first surgical data in support of a first surgical activity based upon the first location of the cursor;

moving the rendered cursor to a second location in response to a change in the cursor control signal; and

rendering a second surgical data in support of a second surgical activity based upon the second location of the cursor.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the first surgical data comprises a first x-ray of a surgical patient and the second surgical data comprises a second x-ray of the surgical patient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein sensing comprises:

detecting, through the garment, movement of an object.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein detecting further comprises:

comparing a first image of the object with a second image of the object.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein detecting further comprises:

detecting the location of an appendage of the user.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein mounting comprises:

Mounting the input device to the forearm of the user.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

rendering medical data of a patient undergoing surgery based upon the cursor control signal.

10. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 1, wherein the wearable input device comprises an antenna and the control signal is transmitted to the processor using a radio frequency transmitter.

9. A computer assisted surgery system comprising:

a display for visual rendering of surgical data;

a processor for receiving a control signal and performing operations associated with the control signal and for controlling the surgical data rendered by the display; and

a wearable input device in communication with the processor for receiving input from a user wearing the interface device, converting the input into the control signal and transmitting the control signal to the processor.

11. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 9, wherein the wearable input device comprises an optical sensor for providing an output for controlling the position of a cursor rendered on the display.

12. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 11, wherein;

the wearable input device comprises

a first mechanical device used to generate a first mechanical device control signal and

a second mechanical device used to generate a second mechanical device control signal; and

the processor is programmed to perform a first control function based upon the location of the cursor when the first mechanical device control signal is received and to perform a second control function based upon the location of the cursor when the second mechanical device control signal is received.

13. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 9, wherein the wearable input device is configured to be worn upon the forearm of the user.

14. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 9, wherein the wearable input device is configured to be worn upon the chest of the user.

15. A computer assisted surgery system comprising:

a display for visual rendering of surgical data;

a processor for receiving a control signal and performing operations associated with the control signal and for controlling the surgical data rendered by the display; and

a wearable input device in communication with the processor including

a mounting surface on a first side of the input device for mounting to a body portion of a user, and

a sensor assembly located on the side of the input device opposite the mounting surface.

16. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 15, wherein the sensor assembly comprises a control pad including a plurality of mechanical switches.

17. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 15, wherein the sensor assembly comprises:

an energy source for projecting energy in an upwardly direction away from the mounting surface.

18. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 17, wherein the sensor assembly comprises:

a light source; and

a light detecting array.

19. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 18, wherein the input device further comprises:

a first mechanical switch at a first end portion of the input device; and

a second mechanical switch at a second end portion of the input device.

20. The computer assisted surgery system of claim 17, further comprising:

a memory including instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes a description of one or more steps in a surgical procedure to be rendered on the display.