Coordinated Control for Multiple Computer-Controlled Medical Systems

• US 20080059598A1
• Filed: 02/02/2007
• Published: 03/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Inventors: Viswanathan, Raju R., Blume, Walter M., Kastelein, Nathan, Garibaldi, Jeffrey M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,244,824 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/208
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/022 Centralised management of display operation, e.g. in a server instead of locally
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2370/24 Keyboard-Video-Mouse [KVM] switch
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2380/08 Biomedical applications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A method of operating a plurality of computer systems includes translating inputs generated by the operation of an input device associated with a first computer into control signals for operating at least one other computer system to operate the at least one other computer system in a corresponding manner.

Claims

1. A method of operating a plurality of computer systems comprising:

translating inputs generated by the operation of an input device associated with a first computer into control signals for operating at least one other computer system to operate the at least one other computer system in a corresponding manner.

2. The method of operating a plurality of computer systems according to claim 1 wherein the input device is a cursor control device.

3. The method of operating a plurality of computer systems according to claim 1 wherein the input device is a key board.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating and transmitting cursor control signals to at least one other computer systems comprises generating control signals that are different from the control signals for the first computer.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of generating and transmitting cursor control signals to at least one other computer systems comprises communicating signals via USB protocol.

6. A method of operating a plurality of computer systems comprising:

translating inputs generated by the operation of a cursor control device to control signals to a first computer to operate the first computer, and generating and transmitting cursor control signals to operate at least one other computer system to operate the at least one other computer system in a corresponding manner.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of generating and transmitting cursor control signals to at least one other computer systems comprises generating control signals that are different from the control signals for the first computer.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of generating and transmitting cursor control signals to at least one other computer systems comprises communicating signals via USB protocol.

9. A method of controlling multiple computer systems running programs with complementary actions, the method comprising accepting inputs from the operation of a cursor control device and operating a first computer in accordance with the accepted inputs to achieve a desired action, and translating the inputs to a second set of inputs to cause at least one other computer to perform a complementary action.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the inputs are translated into USB inputs that cause the least one other computer to perform the complementary action.

11. A method of performing a medical procedure using a plurality of medical systems controlled by one or more separate computer systems, in which at least some of the computer systems have complementary actions, the method comprising:

operating a cursor control device to cause a first computer system to perform a desired action; and

generating a cursor control signal to cause at least one other computer system to perform a complementary action.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of generating a cursor control signal includes using a look-up table to determine the cursor control signal for the at least one other computer system that causes a complementary action to the action performed by the first computer system.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein at least one keystroke on the keyboard generates a control signal for only one of the plurality of separate computer signals.

13. A system for controlling a plurality of separate computer systems via a composite computer,

the system comprising a composite computer, including a processor, display for displaying a display output from the composite computer and each of the separate computer systems, and a keyboard for entering instructions to the composite computer system, the processor of the composite computer system being programmed to generate control signals for each of the separate computer systems based on the keystrokes on the keyboard, at least some of the keystrokes generating control signals for less than all of the plurality of computer systems.

15. A control for operating a plurality of separate computer systems, each having a visual display, the control comprising:

a composite display displaying the visual displays from the separate computer systems;

a processor;

a keyboard;

whereby the processor controls the content of the composite display based upon a procedure workflow connecting a keyboard for entering instructions to the separate computer systems, the processor being programmed to generate control signals for each of the separate computer systems based on the keystrokes on the keyboard.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein at least one keystroke on the keyboard generates a control signal for only one of the plurality of separate computer signals.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the keyboard signals are generated with a USB computer interface for operating the separate computer system.

18. A method of controlling at least one of a plurality of separate computer systems based upon the operation of a master computer system, the method comprising generating synthesized USB control signals for at least one of the plurality of separate computer systems, in response to the operation of the master computer systems.