SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SHARING MEDICAL INFORMATION BETWEEN IMAGE-GUIDED SURGERY SYSTEMS

• US 20080235052A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Node-Langlois, Laurent Jacques, von Jako, Ronald Andrew, Hurd, Michael Thomas
• Application Number:
  US11/687,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20080235052A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2065 Tracking using image or pattern recognition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/10 Computer-aided planning, simulation or modelling of surgical operations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/50 for simulation or modelling of medical disorders
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines

Abstract

An expert image-guided surgical system and method for accessing, storing and sharing medical information between expert imaging apparatus for use during the planning and performance of surgical procedures.

Claims

1. An expert image-guided surgery system comprising:

a navigation apparatus;

at least one imaging apparatus coupled to the navigation apparatus for performing imaging of a patient and resulting in a plurality of images of the patient in a surgical region of interest;

at least one computer coupled to the surgical navigation apparatus and the imaging apparatus;

at least one data storage device for storing data;

a communication interface for receiving and transmitting data; and

at least one display for displaying data;

wherein the data includes a plurality of data relating to previous surgical procedures performed on other patients that a surgeon may use for improving the results of similar surgical procedures while planning and/or performing the surgical procedures.

2. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the communication interface is wireless.

3. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one imaging apparatus is an expert imaging apparatus.

4. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 3, wherein the expert imaging apparatus includes a data storage device for storing data and a communication interface for receiving and transmitting data.

5. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the data includes data relating to patient medical records.

6. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer and the at least one data storage device are part of a server in a medical facility.

7. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer searches the plurality of data to find data on similar surgical procedures performed on other patients in its database by doing a comparison of the plurality of patient images and the type of surgical procedure being performed.

8. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 1, wherein the at least one computer has integrated planning software stored thereon for execution by the computer allowing a surgeon to plan and expertly perform a surgical procedure using data relating to similar cases of other patients that the surgeon may use for improving the performance and results of a current surgical procedure.

9. An expert imaging apparatus comprising:

at least one computer;

at least one data storage device for storing data; and

a communication interface for transmitting and receiving data.

10. The expert imaging apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a source.

11. The expert imaging apparatus of claim 10, wherein the source is an X-ray source.

12. The expert imaging apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a detector.

13. The expert imaging apparatus of claim 12, wherein the detector is an X-ray detector.

14. The expert imaging apparatus of claim 9, wherein the communication interface is wireless.

15. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 9, wherein the data includes data relating to patient medical records.

16. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 9, wherein the data includes a plurality of data relating to previous surgical cases of other patients that a surgeon may use for improving the results of similar surgical procedures while planning and/or performing the procedures.

17. The expert image-guided surgery system of claim 9, wherein the at least one computer has integrated planning software stored thereon for execution by the computer allowing a surgeon to plan and expertly perform a surgical procedure using data relating to similar cases of other patients that the surgeon may use for improving the performance and results of a current surgical procedure.

18. A network of expert imaging apparatus comprising:

at least two imaging apparatus, each imaging apparatus having at least one data storage device for storing data, and each imaging apparatus having a network interface for receiving and transmitting data; and

a hub coupled to each imaging apparatus through a communications channel for controlling the transfer of data between the at least two imaging apparatus.

19. The network of expert imaging apparatus of claim 18, wherein the communications channel is wireless.

20. A method for performing image-guided surgery using an expert image-guided surgery system comprising:

transferring data onto the image-guided surgery system;

performing imaging of a patient with an imaging apparatus, resulting in a plurality of images of the patient in a region of interest;

analyzing the plurality of images and selecting data of similar cases of other patients from the data transferred onto the image-guided surgery system;

providing the selected data of similar cases to a user on a display;

reviewing the selected data of similar cases;

performing a surgical procedure; and

adjusting the surgical procedure as necessary, based on the selected data of similar cases.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the expert image-guided surgery system includes a data storage device for storing data and a communication interface for receiving and transmitting data.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the expert imaging apparatus includes a data storage device for storing data and a communication interface for receiving and transmitting data.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the data includes a plurality of data relating to previous surgical cases of other patients that a surgeon may use for improving the results of a similar surgical procedure.

24. A method for performing image-guided surgery using an expert image-guided surgery system comprising:

transferring data onto the image-guided surgery system;

performing imaging of a patient with an imaging apparatus, resulting in a plurality of images of the patient in a region of interest;

analyzing the plurality of images and selecting data of similar cases of other patients from the data transferred onto the image-guided surgery system;

providing the selected data of similar cases to a user on a display;

reviewing the selected data of similar cases;

positioning an implant in the patient;

analyzing the implant position and comparing it to implant position data from the selected data of similar cases; and

adjusting the implant position as necessary, based on the implant position data from the selected data of similar cases.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the implant position data is provided to the user on the display.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the implant position data includes the desired implant position data provided to the user on the display.

27. A method for performing image-guided surgery using a network of expert imaging apparatus comprising:

performing imaging of a patient with an imaging apparatus, resulting in a plurality of images of the patient in a region of interest;

accessing the network of expert imaging apparatus for data relating to previous surgical cases of other patients that a surgeon may use for improving the results of a similar surgical procedure;

analyzing the plurality of images and selecting data of similar cases from the data relating to previous surgical cases of other patients;

providing the selected data of similar cases to a user on a display;

comparing the selected data of similar cases to the surgical procedure being performed; and

adjusting the surgical procedure as necessary, based on the selected data of similar cases.

28. A computer program product for use with a computer, the computer program product comprising a computer-usable medium with computer readable instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor, the computer readable instructions performing a method comprising:

transferring data onto an imaging apparatus;

analyzing a plurality of images taken by the imaging apparatus and selecting data of similar cases of other patients from the data transferred onto the imaging apparatus;

providing the selected data of similar cases to a user on a display;

comparing the selected data of similar cases to the surgical procedure being performed; and

providing suggestions for adjusting the surgical procedure as necessary, based on the selected data of similar cases.