Automatic Control of a Medical Device

• US 20080253519A1
• Filed: 02/17/2006
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Martegani, Franco, Fernandez Guerrero, Manuel, Bonfiglio, Silvio, Kramer, Joost
• Granted Patent: US 7,835,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/65
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00216 with eye tracking or head position tracking control
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/00 Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis; Apparatus or devices for radiation diagnosis combined with radiation therapy equipment instruments measuring radiation intensity for application in the field of nuclear medicine, e.g. in vivo counting, G01T1/161; apparatus for taking X-ray photographs G03B42/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/469 for selecting a region of interest [ROI]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/30 Devices for illuminating a surgical field, the devices having an interrelation with other surgical devices or with a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

System and method for automatic control of processes or application, such as the activation or deactivation of a radiation source for medical purposes. The system comprises an operator tracking system arranged to determine the gesture/posture of a user, an evaluation device arranged to evaluate the determined gesture/posture, and an enabling device arranged to enable and disable the radiation source in response to an output of the evaluation device. The operator tracking system may use a gazing direction analysis that may be based on the output of an eye tracking system, or an emitter-receiver arrangement for a directed signal.

Claims

1. System for automatic activation and deactivation of a radiation source for medical purposes, the system comprising an operator tracking system arranged to determine the posture and/or gesture of a user, an evaluation device arranged to evaluate the determined posture/gesture, and a control device arranged to control the radiation source in response to an output of the evaluation device.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the system is of the type which comprises an emitter element for ionising radiation as the radiation source, wherein the ionising radiation passes through part of the anatomy of a patient in order to obtain images for radiology, radiotherapy and the like, and may meet an element which is sensitive to it, including a monitor to display the image picked up by the sensitive element or the image of the patient picked up by a video camera, and incorporating an emission control;

characterised in that it includes in the emission control a device for control by gaze detection as the operator tracking system, in order to control the emission of radiations by means of the natural gesture of the operator directing his gaze in a predetermined direction where there will be located the monitor or some controls and monitoring indicators which are necessary during the emission of the radiation.

3. System according to claim 2, characterised in that the emission control consists of a pedal or switch which can be pressed by the operator, and in that an operating mode selector is associated with the device for control by gaze detection and with the pedal or switch.

4. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the operator tracking system takes the form of a detector of the silhouette of the operator which is based on detectors of position or movement, and of processing by software.

5. System according to claim 4, characterised in that the position and/or movement detectors consist of one or more video cameras, whereas the software processes by seeking in the images obtained the position of a point of reference which is usually situated in the space between the eyebrows of the operator, or identification of the symmetry of his silhouette.

6. System according to claim 2, characterised in that the device for control by gaze detection takes the form of an element which emits a directed signal which is received by an element to receive the signal when the head of the operator doctor is positioned such that he is looking in the predetermined direction.

7. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the emitter element is attached to the head of the operator, whereas the receiver element is positioned in a fixed location.

8. System according to claim 6, characterised in that both the emitter element and the receiver are positioned in locations such that the directed signal emitted by the emitter is detected by the detector when it is reflected on one or more portions of reflective material secured to the head of the operator, when he positions his head such that he is looking in the predetermined direction.

9. System according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the emitter element, receiver, or reflector attached to the head of the operator, is implanted in goggles.

10. System according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the emitter element, receiver, or reflector attached to the head of the operator, is disposed on an adjustable support on the face or forehead of the operator.

11. System according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterised in that there are as many detector and/or emitter elements as necessary, which are for example directed such as to cover all the positions of work of the operator doctor.

12. System according to claim 6, 7, 8, 9, or 10 characterised in that the receiver of the directed signal includes a signal which permits passage only of the signal obtained from the emitter.

13. System according to claim 3, characterised in that the operating mode selector comprises at least four operating modes, i.e. one of maximum safety which requires pressing of the pedal or button and directing of the gaze in the direction predetermined for the emission of radiation;

another, fully automatic mode which requires only directing of the gaze in the direction predetermined for the emission of radiation;

another, deactivation mode which requires only pressing of the button or pedal for the emission of radiation; and

another mode according to which the gaze in the predetermined direction activates the emission of radiation, which continues until it is disconnected by means of the pedal or switch, or automatically if the gaze does not return to the predetermined direction at regular intervals established.

14. System according to claim 13, characterised in that the operating mode selector is used manually.

15. System according to claim 13, characterised in that the operating mode selector is operated by means of combinations of pressing operations carried out on the pedal.

16. System according to claim 3, characterised in that the mode selector comprises certain acoustic and/or optical indicators which are associated with certain operating modes which are used for spatial orientation and/or calibration, in one of which the indicators are made to function when the operator is looking in the predetermined direction, and in the other of which the indicators function when radiation is emitted without the operator looking in the predetermined direction.

17. System according to claim 1, characterised in that it controls indirectly other devices which are synchronised with the emission of the radiation, such as a contrast injector, lighting of the room, control of the video, and display of images, etc.

18. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the device for control by gaze detection optionally includes an adjustable timer to delay the disconnection of the radiation emitter element when the operator looks away from the predetermined direction.

19. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the signal which is emitted by the signal emitter incorporates coding which can be identified by the rest of the system, in order to distinguish it from others, and to permit work by various (doctor) operators jointly and simultaneously in different activations, without interference between them.

20. System according to claim 1, characterised in that it can additionally be implemented for the voice command system.

21. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the directed signal is of an infrared nature.

22. System according to claim 6, characterised in that the directed signal is of an ultrasonic nature.

48. Medical device, comprising a system according to any one of claims 1 to 22, 24 to 37, or 39 to 46.

49. Medical device according to claim 48, further comprising a radiation source and a radiation detector.

50. Medical device according to any one of claims 48 or 49, further comprising a display for images acquired by means of the medical device.

23. Method for automatic activating and deactivating of a radiation source for medical purposes, the method comprising the steps of

determining the posture and/or gesture of a user;

evaluating the determined posture and/or gesture; and

controlling the radiation source in response to a result of the step of evaluating.

24. System for automatic control by gazing, of processes or applications which require visual attention or monitoring, the said processes or applications being of the type which require activation or control of certain elements or stages by means of an electric control unit, only when monitoring is being carried out;

characterised in that it comprises an emitter for a directed signal of a suitable nature which is designed to be picked up by a suitable receiver, when the head of the observer of the system is positioned such that his eyes face a point of reference, the receiver of the said signal being associated with control electronics which form part of the electric control unit which controls the activation or deactivation of the application or process.

25. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the point of reference is located in a monitor which displays the process.

26. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the point of reference is located in some indicators which show parameters of the process.

27. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the point of reference is situated directly in the location of the process.

28. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the signal emitted by the emitter is of an infrared nature.

29. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the signal emitted by the emitter is of an ultrasonic nature.

30. System according to claim 24, characterised in that, in a variant embodiment of the invention, the emitter is fastened to the head of the observer, and the receiver is situated in a fixed location.

31. System according to claim 24, characterised in that, in a variant embodiment of the invention, the receiver is fastened to the head of the observer, whereas the emitter is situated in a fixed location.

32. System according to claim 24, characterised in that, in a variant embodiment of the invention, both the emitter and the receiver are fastened to the head of the observer, whereas an element which reflects the signal is situated in a fixed location.

33. System according to claim 24, characterised in that, in an embodiment of the invention, both the emitter and the receiver are situated in fixed locations, whereas at least one element which reflects the signal is fastened to the head of the observer.

34. System according to claim 30, 31, 32, or 33, characterised in that the emitter, receiver or reflective element is secured to the head of the observer by being integrated in goggles.

35. System according to claim 30, 31, 32, or 33, characterised in that the emitter, receiver or reflective element is secured to the head of the observer by being integrated in an adjustable band to be fastened to the face or forehead of the observer.

36. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the signal can optionally be provided with coding in order to distinguish it in an environment where there are signals of a similar nature, corresponding to implementation in the receiver and/or control electronics of the possibility of identifying the said coded signal.

37. System according to claim 24, characterised in that the receiver can optionally be provided with a filter in order to distinguish other signals with a different wave length from that of the signal emitted by the emitter.

38. Method for automatic control by gazing of processes or applications which require visual attention or monitoring, only when monitoring is being carried out;

the method characterised in that it comprises the steps;

Emitting a directed signal of a suitable nature from an emitter;

Picking up the directed signal by a suitable receiver;

Determining the orientation of the head of the observer of the system;

Determining, whether the observer'"'"'s eyes face a point of reference;

Driving control electronics which form part of an electric control unit which is associated with the receiver and which controls the activation or deactivation of the application or process.

39. System for automatic controlling at least one function of at least one medical device, the system comprising an operator tracking system arranged to determine the posture of an operator of the medical device, an evaluation device arranged to determine whether the determined posture and/or posture indicates that the operator exploits said function of said medical device, and a control device arranged to control the function of the medical device.

40. System according to claim 39, wherein the evaluation device is further arranged to determine whether the posture of the operator indicates that the operator observes a predetermined observation region.

41. System according to any one of claims 39 or 40, wherein the medical device is a radiation emitting medical device.

42. System according to any one of claims 40 to 41, wherein the predetermined observation region is located in a monitor displaying data relating to the medical device.

43. System according to any one of claims 40 to 41, wherein the predetermined observation region is located at the target site of the medical device.

44. System according to any one of claims 40 to 43, wherein the observation region comprises a plurality of sub regions, each sub region being associated with the control of a specific function of the at least one medical device.

45. System according to any one of claims 39 to 44, further comprising an operator command input device and a signal combination device arranged to combine the respective output signals of the evaluation device and the operator command input device.

46. System according to any one of claims 39 to 45, wherein said operator tracking system is or comprises an eye tracking system chosen from a group comprising coil systems, Dual Purkinje systems, Corneal reflection, pupil boundary, and video based systems.

47. Method for automatic controlling at least one function of at least one medical device, comprising the steps of:

Determining by means of an operator tracking system the posture of an operator of the medical device;

Determining by means of an evaluation device, whether the determined posture indicates that the operator exploits said function of said medical device; and

Controlling said function of the medical device by means of a control device.