EYEWEAR FOR PATIENT PROMPTING

• US 20100158198A1
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Published: 06/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: JEUNG, Andrew G., MOSTAFAVI, Hassan
• Granted Patent: US 9,119,541 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 378/204
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/113 occurring during breathing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/032 Transmission computed tomography [CT]

Abstract

An apparatus for prompting a patient includes a structure configured to be mounted to a patient support, a screen coupled to the structure, and a projector located at a distance away from the screen. A method of prompting a patient that is being supported on a patient support includes adjusting a position of a screen relative to a projector, the screen having a surface, placing the screen in front of the patient such that the patient can see the surface, and providing an image on the screen using the projector.

Claims

1-25. -25. (canceled)

26. An apparatus for providing information to a patient, comprising:

an eyewear having a screen for viewing by the patient; and

a device located at a distance away from the screen, wherein the device is configured to provide an image for display on the screen of the eyewear for instructing the patient to move a body part.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the device is configured for providing backprojected images.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the device comprises a projector, and wherein the apparatus further comprises a projection screen to which the device is configured to project the image, wherein the screen of the eyewear comprises a mirror surface for displaying a reflection of the image.

29. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen comprises a non-mirror surface.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the device is secured to a patient support.

31. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a focusing device for focusing the image provided by the device.

32. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a processor coupled to the device.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the processor is configured to cause the device to display the image for patient prompting.

34. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the image comprises a visual signal for prompting the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing.

35. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen is translatable relative to the device.

36. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen is rotatable relative to the device.

37. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen includes no more than insubstantial circuitry.

38. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the eyewear comprises a pair of glasses.

39. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the eyewear comprises a goggle.

40. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising a fiber optic for transmitting the image from the device.

41. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the device comprises a projector.

42. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to perform one or both of inhaling and exhaling.

43. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the screen comprises a flat surface.

44. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing such that the breathing corresponds with a process being performed by a treatment device or an imaging device.

45. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing such that the breathing corresponds with a motion of a gantry that rotates around the patient.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the gantry is a part of a CT machine.

47. A method of providing information to a patient that is being supported on a patient support, comprising:

providing an eyewear having a screen for viewing by the patient;

providing an image on the screen using a device, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to move a body part.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the screen comprises a mirror surface.

49. The method of claim 47, wherein the screen does not comprise a mirror surface.

50. The method of claim 47, wherein the image comprises a visual signal for prompting the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing.

51. The method of claim 47, wherein the act of providing the image on the screen of the eyewear comprises projecting the image directly onto the screen of the eyewear.

52. The method of claim 47, wherein the screen includes no more than insubstantial circuitry.

53. The method of claim 47, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing such that the breathing corresponds with a process being performed by a treatment device or an imaging device.

54. The method of claim 47, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to control the patient'"'"'s breathing such that the breathing corresponds with a motion of a gantry that rotates around the patient.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the gantry is a part of a CT machine.

56. The method of claim 47, wherein the image is configured for instructing the patient to perform one or both of inhaling and exhaling.

57. The method of claim 47, wherein the screen comprises a flat surface.

58. The method of claim 47, wherein the eyewear comprises a pair of glasses.

59. The method of claim 47, wherein the eyewear comprises a goggle.

60. The method of claim 47, wherein the act of providing the image on the screen using the device comprises using a fiber optic to transmit the image from the device.

61. The method of claim 47, wherein the device comprises a projector.