Head activated fluoroscopic control

• US 4,975,937 A
• Filed: 03/26/1990
• Issued: 12/04/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claude H. Baines, Jerry L. Horton
• Original Assignee: Claude H. Baines, Jerry L. Horton
• Inventors: Horton, Jerry L., Baines, Claude H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Howell, Janice A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Application Number:
  US07/498,634
• Time in Patent Office: 253 Days
• Field of Search: 378/114, 378/117, 378/99, 378/210, 378/110, 378/108, 378/115, 334/8, 334/13, 334/16, 334/17, 334/29, 334/47, 334/89, 250/338.1, 250/340, 250/341, 250/342, 250/345, 455/603
• US Class Current: 378/114
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/502 Headgear, e.g. helmet, spectacles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4476 related to motor-assisted motion of the source unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/548 Remote control of the apparatus or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0138 comprising image capture systems, e.g. camera
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/014 comprising information/image processing systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2027/0187 slaved to motion of at least a part of the body of the user, e.g. head, eye
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

A head-activated fluoroscopic control which is characterized in a preferred embodiment by a continuous wave infrared transmitter located in a cartridge adapted for attachment to eyeglasses, a headband or other headpiece worn by a surgeon or attending physician and a detector or receiver tuned to the frequency of the continuous wave infrared transmitter for receiving a partially collimated infrared signal beam and activating a fluoroscope. The infrared transmitter emits the collimated beam and the beam is received by the receiver when the surgeon'"'"'s head is turned toward the fluoroscope monitor upon which the receiver rests or in which the receiver is mounted, to facilitate selective operation of the fluoroscope during surgery.

Claims

1. A head activated fluoroscopic control for visually operating fluoroscopic x-ray equipment, comprising transmitter means adapted for disposition on the head of an operator and emitting a beam of electromagnetic radiation at a selected frequency substantially along the line of sight of the operator and receiver means spaced from said transmitter means, said receiver means electrically connected to the fluoroscopic x-ray equipment for receiving said beam of electromagnetic radiation responsive to movement of the head of the operator and operating said fluoroscopic x-ray equipment while said beam of electromagnetic radiation is received by said receiver means.

2. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 1 wherein said electromagnetic radiation further comprises infrared radiation, said transmitter means further comprises an infrared radiation transmitter and said receiver means further comprises a infrared radiation receiver.

3. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means further comprises a transmitter attached to an article of headwear worn by the operator.

4. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 1 wherein said transmitter means further comprises a transmitter removably attached to an article of headwear worn by the operator, electromagnetic radiation further comprises infrared radiation and said receiver means further comprises an infrared radiation receiver.

5. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 3 wherein said headwear further comprises eyeglasses.

6. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 3 wherein said headwear further comprises a headband.

7. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 1 wherein said beam of electromagnetic radiation is at least partially collimated to define a cone of selected proportions.

8. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 4 wherein said infrared radiating is partially collimated to define a cone of selected proportions.

9. A head activated fluoroscopic control for visually operating fluoroscopic x-ray equipment characterized by an x-ray tube and collimation element, an image intensification element and a monitor, said head operated fluoroscopic control comprising transmitter means adapted for removable disposition on the head of an operator and emitting a continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation at a selected frequency substantially along the line of sight of the operator and receiver means spaced from said transmitter means, said receiver means electrically connected to the fluoroscopic x-ray equipment for selectively receiving said continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation responsive to movement of the head of the operator, whereby said fluoroscopic x-ray equipment is operated when the monitor is in said line of sight of the operator and said continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation is received by said receiver means.

11. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 9 wherein said transmitter means further comprises a continuous wave transmitter attached to an article of headwear worn by the operator.

12. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 9 wherein said continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation further comprises a continuous cone-shaped beam of infrared radiation, said transmitter means further comprises a cylindrical transmitter attached to an article Of headwear worn by the operator and said receiver means further comprises an infrared radiation receiver.

13. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 12 wherein said headwear further comprises eyeglasses.

14. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 12 wherein said headwear further comprises a headband.

15. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 9 wherein said continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation is at least partially collimated to define a cone of selected proportions.

16. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 15 wherein said transmitter means further comprises an infrared radiation transmitter said electromagnetic radiation further comprises infrared radiation and said receiver means further comprises an infrared radiation receiver.

17. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 16 wherein said transmitter means further comprises a continuous wave transmitter removably attached to an article of headwear worn by the operator.

10. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim wherein said transmitter means further comprises an infrared radiation transmitter said electromagnetic radiation further comprises infrared radiation and said receiver means further comprises an infrared radiation receiver.

18. A head activated fluoroscopic control for visually operating fluoroscopic x-ray, equipment characterized by an x-ray tube and collimation element, an image intensification element and a monitor, said head operated fluoroscopic control comprising a transmitter removably attached to a headpiece worn by an operator for emitting a continuous cone-shaped beam of infrared radiation substantially along the line of sight of the operator and a receiver spaced from said transmitter, said receiver electrically connected to the fluoroscopic x-ray equipment for receiving said continuous, cone-shaped beam of infrared radiation whereby said fluoroscopic x-ray equipment is operated when the monitor is in said line of sight of the operator and said continuous beam of electromagnetic radiation is received by said receiver.

19. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 18 wherein said headwear further comprises eyeglasses.

20. The head activated fluoroscopic control of claim 18 wherein said headwear further comprises a headband.