Cable-free medical detection and treatment system

• US 7,294,106 B2
• Filed: 08/19/2004
• Issued: 11/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Original Assignee: Brainlab AG
• Inventors: Birkenbach, Rainer, Müller, Günter
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith; Ruth S.
• Application Number:
  US10/922,046
• Publication Number:
  US 20050033161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 128/904, 128/920, 600/101, 600/300, 600/407, 600/424, 600/427, 600/437, 600/439, 345/7, 345/8
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2055 Optical tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2072 Reference field transducer attached to an instrument or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/378 using ultrasound
• 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 34/30 Surgical robots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/37 Surgical systems with images on a monitor during operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1074 Details of the control system, e.g. user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/10 X-ray therapy; Gamma-ray therapy; Particle-irradiation therapy A61N5/01 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A system for medical detection and treatment comprising a number of treatment and/or detection devices which exchange data with each other within the context of a medical treatment, in particular a surgical or radiotherapeutic and/or radiosurgical operation, wherein the data are exchanged via radio interfaces in and/or on the devices.

Claims

1. A system for medical detection and/or treatment during a medical procedure, comprising a number of medical treatment and/or detection devices each equipped with a wireless transmission interface, and at least two of the treatment and/or detection devices being configured to establish two-way communications with one-another so as to exchange non-tracking data via the wireless transmission interface, said data including medical data and information identifying the device from which the data is transmitted, whereby the data can be correlated to the device from which it originated, wherein the wireless transmission interface includes a radio interface that transmits at an energy level of less than about 1 mW.

2. A system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a medical navigation and tracking system, and wherein at least one device is trackable by the medical navigation and tracking system.

3. A system as set forth in claim 2, wherein said at least one devices is equipped with an arrangement of reference markers for enabling tracking of the respective device'"'"'s spatial position in an operating room by the medical navigation and tracking system.

4. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one of the devices includes a probe whose status can change, and the data includes information regarding the status of the probe.

5. A system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the probe includes a switch, and the data includes the status of the switch.

6. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the number of devices includes one or more of a camera system, a video display, a head-mounted display, a microscope means, an imaging device, a robot, a patient bed, a transport device, an endoscope, and a surgical instrument.

7. A system as set forth in claim 1, comprising a computer-assisted receiving, sending and evaluating unit that carries out recognition regulation and control routines based on the exchanged data, and transmits evaluated data.

8. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said treatment and/or detection devices are operable to directly exchange data with one another.

9. A system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said treatment and/or detection devices are operable to exchange data with one another through an intermediary device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said medical data includes configuration data for configuring the medical treatment and/or detection devices and/or patient data collectable during a medical procedure.

11. A system for medical detection and/or treatment in an operating room, comprising:

a plurality of medical devices each including a wireless communications interface, and at least one of the medical devices including a trackable device for enabling the location of said one medical device in three-dimensional space to be tracked by a medical navigation and tracking system, wherein said at least one and another of the medical devices are operable to establish two-way communications with one another so as to exchange at least non-tracking data, said data including medical data, wherein the wireless communications interface includes a radio interface that transmits at an energy level of less than about 1 mW.

12. A system as set forth in claim 11, wherein said communications includes an identifier that enables each respective communication message to be correlated to the device from which it originated.

13. A system as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a controller operative to coordinate communications between the plurality of medical devices.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein said medical data includes configuration data for configuring the medical treatment and/or detection devices and/or patient data collectable during a medical procedure.