Method of remotely controlling devices for endoscopy

• US 7,366,934 B1
• Filed: 09/08/2004
• Issued: 04/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Original Assignee: Stryker Corporation
• Inventors: Hameed, Salmaan, Narayan, Anand, Javadekar, Kiran A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cribbs; Malcolm D
• Application Number:
  US10/937,850
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/500, 713/375, 713/400
• US Class Current: 713/375
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00042 for mechanical operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00045 Display arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for remote control of devices. A remote control device receives a graphical user interface from a controlled device. The graphical user interface is periodically updated with controlled device data. The controlled device data is interrupted by command data from the remote control device. The controlled device responds to the command data and updates the graphical user interface.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

synchronizing a graphical user interface in a wireless control unit with a configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to a base unit of an endoscopic control system, wherein synchronizing the graphical user interface comprises;

downloading files for a graphical user interface corresponding to the base unit;

detecting a first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to the base unit; and

displaying a first set of icons in the graphical user interface corresponding to the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices;

detecting changes in the configuration of the controllable endoscopic devices; and

automatically updating the graphical user interface in the wireless control unit with updated configuration information of the controllable endoscopic devices.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an icon for one controllable device of the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices;

requesting device status information from the base unit; and

displaying controls and device status for the one controllable device corresponding to the selected icon.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

selecting a control for the one controllable device; and

controlling the one controllable device with the wireless control unit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices is changed to a second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices, wherein automatically updating the graphical user interface comprises:

detecting the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices; and

displaying a second set of icons in the graphical user interface corresponding to the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting an icon for one controllable device of the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices;

requesting device status information from the base unit; and

displaying controls and device status in the graphical user interface for the one controllable device corresponding to the selected icon.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

selecting a control for the one controllable device; and

controlling the one controllable device with the wireless control unit.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless control unit is one of a wireless Ethernet control unit, a Bluetooth control unit and a Blackberry control unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the base unit and the controllable endoscopic devices comprise an endoscopic surgery suite.

9. A wireless control unit comprising:

a processor;

a user interface, coupled with the processor, comprising a display device; and

a wireless network adaptor coupled with the processor, to communicate with a base unit of an endoscopic control system, wherein the processor is configured to;

synchronize a graphical user interface on the display device with a configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to the base unit, wherein to synchronize the graphical user interface, the processor is configured to;

download files for a graphical user interface corresponding to the base unit;

detect a first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to the base unit; and

display a first set of icons in the display device for the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices;

receive changes in the configuration of controllable endoscopic devices from the base unit; and

automatically update the graphical user interface in the wireless control unit with updated configuration information of the controllable endoscopic devices.

10. The wireless control unit of claim 9, wherein in response to a user'"'"'s selection of an icon for one controllable device of the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices, the processor is configured to:

request device status information from the base unit; and

display controls and device status for the one controllable device corresponding to the selected icon.

11. The wireless control unit of claim 10, wherein in response to a user'"'"'s selection of a control for the one controllable device, the processor is further configured to control the one controllable device.

12. The remote control unit of claim 9, wherein the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices is changed to a second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices, and wherein to automatically update the graphical user interface, the processor is configured to:

detect the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices; and

display a second set of icons in the display device corresponding to the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices.

13. The wireless control unit of claim 12, wherein in response to a user'"'"'s selection of an icon for one controllable device of the second configuration of controllable devices, the processor is configured to:

request device status information from the base unit; and

display controls and device status for the one controllable device corresponding to the selected icon.

14. The wireless control unit of claim 13, wherein in response to a user'"'"'s selection of a control for the one controllable device, the processor is configured to control the one controllable device.

15. The wireless control unit of claim 9, wherein the wireless network adaptor is one of a wireless Ethernet adaptor, a Bluetooth adaptor and a Blackberry adaptor.

16. The remote control unit of claim 9, wherein the base unit and the controllable endoscopic devices comprise an endoscopic surgery suite.

17. A base unit of an endoscopic control system for controlling devices during an endoscopic medical procedure comprising:

a system processor coupled to one or more controllable endoscopic devices; and

a wireless network interface configured to communicate with a wireless control unit, wherein the system processor is configured to;

detect a first configuration of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices;

synchronize a graphical user interface in the wireless control unit with the first configuration of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices connected to the base unit, wherein to synchronize the graphical user interface with the first configuration of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices, the system processor is configured to download files to the wireless control unit for a graphical user interface corresponding to the base unit, wherein the wireless control unit is configured to display a first set of icons corresponding to the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices; and

automatically update the graphical user interface in response to changes in the configuration of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices.

18. The base unit of claim 17, wherein to automatically update the graphical user interface in the wireless control unit, the system processor is configured to:

detect a change in the configuration of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices from the first configuration to a second configuration; and

notify the wireless control unit of the change from the first configuration to the second configuration, wherein the wireless control unit is configured to display a second set of icons corresponding to the second configuration.

19. The base unit of claim 17, wherein the system processor is configured to receive commands from the wireless control unit to control one of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices in the first configuration.

20. The base unit of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured to receive commands from the wireless control unit to control one of the one or more controllable endoscopic devices in the second configuration.

21. An article of manufacture, comprising a machine-readable storage medium including data that, when read by a machine, cause the machine to perform operations, comprising:

synchronizing a graphical user interface in a wireless control unit with a configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to a base unit of an endoscopic control system, wherein synchronizing the graphical user interface comprises;

downloading files to the wireless control unit for a graphical user interface corresponding to the base unit;

detecting a first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices connected to the base unit; and

displaying a first set of icons in the graphical user interface corresponding to the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices;

detecting changes in the configuration of the controllable endoscopic devices; and

automatically updating the graphical user interface in the wireless control unit with updated configuration information.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 21, wherein the first configuration of controllable endoscopic devices is changed to a second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices, wherein automatically updating the graphical user interface comprises:

detecting the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices; and

displaying a second set of icons in the graphical user interface corresponding to the second configuration of controllable endoscopic devices.