Workflow driven method of performing multi-step medical procedures

• US 8,799,792 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2007
• Issued: 08/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stereotaxis, Inc.
• Inventors: Garibaldi, Jeffrey M., Blume, Walter M., Kastelein, Nathan, Viswanathan, Raju R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ITURRALDE, ENRIQUE W
• Application Number:
  US11/801,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20080058609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 715/705, 715/737, 715/740, 715/761, 715/767
• US Class Current: 715/761
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00017 Electrical control of surgical instruments
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00199 with a console, e.g. a control panel with a display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/2051 Electromagnetic tracking systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/252 indicating steps of a surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/254 being adapted depending on the stage of the surgical procedure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/376 using X-rays, e.g. fluoroscopy
• 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 34/25 User interfaces for surgical systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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 6/02 Arrangements for diagnosis sequentially in different planes; Stereoscopic radiation diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/467 characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/468 allowing annotation or message recording
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/547 involving tracking of position of the device or parts of the device
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/00 Diagnosis using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves imaging of objects using sonar G01S15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/463 characterised by displaying multiple images or images and diagnostic data on one display composite display in devices for short-range imaging with acoustic waves G01S7/52074
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/465 : adapted to display user selection data, e.g. icons or menus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/467 : characterised by special input means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/5238 : for combining image data of patient, e.g. merging several images from different acquisition modes into one image for image registration algorithms G06T7/30
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 : Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/565 : involving data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 : Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for
• 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

A work flow driven method of performing multi-step medical procedures includes displaying the visual displays from separate computer controlled systems on a composite display, and displaying prompts for a plurality of steps of the multi-step medical procedure, and in response to user selection from the prompts, automatically reconfiguring the composite display based in part on the selection. Alternatively the display can be changed in response to user actions other than selection. In other embodiments, the composite display can change automatically to match a planned work flow.

Claims

1. A method of performing a multi-step medical procedure requiring the operation of a plurality of separate computer systems, each accepting inputs and providing a visual display, the method comprising:

displaying the visual displays at least two of the separate computer controlled systems on a composite display;

displaying prompts for a plurality of steps of the multi-step medical procedure; and

in response to user selection of one of the prompts for a particular step that calls for use of one of the separate computer systems, automatically reconfiguring the composite display based at least in part upon the selected prompt to display the associated display of the separate computer system involved in the particular step.

2. A method of conducting a multi-step medical procedure utilizing a plurality of separate computer controlled medical systems, these systems accepting user inputs via input devices and generating an associated visual display, the method comprising:

displaying the associated displays of at least two of the separate medical systems on a composite display;

sequentially displaying prompts for at least some of the steps of the multi-step medical procedure on the composite display, and

if the displayed step involves use of one of the separate computer controlled medical systems, changing the display associated with the involved computer controlled medical system on the composite display to display the associated display of the separate computer system involved in the displayed step.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of changing the display associated with the involved computer controlled medical system comprises adding the display from the involved computer controlled medical system to the composite display.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of changing the display associated with the involved computer controlled medical system comprises highlighting the display from the involved computer controlled medical system on the composite display.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of highlighting the display from the involved computer controlled medical system on the composite display comprises resizing the display on the composite display.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of highlighting the display from the involved computer controlled medical system on the composite display comprises moving the display on the composite display.

7. The method according to claim 2, wherein the prompts comprise an indication of the step to be performed.

8. The method according to claim 2, wherein the prompts comprise an instruction of how to perform the step to be performed.

9. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of displaying the prompts includes displaying controls on the composite display for advancing through a series of prompts.

10. A method of performing a multi-step medical procedure requiring the operation of a plurality of separate computer systems, each accepting inputs and providing a visual display, the method comprising:

displaying the associated displays of at least two of the separate computer controlled systems on a composite display;

displaying prompts for at least the current step of the multi-step medical procedure;

in response to user action, displaying a prompt for the succeeding step and automatically reconfiguring the composite display to display the associated display of the separate computer system involved in the succeeding step.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user action is the completion of the current step.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the user action is the operation of a control indicating the completion of the current step.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of automatically reconfiguring the composite display comprises displaying the display from a separate computer system used in the succeeding step on the composite display.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of automatically reconfiguring the composite display comprises highlighting the display from a separate computer system involved in the succeeding step on the composite display.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of highlighting the display from a separate computer system involved in the succeeding step on the composite display comprises changing the position of the display from the involved separate computer system on the composite display.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of highlighting the display from a separate computer system involved in the succeeding step on the composite display comprises resizing the display from the involved separate computer system on the composite display.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying prompts for at least the current step of the multi-step medical procedure comprises displaying prompts for several successive steps including the current step.

18. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying prompts for at least the current step of the multi-step medical procedure comprises displaying prompts for several successive steps including the current step, and indicating the current step.

19. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of displaying prompts for at least the current step of the multi-step medical procedure comprises displaying prompts for all of the successive steps, and indicating the current step.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of displaying prompts for all of the successive steps comprises displaying the prompts on a scrollable list.