VIDEO OBSERVATION OF A PATIENT'S FACE DURING A MEDICAL PROCEDURE WHILE THE PATIENT IS IN A PRONE POSITION

• US 20090093685A1
• Filed: 10/04/2007
• Published: 04/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dupaco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Dupaco Incorporated
• Inventors: Jordan, Gregory Philip, Vu, An Binh
• Granted Patent: US 8,648,900 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1106 to assess neuromuscular blockade, e.g. to estimate depth of anaesthesia
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4821 Determining level or depth of anaesthesia A61B5/1106 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/70 Means for positioning the patient in relation to the detecting, measuring or recording means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/007 Methods or devices for eye surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/04 Eye-masks ; Devices to be worn on the face, not intended for looking through; Eye-pads for sunbathing eye-bandages A61F13/12; protective face-masks A41D13/11; protectors for shampooing A45D
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/12 Rests specially adapted therefor; Arrangements of patient-supporting surfaces rests for the surgeon A61B90/60; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 13/121 Head or neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/325 prone

Abstract

Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient'"'"'s face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position includes a facial cushion, a video camera and a monitor. The facial cushion provides cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure. The cushion has a frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that the facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position are visible through the at least one aperture. The video camera has a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the facial features that are visible through the frontal aperture. The monitor is coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored. The images are monitored by a video monitor and/or a computer.

Claims

1. Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient'"'"'s face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position, comprising:

a facial cushion for providing cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure, wherein the cushion has at least one frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that at least one facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position is visible through the at least one aperture from beneath the patient;

a video camera having a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the at least one facial feature that are visible through the at least one frontal aperture; and

monitoring means coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored;

wherein the monitoring means includes a computer that is programmed for processing the video signals to detect a change in at least one aspect of the sequential images that exceeds a predetermined threshold.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means includes a video monitor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring means further includes means for alerting a person to a said detected change.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a video recorder coupled to the camera for recording the video signals provided by the camera.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring means is coupled to the video camera by a wireless interface.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one frontal aperture is dimensioned so that at least the eyes of a patient wearing the cushion can be observed through the at least one frontal aperture.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lens is a wide angle lens for providing a relatively undistorted image of a portion of the patient'"'"'s face that extends laterally to fully include both eyes.

18. Apparatus according to claim 1 in combination with:

an audio system for allowing the breathing of a patient to be monitored while the patient is wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position.

19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein the audio system includes a microphone disposed for detecting the breathing of the patient while the patient is wearing the facial cushion and in the prone position.

3. (canceled)

9. Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient'"'"'s face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position, comprising:

a facial cushion for providing cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure, wherein the cushion has at least one frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that at least one facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position is visible through the at least one aperture from beneath the patient;

a video camera having a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the at least one facial feature that are visible through the at least one frontal aperture;

monitoring means coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored; and

a mirrored surface disposed beneath the facial cushion to enable upright individuals standing adjacent to the facial cushion to view images of the features of the patient'"'"'s face that are reflected off of the mirrored surface.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lens is disposed on a platform containing the mirrored surface.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising:

a receptacle disposed for locating the lens in a stable position beneath the frontal aperture of the facial cushion.

12. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lens is disposed amidst the mirrored surface in a position beneath the frontal aperture of the facial cushion.

13. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lens is disposed in a position beneath the frontal aperture of the facial cushion.

15. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

a transparent dome disposed over the lens for shielding the lens from fluids secreted by a said patient wearing the facial cushion and in the prone position above the lens.

16. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

means for holding the lens and the facial cushion in a stationary relationship to one another.

17. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the lens is contained in a casing that has a flat bottom.

14. Apparatus that allows at least one feature of a patient'"'"'s face to be observed while the patient is in a prone position, comprising:

a facial cushion for providing cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure, wherein the cushion has at least one frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that at least one facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position is visible through the at least one aperture from beneath the patient;

a video camera having a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the at least one facial feature that are visible through the at least one frontal aperture; and

monitoring means coupled to the video camera for enabling the images of the at least one facial feature to be monitored;

wherein the lens is disposed at the end of a flexible arm that is attached to means that are stationary in relation to the facial cushion.