Cable-free medical detection and treatment system

• US 6,782,285 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 08/24/2004
• 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): SHAW, SHAWNA JEANNINE
• Application Number:
  US09/999,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20020123687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 128/903, 128/904, 600/130, 600/407, 600/425, 600/426, 600/424, 600/427, 600/439, 600/473, 600/476, 600/437, 600/300
• US Class Current: 600/407
• 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 treatment, said system comprising:

a plurality of treatment and/or detection devices, each device including a radio interface; and

a central, computer-assisted receiving, sending and evaluating unit;

wherein the devices exchange data with each other and with the receiving, sending and evaluating unit via wireless radio transmission within the context of a medical treatment;

wherein said receiving, sending and evaluating unit (i) carries out recognition, regulation and control routines based on the exchanged data and (ii) transmits evaluated data; and

wherein one or more of the following devices is/are provided for transmitting video or image signals;

a means for compressing the video or image signal data;

a means for converting said video or image signal data into data signals of a small volume; and

/or

a means for splitting up said video or image signal data and transmitting portions thereof in parallel using multi-channel RF transmission connections.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein radio transmission occurs over short distances within a treatment room in an ISM (industrial, scientific, medical) band, and at low energy, in a high-frequency range.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising a number of treatment and/or detection devices which exchange data with each other within the context of a radiotherapeutic and/or radiosurgical operation, wherein the data is exchanged via radio transmission in a range around 2.4 GHz.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radio transmission takes place in a range of the 900 MHz ISM band.

5. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein one or more of the following devices is/are equipped with radio interfaces for communicating:

an infrared camera system for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

an audio means for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

a video means and video-signal generating means, also head-mounted displays for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

a microscope means for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

an ultrasound detecting means and/or a means for processing detected ultrasound signals for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

a medical robot for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

patient beds for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

medical imaging devices for detecting volume data sets for use intra-operatively, with a medical navigation and tracking system;

AGV devices (Automatic Guided Vehicles;

driverless transport systems);

apparatus and instruments for use with a medical navigation and tracking system;

endoscopes;

C-arc x-ray device and/or fluoroscopy devices.

6. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the devices transfer data concerning their identification and/or detected medical data and/or data concerning their own position or that of other objects.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the system is integrated into a medical navigation and tracking system.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the devices are driven by accumulators or batteries.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the devices are accommodated in a treatment and operating room.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1, including a number of rooms wherein the devices are accommodated, and a radio linking means is provided between said rooms.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the radio transmission takes place in a range between about 5.150 GHz and about 5.875 GHz.