Abstract: A surgical system for providing an improved video image of a surgical site including a system controller that receives and processes video images to determine a video signature corresponding to a condition that interferes with a quality of the video images, with the system controller interacting with a video enhancer to enhance the video images from a video capturing device to automatically control the video enhancer to enhance the video images. The surgical system can also review the video images for a trigger event and automatically begin or stop recording of the video images upon occurrence of the trigger event.

Abstract: Methods for efficiently processing surgical center workflow procedures. The methods include using optical character recognition for easing an admission process, entering patient information into operating room devices, using a wearable code to obtain a patient record, obtaining a patient record including a safe surgical checklist for review during a surgical procedure, providing a visual indication of information flow out of a medical care area and easily recording information on a whiteboard in the medical care area.

Abstract: An endoscopic system including an endoscope, a light source for the endoscope and at least one image sensor for capturing a plurality of images of a body cavity. The light source is configured to emit light from the endoscope and into the body cavity such that the light is reflected off of a plurality of locations in the body cavity. The system also includes a control system for controlling both the light source and the at least one image sensor to vary parameters of the light source and the at least one image sensor such that the plurality of images have underexposed and overexposed regions. The endoscopic system could alternatively include a variable-attenuator element device adjacent the image sensor and configured to be located between the body cavity and the image sensor for capturing a single clear image with the image sensor.

Abstract: An image capture unit for use in a medical imaging system can be coupled to an endoscopic camera, an external monitor, and a network. The image capture unit includes a touch-screen display to generate a graphical user interface and to receive associated user inputs. The image capture unit receives live video generated by the endoscopic camera, displays the video on the external monitor and/or the display, and stores the live video. The image capture unit can also store the live video in a remote computer system via the network. The image capture unit further can capture and store still images based on the live video and can store the still images in the remote computer system. “One-touch” network login and storage allows these operations to be performed in response to a single touch by the user.

Abstract: A wireless operating room communication system provides wireless transmission of video signals from a wireless camera or a wireless transmitter unit to a portable wireless display unit. A wireless multiple device control unit is in wireless communication with the transmitter unit, the display unit, and a plurality of surgical devices disposed within the operating room. Each of the surgical devices has a video receiver to obtain a video signal to synchronize the devices and units. The video transmitter unit has a video transmitter and the other units or devices have a non-video transmitter. The arrangement enables transmission of device control signals on the same channel as the video signal. In response to changes in bandwidth, the video transmitter unit reduces the video signal to enable transmission thereof to the video display unit, while maintaining robustness of the control signals.

Abstract: An image capture device in an endoscopic imaging system receives a video stream generated by an endoscopic video camera. In response to automatic recognition of a spoken utterance while the video stream is being received from the endoscopic video camera, the image capture device associates with the video stream an annotation that corresponds to the spoken utterance. The image capture device provides the video stream to a display device for display, such that the annotation can be overlaid on one or more frames of the video stream displayed on the display device.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a data acquisition subsystem, a tracking subsystem, a registration subsystem, a data processing subsystem and a user interface subsystem. The data acquisition subsystem inputs intra-operative scan data from a medical scanning device during an endoscopic procedure. The tracking subsystem captures data representing positions and orientations of a flexible endoscope during the endoscopic procedure. The registration subsystem determines transformation parameters for coregistering the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope. The data processing subsystem coregisters the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope based on the transformation parameters and generates real-time image data representing 3D internal views of a body that are coregistered with live video from an endoscopic video camera.

Abstract: An apparatus to provide a regulated pressurized gas for introduction into the body of a patient during a medical procedure comprises an internal flow path through which to convey the pressurized gas, a regulator in the flow path to regulate the pressurized gas, and a biosensor to detect a body substance entering or in proximity to the flow path.

Abstract: A wireless operating room communication system provides wireless transmission of video signals from a wireless camera or a wireless transmitter unit to a portable wireless display unit. A wireless multiple device control unit is in wireless communication with the transmitter unit, the display unit, and a plurality of surgical devices disposed within the operating room. Each of the surgical devices has a video receiver to obtain a video signal to synchronize the devices and units. The video transmitter unit has a video transmitter and the other units or devices have a non-video transmitter. The arrangement enables transmission of device control signals on the same channel as the video signal. In response to changes in bandwidth, the video transmitter unit reduces the video signal to enable transmission thereof to the video display unit, while maintaining robustness of the control signals.

Abstract: A multi-user voice control system for use in endoscopic imaging system includes a first input channel, a second input channel, an automatic speech recognizer (ASR), a control unit, and a selector. The first input channel receives speech of a first user, and the second input channel receives speech of a second user. The ASR recognizes speech received on the first channel and recognizes speech received on the second channel. The control unit enables the voice control system to control a device in the endoscopic imaging system in response to recognized speech. The selector selectively determines whether recognized speech associated with the first channel or recognized speech associated with the second channel is used to control the device, by applying a selection priority to the first and second channels.

Abstract: An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a data acquisition subsystem, a tracking subsystem, a registration subsystem, a data processing subsystem and a user interface subsystem. The data acquisition subsystem inputs intra-operative scan data from a medical scanning device during an endoscopic procedure. The tracking subsystem captures data representing positions and orientations of a flexible endoscope during the endoscopic procedure. The registration subsystem determines transformation parameters for coregistering the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope. The data processing subsystem coregisters the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope based on the transformation parameters and generates real-time image data representing 3D internal views of a body that are coregistered with live video from an endoscopic video camera.

Abstract: An apparatus to provide a regulated pressurized gas for introduction into the body of a patient during a medical procedure comprises an internal flow path through which to convey the pressurized gas, a regulator in the flow path to regulate the pressurized gas, and a biosensor to detect a body substance entering or in proximity to the flow path.

Abstract: A multi-function image capture unit for use in an endoscopic camera system is provided. The image capture unit includes a touch-screen LCD display for generating a graphical user interface and for receiving associated user inputs. The image capture unit is configured to be coupled to an endoscopic camera, an external monitor, and a network. The image capture unit receives live video generated by the endoscopic camera, displays the video on the external monitor and the LCD display, and stores the live video within the image capture unit. Prior to recording, the video is buffered and compressed. The image capture unit can also store the live video in a remote computer system via the network. The image capture unit can also capture and store still images based on the live video as well as store the still images in the remote computer system. “One-touch” network login and storage allows these operations to be performed in response to a single touch by the user.