Abstract: A method of operating a remote medical navigation system using ultrasound, employs ultrasound imaging from a medical device to supplement or to replace conventional x-ray imaging of the operating region during navigation.

Abstract: A system and method of locally displaying multiple items of medical information from at least one remote medical system having an output display. The method includes assembling the multiple items of medical information from the output display of at least one remote medical systems into a composite display having regions corresponding to the multiple items of medical information. Video data for the composite display is communicated over a network to a local display. Video data corresponding to the regions of the display are treated differently to provide a composite display with regions of different image quality.

Abstract: A display for operating a plurality of separate computer systems, each having a visual display. The display includes comprising a composite display, a video system for receiving display input from each of the plurality of separate computer systems and displaying it on the composite display, a processor which controls the content of the composite display based upon a planned procedure workflow.

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.

Abstract: A system of navigating a magnetic medical device within that part of a patient located within an operating region of the system, the system comprising magnets, and preferably electromagnets, arranged to provide a magnetic field sufficient to navigate the magnetic medical device within the operating region. There are preferably three magnetic coils arranged in mutually perpendicular planes such that their axes intersect in the operating region. The magnetic coils are sized and arranged so that a patient can easily access the operating region to allow virtually any portion of the patient to be positioned within the operating region. The openness of the magnetic system allows access to the operating region by a bi-planer imaging system.

Abstract: A consolidated system for performing, recording, and distributing the performance and/or recordation of medical procedures, including a plurality of computer-controlled medical systems each having one or more input devices; and an aggregation system for aggregating information pertaining to a medical procedure and/or pertaining to the use of one or more of the medical systems to perform a medical procedure, the information having a plurality of sources, forms, and formats. The aggregation system is configured to provide a preview of the information to allow a user to combine and/or edit the information and provide transmission of the combined and/or edited information to one or more recipients via a network.

Abstract: A method of operating a plurality of computer systems includes translating inputs generated by the operation of an input device associated with a first computer into control signals for operating at least one other computer system to operate the at least one other computer system in a corresponding manner.

Abstract: 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 including displaying the displays from the separate computer controlled systems on a composite display; and based in part from information from one of the separate computer systems, automatically selecting the next step from a plurality of possible next steps, and displaying a prompt for the automatically selected next step, and automatically reconfiguring the composite display for the automatically selected next step.

Abstract: A method of finding the location of an occluded portion of a blood vessel relative to a three-dimensional angiographic image of a subject's vasculature includes identifying the location of the occluded portion of the blood vessel on each of a series of displayed two dimensional images derived from the three dimensional image data in planes substantially transverse to direction of the occluded portion of the vessel. The identified locations in the occluded portion of the vessel can then be used to determine the path of the occluded portion of the vessel.

Abstract: A guide for controlling the orientation of a medical device includes a cannula having a lumen therein for the medical device, and a guide member having a passage therein for receiving and directing the medical device, the guide member being movably mounted in the cannula for movement. The guide member can be magnetically responsive to an externally applied magnetic field, or can be magnetically responsive to an externally applied magnetic field when a magnetic medical device is in the passage, and/or it can be mechanically responsive.

Abstract: A control for, and method of, operating at least two medical systems, each of which generates its own visual display output and accepts commands from an input device. The control includes a display, having an active display area, and at least one inactive display area, at least one input device which provides inputs to the medical system whose visual display output is being displayed on the active display area, and a controller that automatically selects the medical system whose visual display output is displayed on the active display area.

Abstract: A method of controlling a remote navigation system that remotely orients the distal end of the medical device in order to navigate a medical device through a body lumen, the method comprising: displaying an exterior image of the body lumen; superimposing an indicator of the current position of the medical device in the body lumen; displaying a plurality of segment labels; receiving oral commands and recognizing one of the spoken displayed segment labels; and causing the remote navigation system to orient the distal end of the device in a preselected direction associated with the segment corresponding to the displayed segment label.

Abstract: An integrated control and display system for operating a plurality of separate computer systems each having a visual display, includes at least one cursor control device for seamlessly moving a cursor among the visual displays of the separate computer systems, the cursor control device operating to control the computer system associated with the display on which the cursor appears.

Abstract: A method of navigating a magnet-tipped distal end of an elongate medical device through the body includes providing an image display of the part of the body through which the medical device is being navigated and using the display to input the desired path of the medical device by identifying points on the desired path on the display. The magnetic field needed to orient the end of the medical device in the direction of the desired path as indicated on the display is then determined. In one embodiment where only points on the desired path are identified, the field direction is the direction indicated by the points on the desired path.

Abstract: An integrated control and display system for operating a plurality of separate computer systems each having a visual display, includes at least one cursor control device for seamlessly moving a cursor among the visual displays of the separate computer systems, the cursor control device operating to control the computer system associated with the display on which the cursor appears.

Abstract: A magnetically navigable endoscope system includes an endoscope having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end having a magnetic body; a component which transmits an image, associated with the distal end; a display component for displaying the image; a magnetic field generating apparatus for generating a magnetic field to orient the magnetic body and thus the distal end of the endoscope; and a controller coordinated with the display for controlling the magnetic field generating apparatus to selectively change the magnetic field to change the orientation of the magnetic body and thus the distal end of the endoscope.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: An interface for remotely controlling a medical device in a patient's body provides a two dimensional display of a three dimensional rendering of the operating region, and allows the user to select the orientation or location of the distal end of the medical device on the display and then operate a navigation system to cause the distal end of the medical device to approximately assume the selected orientation or location.

Abstract: A method of performing intra-operative three-dimensional imaging and registering diagnostic functional information to the three-dimensional anatomical data is introduced. The availability of co-registered diagnostic information to intra-operative data enables fast and efficient navigation to pre-selected target areas, and allows automatic or semi-automatic treatment of cardiac cavity or vascular disease.