Abstract: Provided herein are systems and methods to verbally control a host computer for data entry into the computer, such as for electronic medical record data entry. The verbal interface system may be operable to receive, via a connection interface, at least one video capture of the host computer display; analyze the at least one video capture to determine a plurality of data entry fields displayed on the host computer display; receive, via a microphone, a verbal command correlating to at least one of the plurality of data entry fields; and autonomously control the mouse and/or the keyboard to perform mouse and/or text input into the host computer.

Abstract: A clamp for clamping a brain electrode extending through a burr hole formed in a skull of a patient. The clamp includes a first retainer element having a flange extending around an outer end for engaging an outer table of the skull and a jaw extending across the inner end. The clamp includes a second retainer element shaped complementarily to the first retainer element. The second retainer element has a flange extending around an outer end for engaging the outer table of the skull and a jaw extending across the inner end for cooperating with the jaw of the first retainer to clamp the electrode. The clamp has a cap for maintaining the jaws of the first and second retainer elements in cooperation to clamp the electrode adjacent an inner table of the skull. The cap includes an opening for receiving the electrode to hold the electrode against movement.

Abstract: A physician's console display presents physician icons which when selected by a physician causes a processor to execute software program applications stored in the memory device. Each software program accesses a component via a LAN. The components include an electronic health record server, equipment, and a PACS server. Each software program application provides an image generated by its component on the display of the physician's console. The processor executes a remote consultant communication protocol providing selected remote icons to the remote consultant's computer, each selected remote icon corresponding to one of the icons of the physician's console. When a particular remote icon is selected by a consultant via the remote consultant's computer, the remote consultant communication protocol provides the image generated by the component of the physician icon corresponding to the particular remote icon on the display of the remote consultant's computer.

Abstract: An input device for use in controlling medical equipment controlled by a mouse. The device includes an elastic finger cot having an interior sized and shaped for selectively receiving and retaining a user's finger. The device has a light emitting diode for emitting a beam of light to illuminate a selected surface and a light sensor for sensing a light reflected from the selected surface to detect movement of the sensor and finger cot relative to the surface and producing a signal corresponding to the detected movement. The device includes a transmitter for receiving the signal from the light sensor corresponding to the detected movement and generating an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the light sensor signal for receipt by the medical equipment. A power supply connected to the diode, the sensor, and the transmitter provides power. The medical equipment views the input device as the mouse controlling the medical equipment.

Abstract: A system is provided to align a surgical guide instrument over a burr hole in a patient's body. Adjustments of a surgical instrument can be made in x, y, z, and angular directions using the system. An instrument guide unit can include an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into the body of a patient and a base unit operative to be secured to the body near an area in which surgery is to occur. The base unit is coupled to the instrument guide. An adjustment mechanism, coupled to the base unit and the instrument guide, is operative to adjust the instrument guide in lateral directions with respect the surface of the area.

Abstract: A surgical distractor for distracting tissue of a patient to access structure underlying the tissue of the patient. The distractor includes a tube having a distal end adapted for insertion in tissue, a proximal end opposite the distal end, an exterior surface adapted for contacting the tissue, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface defining a hollow interior extending between the distal end and the proximal end for accessing structure underlying the tissue when the distal end is inserted in the tissue. The distractor is adjustable from a reduced configuration, in which the tube has a reduced width sized for inserting the distal end in the tissue, and an expanded configuration, in which the tube has an expanded width greater than the reduced width sized to provide the hollow interior with a size sufficient for accessing the structure underlying the tissue.

Abstract: A system used by a local health care facility to communicate with a remote health care facility via a data communication network. A controller at the local health care facility controls communication on the data communication network, including data communicated between the local health care facility and the remote health care facility. One or more devices located at the local health care facility transmit data to the remote health care facility via the data communication network. Additionally, the one or more devices receive control data via the data communication network and perform one or more functions in response to the received control data.

Abstract: An input device for use in controlling medical equipment controlled by a mouse. The device includes an elastic finger cot having an interior sized and shaped for selectively receiving and retaining a user's finger. The device has a light emitting diode for emitting a beam of light to illuminate a selected surface and a light sensor for sensing a light reflected from the selected surface to detect movement of the sensor and finger cot relative to the surface and producing a signal corresponding to the detected movement. The device includes a transmitter for receiving the signal from the light sensor corresponding to the detected movement and generating an electromagnetic signal corresponding to the light sensor signal for receipt by the medical equipment. A power supply connected to the diode, the sensor, and the transmitter provides power. The medical equipment views the input device as the mouse controlling the medical equipment.

Abstract: A surgical distractor for distracting tissue of a patient to access structure underlying the tissue of the patient. The distractor includes a tube having a distal end adapted for insertion in tissue, a proximal end opposite the distal end, an exterior surface adapted for contacting the tissue, and an interior surface opposite the exterior surface defining a hollow interior extending between the distal end and the proximal end for accessing structure underlying the tissue when the distal end is inserted in the tissue. The distractor is adjustable from a reduced configuration, in which the tube has a reduced width sized for inserting the distal end in the tissue, and an expanded configuration, in which the tube has an expanded width greater than the reduced width sized to provide the hollow interior with a size sufficient for accessing the structure underlying the tissue.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system modifies a reference image data set according to a density image of a body element during a procedure, generates a displaced image data set representing the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure, and compares the density image of the body element during the procedure to the reference image of the body element. The system also includes a display utilizing the displaced image data set generated by the processor to illustrate the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure. Methods relating to the system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A system is provided to align a surgical guide instrument over a burr hole in a patient's body. Adjustments of a surgical instrument can be made in x, y, z, and angular directions using the system. An instrument guide unit can include an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into the body of a patient and a base unit operative to be secured to the body near an area in which surgery is to occur. The base unit is coupled to the instrument guide. An adjustment mechanism, coupled to the base unit and the instrument guide, is operative to adjust the instrument guide in lateral directions with respect the surface of the area.

Abstract: A system is provided to align a surgical guide instrument over a burr hole in a patient's body. Adjustments of a surgical instrument can be made in x, y, z, and angular directions using the system. An instrument guide unit can include an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into the body of a patient and a base unit operative to be secured to the body near an area in which surgery is to occur. The base unit is coupled to the instrument guide. An adjustment mechanism, coupled to the base unit and the instrument guide, is operative to adjust the instrument guide in lateral directions with respect the surface of the area.

Abstract: Generally, the present invention is directed to a method and system for a aligning surgical guide instrument over a burr hole in a patient's body. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a stand-alone instrument guidance unit that is attachable to a patient's skull. Adjustments of a surgical instrument can be made in x, y, z, and angular directions using the system and method of the present invention. In one aspect of the present invention, an instrument guide unit includes an instrument guide for guiding a surgical instrument into the body of a patient and a base unit operative to be secured to the body in an area in which surgery is to occur. The base unit is coupled to the instrument guide. An adjustment mechanism, coupled to the base unit and the instrument guide, is operative to adjust the instrument guide in lateral directions with respect the surface of the area. The adjustment mechanism is operative to adjust the instrument guide in x and y directions.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates an image representing the position of one or more body elements during the procedure using scans generated by a scanner prior or during the procedure. The image data set has reference points for each of the body elements, the reference points of a particular body element having a fixed spatial relation to the particular body element. The system includes an apparatus for identifying, during the procedure, the relative position of each of the reference points of each of the body elements to be displayed. The system also includes a processor for modifying the image data set according to the identified relative position of each of the reference points during the procedure, as identified by the identifying apparatus, said processor generating a displaced image data set representing the position of the body elements during the procedure.

Abstract: A system for indicating a position within an object such as a head of a body of a patient. The position of a tip of a probe relative to a reference is determined. The position of reference points of the object relative to the reference is measured. The determined position is translated into an image coordinate system and an image of the object is displayed.

Abstract: A system for use during a medical or surgical procedure on a body. The system generates a display representing the position of two or more body elements during the procedure based on a reference image data set generated by a scanner. The system produces a reference image of a body elements, discriminates the body elements in the images and creates an image data set representing the images of the body elements. The system produces a density image of the body element. The system modifies the image data set according to the density image of the body element during the procedure, generates a displaced image data set representing the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure, and compares the density image of the body element during the procedure to the reference image of the body element. The system also includes a display utilizing the displaced image data set generated by the processor to illustrate the position and geometry of the body element during the procedure.

Abstract: A networking infrastructure for an operating room, comprising a plurality of medical devices, each device of which is connected through a single communication channel to the network, wherein each device may be controlled through a local interface, or through a remote interface available through the network. Furthermore, the networking infrastructure operates in robust manner with respect to the removal of a communication channel to the network associated with the removal of medical device from the network, or with respect to the addition of a communication channel to the network associated with the addition of a medical device to the network.

Abstract: A method which coordinates proton beam irradiation with an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit to achieve near-simultaneous, noninvasive localization and radiotherapy of various cell lines in various anatomic locations. A reference image of the target aids in determining a treatment plan and repositioning the patient within the MRI unit for later treatments. The patient is located within the MRI unit so that the target and the proton beam are coincident. MRI monitors the location of the target. Target irradiation occurs when the target and the proton beam are coincident as indicated by the MRI monitoring. The patient rotates relative to the radiation source. The target again undergoes monitoring and selective irradiation. The rotation and selective irradiation during MRI monitoring repeats according to the treatment plan.

Abstract: A method which coordinates proton beam irradiation with an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit to achieve near-simultaneous, noninvasive localization and radiotherapy of various cell lines in various anatomic locations. A reference image of the target aids in determining a treatment plan and repositioning the patient within the MRI unit for later treatments. The patient is located within the MRI unit so that the target and the proton beam are coincident. MRI monitors the location of the target. Target irradiation occurs when the target and the proton beam are coincident as indicated by the MRI monitoring. The patient rotates relative to the radiation source. The target again undergoes monitoring and selective irradiation. The rotation and selective irradiation during MRI monitoring repeats according to the treatment plan.

Abstract: A system which coordinates proton beam irradiation with an open magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unit to achieve near-simultaneous, noninvasive localization and radiotherapy of various cell lines in various anatomic locations. A reference image of the target aids in determining a treatment plan and repositioning the patient within the MRI unit for later treatments. The patient is located within the MRI unit so that the target and the proton beam are coincident. MRI monitors the location of the target. Target irradiation occurs when the target and the proton beam are coincident as indicated by the MRI monitoring. The patient rotates relative to the radiation source. The target again undergoes monitoring and selective irradiation. The rotation and selective irradiation during MRI monitoring repeats according to the treatment plan.