GB2533923A

GB2533923A - Method and system for generating a control signal for a medical device and an input device for a medical device

Info

Publication number: GB2533923A
Application number: GB1423358.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vandroux Stéphane
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 2014-12-30
Filing date: 2014-12-30
Publication date: 2016-07-13
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-30
Also published as: GB2533923B; GB201423358D0

Abstract

Method and system for generating a control signal for operating a medical device 12 by means of an input device 20 in a determined environment, wherein the input device is adapted to generate instructions for said medical device, the method comprising: - identifying the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment by means of an electronic compass, using the identified orientation of the medical device and the identified orientation of the input device to identify a relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, generating a parameter linked to said relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, using the input device to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, and using the input signal and the parameter to obtain a control signal for the medical device. The method may further comprise forwarding the identified orientation of the medical device to the input device by means of controller area network (CAN) protocol and calibrating the compass to match the identified orientation of the medical device.

Description

Method and System for Generating a Control Signal for a Medical Device and an Input Device for a Medical Device

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for generating a control signal for a medical device. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for generating a control signal for operating a medical device by means of an input device located in a determined environment, wherein the input device comprises an input sensor for generating instructions for the medical device. The present disclosure also relates to a system for generating a control signal for operating a medical device in a determined environment. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to an input device adapted to be used in the method and the system according to the disclosure.

Background

[0002] Medical devices, such as medical imaging devices, are used in combination with many other medical devices. These other devices are, for instance, devices provided with a screen for monitoring data. Other devices include medical instruments like injectors or support devices such as tables. In order to operate the variety of devices, an operator has to use a variety of input devices. Such input devices have the form of a remote control, joystick, a button, or similar input devices. The more devices are used in one single environment, the more difficult the operation of the different devices becomes. A related problem is the relative orientation of a medical device and the input device used to generate instructions for the medical device. If the relative orientation changes, the user can ideally continue to use the input device in an intuitive manner. Situations wherein the change in the relative orientation makes the intended use of the input device more complicated should be avoided. As a consequence, there appears to be a need for intuitive input devices which help operators to interact safely and easily with the medical devices they operate.

Summary of the Invention

[0003] In one aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method for generating a control signal for operating a medical device by means of an input device in a determined environment, wherein the input device is adapted to generate instructions for said medical device, the method comprising: - identifying the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, - identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment by means of an electronic compass, - using the identified orientation of the medical device and the identified orientation of the input device to identify a relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, - generating a parameter linked to said relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, - using the input device to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, and - using the input signal and the parameter to obtain a control signal for the medical device The method can be performed in any order, for example, the identification of the orientation of the input device in the determined environment can be carried out prior to the identification of the orientation of the medical device in said determined environment.

[0004] In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a system for generating a control signal for operating a medical device in a determined environment, the system comprising: - a medical device adapted to receive instructions by means of an input device, -an input device connected to the medical device with an input sensor for generating an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, the input device comprising an electronic compass for identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment, -a processor connected to the input device, the processer being adapted to receive and process: - data relating to the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, - data relating to the orientation of the input device in the determined environment obtained by means of the electronic compass, and - an input signal generated by means of the input sensor to obtain the control signal for the medical device as a result of said processing.

[0005] In a further aspect, the present disclosure is directed to an input device for a medical device, the input device being adapted for use in a determined environment, the input device having an input sensor for generating an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, wherein the input device is provided with an electronic compass to identify the orientation of the input device in said determined environment [0006] At least one of the above embodiments provides one or more solutions to the problems and disadvantages with the background art. Other technical advantages of the present disclosure will be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims. Various embodiments of the present application obtain only a subset of the advantages set forth. No one advantage is critical to the embodiments. Any claimed embodiment may be technically combined with any other claimed embodiment(s).

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007] The accompanying drawings illustrate presently exemplary embodiments of the disclosure and serve to explain, by way of example, the principles of the disclosure.

[0008] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an environment, such as a hospital room wherein an operator interacts with a variety of medical devices, [0009] FIG. 2 shows in a schematical manner, the position and orientation of an input device with respect to a medical device and a table for supporting a person, [0010] FIG. 3 is a schematical drawing of the input device, the medical device and the table according to FIG. 2, wherein the orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device has been altered, [0011] FIG. 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the method according to the

present disclosure.

Detailed Description

[0012] In the present disclosure, the wording "determined environment" is used to indicate the environment wherein the medical device and the input device for the medical device are used. This "determined environment" wherein the medical device and the input device are used, can depend on the type of medical devices that are used. According to the present disclosure the "determined environment" makes reference to the fact that the medical device and the related input device are used in an environment which allows the identification of the location and/or the orientation of at least the medical device in said "determined environment". For instance, in the case that "the determined" environment is an operation room, the orientation of the medical device and the input device can be obtained with respect to the walls of the operation room According to an embodiment of the invention it is possible that the position and the orientation of both the medical device and the input device can be determined in the "determined environment" [0013] In the present disclosure, the word "input device" makes reference to a device which can be used to generate instructions for the medical device. The word "input device" makes reference to, for example, a joystick, an indicator in the form of a stick or pen or, for example, the mouse of a computer. The word "input device" refers to the fact that a movement of the input device or a movement of part of the input device can be translated into a specific instruction for the medical device to which the input device is connected.

[0014] In the present disclosure, the wording electronic compass is used. The words "compass" and "electronic compass" make reference to a magnetometer and in particular a portable or mobile magnetometer or a device which provides a similar functionality.

[0015] In the present disclosure the wording "medical device is used to refer to a device which is typically adapted to be used in a medical environment The wording -medical device" includes devices such as medical imaging devices, devices for monitoring data and other devices like injectors or support devices such as tables or beds.

[0016] In the present disclosure the abbreviation CAN is used. CAN makes reference to communication by means of a CAN bus. The letters CAN stand for "controller area network". CAN bus is a message-based protocol and is specifically adapted and used to allow microcontrollers and devices to communicate with each other without the use of a host computer.

[0017] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a determined environment shown in the form of a room 2 wherein a variety of medical devices is operated by an operator 1 The room 2 is, for instance, a room in a medical institution, such as a hospital The operator 1 is, for instance, a medically skilled person such as a doctor or an assistant.

[0018] In the room 2 a table or support 10 is present which is used for a person or a patient 11. This person 11 could be a patient of which physiological parameters of any type need to be obtained. in the room 2, for instance, a medical device 12 is present for obtaining physiological parameters of a certain type. In order to operate the medical device 12 the operator 1 uses an input device 20. This input device 20 is, for instance, a joystick which is connected to a control unit which is part of the medical device 12 or connected to the medical device 12. The input device 20 is used as a controller for controlling the operating and/or the movement of the medical device 12 in the room 2. The input device 20 can be a wireless input device which can communicate, using a wireless communication protocol, with the medical device 12 or a control device connected to the medical device 12.

[0019] In the room 2 a further medical device 13 is present which can be operated using a further input device (not shown). This further input device could be similar to the input device 20 or could be of a different type. Again, a further input device (not shown) could be used to operate the support 10. It will be understood that the larger the number of medical devices to be operated by the operator 1, the more complicated the operation of the different input devices 20, especially if the operator 1 only uses the different medical devices 10, 12 and 13 occasionally.

[0020] The input device 20 can be used to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device 12. This instruction could, for instance, relate to a required movement of the medical device 12 in the room 2. The instruction could be used to move the second medical device with respect to the person 11, for example to position the medical device 12 correctly with respect to said person 11. A second instruction could include a specific action to be executed by the medical device 12 to measure physiological parameters of the person 11.

[0021] In the example of FIG. 1, the operator 1 uses a joystick 20 to operate the medical device 12, for example to move the second medical device 12 to a required position. Ideally, the instruction provided by means of the joystick 20 will be followed in a logical and intuitive manner by the medical device 12. This means that if the operator 1 moves the joystick in a certain first direction, the medical device 12 should follow the generated instruction by moving in the same first direction. With reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, as an example, a specific use of the joystick for operating the medical device 12 is described.

[0022] In FIG. 2 room 2 is shown schematically in top view. FIG. 2 also shows in top view the input device 20 which has the form of a joystick. If the operator 1 would like to move the medical device 12 with respect to the support 10 the joystick could be used to provide instructions. A joystick movement in a direction indicated with arrow 31 could allow the medical device 12 to move in the direction 41 from right to left as seen in FIG. 2. A movement of the joystick in a direction indicated with arrow 32 could allow the medical device 12 to move in a direction 42 from the top towards the bottom according to FIG. 2. If no specific measures were taken, to allow the operator 1 to move the medical device 12 in an intuitive manner the operator 1 should be positioned correctly with respect to the medical device 12 to guarantee that the movement of the joystick in, for instance, direction 31, will be followed by a movement of the medical device 12 in a parallel direction 41.

[0023] Turning to FIG. 3, room 2 is represented in a further top view whereby the input device 20 has moved its position with respect to the initial position indicated in FIG. 2. A reason for this movement could be that the input device 20 is connected to the operator 1 and that the operator 1 has moved in the room 2. The result is that the input device 20 has rotated over an angle alpha which means that the input device 20 is no longer positioned in line with the medical device 12. If no specific measures were taken, the operator 1, in order to be able to use the joystick 20 in an intuitive manner, should first return to his position as indicated in FIG. 2 or a position parallel to this position to allow the movement of the joystick 20 to be followed by a movement of the medical device 12 in a direction parallel to the movement of the joystick 20.

[0024] According to the present disclosure, the operator 1 can use the input device 20 in an intuitive manner, irrespective of the orientation of the operator 1 or the input device 20. To allow this, the input device 20, according to the present disclosure, is provided with an electronic compass. This electronic compass is adapted to determine the orientation of the input device 20 in the room 2. It is possible to use a reference in the room 2 and to allow the electronic compass to determine its orientation with respect to said reference. According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the electronic compass is adapted to determine the orientation of input device 20 with respect to a medical device 10, 12 or 13 in the room 2. The fact that the electronic compass is adapted to determine the orientation of input device 20, means the system is able to determine the relative position of the input device 20 with respect to a reference position.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the disclosure in a first step, the orientation of the medical device 12, operated by means of the input device 20, is determined. In a further step the orientation of the input device 20 is obtained by means of the electronic compass. It is possible to calibrate the electronic compass using the initial position of the medical device 12. This would mean that the orientation of the input device 20 obtained by means of the electronic compass would relate to a relative orientation of the input device 20 with respect to the orientation of the medical device 12. As an alternative, it is possible that the medical device 12 would be provided with a second electronic compass. In that case, both the orientation of the medical device 12 and the input 20 are obtained by means of an electronic compass.

[0026] Once the orientation of both the medical device 12 and the input device 20 is known, a relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device 12 can be obtained. The relative orientation of the input device 20 with respect to the medical device 12 can be used to correct any instructions generated by means of the input device 20 [0027] Returning to FIG. 3, if the operator 1 would like movement of the joystick 20 in the direction indicated with arrow 33 to be followed by movement of the medical device 12 in a direction 43, the operator 1 does not need to compensate for any orientation, rotation on or displacement of either the operator 1 or the input device 20 with respect to the medical device 12 The correction of any instruction, with the objective of obtaining intuitive use of the input device 20, would be automatic and the movement of the joystick 20 in a direction of arrow 33 would be followed by a movement of the medical device 12 in the direction 43.

[0028] According to the present disclosure, intuitive use of the input device 20 is accomplished by the fact that an instruction for the second medical device 12 comprises two elements. The first element of the instruction for the medical device 12 will be generated by means of the input device 20 wherein, in the example of FIGS. 2 and 3, a movement of a joystick will generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device 12 to move from a first towards a second position. The second element of the instruction is dependent on the relative orientation of the input device 20 with respect to the medical device 12. After the relative orientation between the input device 20 and the medical device 12 is obtained, a parameter will be generated which is linked to said identified relative orientation. The actual control signal to operate the medical device 12 will comprise the input signal created by means of the input device 20 and said parameter relating the relative orientation. The technical effect of the measures is that the input signal generated by means of the input device 20 is automatically compensated for any orientation or displacement of the input device 20, to continue to allow intuitive use of that input device 20.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the disclosure the electronic compass of the input device 20 could continuously generate a parameter linked to the relative orientation of the input device 20 with respect to the medical device 12. Moreover, it would be possible to identify an updated orientation of the medical device 12 in the determined environment. If the medical device 12 comprises an electronic compass, the orientation of the medical device 12 may be obtained continuously by means of said electronic compass [0030] In order to be able to able to execute the method according to the disclosure and to obtain the functionality described with respect to the drawings, a system for generating a control signal for operating a medical device 12 in a determined environment 2, according to the disclosure, comprises at least a medical device 12 adapted to receive instructions generated by means of an input device 20. The system further comprises an input device 20 connected to the medical device 12. The connection could be obtained by means of a wire or could be wireless. In the case of a wireless connection the input device 20 and the medical device 12 should be adapted to communicate by means of an adapted wireless communication protocol. According to the disclosure the input device 20 is provided with an input sensor for generating an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device. The input sensor is able to translate an instruction provided by the operator 1 into an input signal. The input device 20 further comprises an electronic compass for identifying the orientation of the input device 20 in the determined environment 2 wherein the input device 20 is used. The system further comprises a processor connected to the input device 20, wherein the processer is adapted to receive and process data relating to the orientation of the medical device 20 in the determined environment 2, data relating to the orientation of the input device 12 in the determined environment 2 obtained by means of the electronic compass, and to obtain an input signal generated by means of the input sensor. The processor could be physically present in the input device 20 or in the medical device 12 or could be present in a separate device connected to both the input device 20 and the medical device 12. The processor should be adapted to process data, the data relating to the orientation of the medical device 20 in the determined environment 2, the data relating to the orientation of the input device 12 in the determined environment 2 obtained by means of the electronic compass, and an input signal generated by means of the input sensor to obtain, as a result of said processing, the control signal for the medical device.

[0031] In the system according to the disclosure the different devices 12 and 20 could communicate by means of CAN protocol.

[0032] Figure 4 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the method of the present disclosure. According to FIG. 4, in a first step 110 at least the orientation of the medical device is determined in a determined environment [0033] In second step 120, the identified orientation of the medical device and the identified orientation of the input device are used to identify a relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device.

[0034] In a third step 130, a parameter is generated linked to said relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device.

[0035] In a fourth step 140, the input device is used to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device.

[0036] In a fifth step 150, the input signal and the parameter are used to obtain a control signal for the medical device.

[0037] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

LIST OF ELEMENTS

1 = operator 2 = room = first medical device 11 = person, patient 12 = second medical device 13 = further medical device 20 = first input device 31 = first direction for movement joystick 32 = second direction for movement joystick 33 = third direction for movement joystick 34 = fourth direction for movement joystick 41 = first direction for movement medical device 42 = second direction for movement medical device 43 = third direction for movement medical device 44 = fourth direction for movement medical device = first step of method = second step of method = third step of method = fourth step of method 150 = fifth step of method

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. Method for generating a control signal for operating a medical device by means of an input device in a determined environment, wherein the input device is adapted to generate instructions for said medical device, the method comprising: - identifying the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, - identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment by means of an electronic compass, -using the identified orientation of the medical device and the identified orientation of the input device to identify a relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, - generating a parameter linked to said relative orientation of the nput device with respect to the medical device, -using the input device to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, and - using the input signal and the parameter to obtain a control signal for the medical device.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises, after the identification of the position and the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment: - forwarding the identified orientation of the medical device in the determined environment to the input device, and -calibrating the electronic compass to match the identified orientation of the medical device.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the method comprises: - identifying an updated orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, - identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment by means of an electronic compass, - using the identified updated orientation of the medical device and the identified orientation of the input device to identify an updated relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device.
4. Method according to claim 3, wherein the method comprises: - generating an updated parameter linked to said updated relative orientation of the input device with respect to the medical device, - using the input device to generate an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, and -using the input signal and the updated parameter to obtain an instruction for the medical device.
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the method comprises: - identifying the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment by means of an electronic compass.
6. Method according to claim 2, wherein the method comprises: - forwarding the identified orientation of the medical device in the determined environment to the input device by means of CAN protocol. 20
7. System for generating a control signal for operating a medical device in a determined environment, the system comprising: - a medical device adapted to receive instructions by means of an input device, - an input device connected to the medical device with an input sensor for generating an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, the input device comprising an electronic compass for identifying the orientation of the input device in the determined environment, - a processor connected to the input device, the processer being adapted to receive and process: -data relating the orientation of the medical device in the determined environment, - data relating to the orientation of the input device in the determined environment obtained by means of the electronic compass, and - an input signal generated by means of the input sensor to obtain as a result of said processing the control signal for the medical device.8 Input device for a medical device, the input device being adapted to be used in a determined environment, the input device having an input sensor for generating an input signal relating to an instruction for the medical device, wherein the input device is provided with an electronic compass to identify the orientation of the input device in said determined environment