X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices – Specific application – Computerized tomography
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-08
2001-01-16
Bruce, David V. (Department: 2876)
X-ray or gamma ray systems or devices
Specific application
Computerized tomography
C250S221000, C345S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175610
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a medical-technical system of the type having at least one operating element and a control means for controlling the system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In such medical-technical systems, e.g. imaging systems or treatment systems, it is known to provide, as operating elements, keyboards or touch screens fashioned as video monitors. With the use of keyboards, disturbances or even defects often occur, due to the large number of electromechanical components that may be contained therein. With the use of touch screens, this problem is avoided, but due to the large dimensions of the video monitor it is often not possible to place the touch screen relative to an operator in such a way that a comfortable operation of the system is possible. In addition, with touch screens there is the danger of functional disturbances due to soiling.
German PS 196 12 949 discloses an input system having a projection surface to which a projector is allocated for the reproduction of operating elements in such a way that even in cases of medical application it is possible to control the system by the finger of an operator on the projection surface, the position and/or the motion of the finger relative to the projection surface being acquired by an optical detector, and the output data of the detector being used for controlling the system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a system of the type initially described wherein functionally reliable and comfortable operation is possible.
The above object is achieved in accordance with the principles of the present invention in a medical system wherein a projector projects, on a projection surface, images of at least one operating element for at least one system component. The projection surface has at least one surface structure, such as a raised portion or a recess, and the projector projects the image of the operating element onto this surface structure. A visual detector has a field of view which encompasses the projection surface, and detects the position and/or motion of an appendage of an operator on the projection surface. The detector generates a detector output dependent on the detected position and/or motion. The output of the detector is supplied to a control unit, which controls the system component dependent on the detected movement and/or position.
The appendage of the operator which is detected by the visual detector can be the operator's hand, and in particular a finger of the operator.
The invention can be considered as a virtual system, which does not require a video monitor as an input unit. The projection surface can be a smooth surface of the system that is already present anyway and is positioned conveniently relative to the operator. If no such surfaces are present, special projection surfaces can be provided that are preferably of plate-like construction and thus have a substantially smaller space requirement than do video monitors in the case of conventional touch screens. the invention therefore makes it possible to arrange the operating elements relative to an operator in such a way that comfortable operation is possible. At the same time, a high degree of reliability is provided, since electromagnetic components are not required.
Since the projection surface is provided with a recess and/or raised part in the region on which the projection unit projects an image of an operating element, the acquisition of the position of the finger on the projection surface is made easier. It is also possible for an operator to carry out reliable operation with only brief visual contact or entirely without visual contact, since due to the recess or raised part the operator is able to position his or her finger in such a way that an unambiguous allocation of the position to an operating element, and thus to an operating step, is possible.
In a further embodiment, operating element simulations (mock-ups) are provided that give an operator the feeling of being provided with conventional operating elements, e.g. keys, joysticks, and the like, without actually requiring electromechanical components. An identification of the operator action which is carried out thus can take place immediately by means of the control unit determining the position or motion of the operating element simulation by evaluating the output signals of the detector. Alternatively, the action identification can take place in a sequence wherein the control unit first determines the position or motion of the hand of the operator and only thereafter determines the position or motion of the operating element simulation from this hand motion. In both cases, the recognition and evaluation of these positions or motions is made easier because guidance of the hand or of the finger of the operator is provided by the operating element simulations.
In a version of the invention, the detector acquires the gestures of the operator, which can include determining the amplitude of the gestures. Additionally, or alternatively head motions of an operator and/or the expressions of an operator can be acquired. In all versions the control unit evaluates the gestures or the amplitude of the gestures and/or the head movements and/or the expressions, in order to control the system. To the extent that the gestures, head movements and expressions of an operator can be used to directly operate the medical system, it is the possible to carry out corresponding operating steps without requiring any operating elements, which can be particularly advantageous for the maintenance of sterile conditions.
In order to avoid an accidental occurrence of impermissible operating states, in a further version of the invention the control unit evaluates the position of the finger and/or the position of the operating element simulation and/or the gestures and/or the head movements and/or the expressions in order to check whether the execution of the corresponding operating steps could lead to an impermissible operating state. In the case of an impermissible operating state being found to be possible, the control unit does not enable the system to execute the “ordered” activity. A plausibility test, so to speak, thus takes place before the execution of operating steps.
In another embodiment of the invention, the system has several projection surfaces, and the reproduction of operating elements can optionally take place on several of these projection surfaces or on a single one of these projection surfaces, so that a variable arrangement of the operating elements, well-matched to the respective requirements, is possible.
In order to enable an arrangement of the projection surface relative to the operator that makes the operators work easier, in further embodiments of the invention at least one projection surface that can be oriented toward an operator is provided, or at least one projection surface that can be displaced relative to the system is provided.
If the medical system is an X-ray CT apparatus, it is particularly advantageous to attach projection surfaces to lateral supports for the gantry, since then a comfortable operation of the X-ray CT apparatus is possible, during examinations as well as during interventions, e.g. biopsies.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4843568 (1989-06-01), Krueger et al.
patent: 5325473 (1994-06-01), Monroe et al.
patent: 5703356 (1997-12-01), Bidiville et al.
patent: 42 01 934 (1993-07-01), None
patent: 196 12 949 (1997-08-01), None
Bruce David V.
Dunn Drew A.
Schiff & Hardin & Waite
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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