Abstract:
An operating room control system including a medical device control system for controlling one or more medical devices for conducting a surgical procedure and a medical support device control system for controlling one or more medical support devices, which support the surgical procedure, wherein the medical support devices can be controlled from the side of the medical devices. For example, the operating environment of an operating section of the medical device control system is changed to enable a command input to the medical support device control system. Thereby, the medical support devices can be controlled from the side of the medical system. If the operating section is a touch panel having a display function, it is preferable to switch between the display function and input sensing function in synchronization with each other.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-182134, filed Jun. 21, 2004, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates to an operating room control system comprising a medical system and an AV system.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     In recent years, an endoscopic surgery system for conducting surgical procedures using an endoscope has come into general use and a large variety of medical devices are in practical use.  
         [0006]     The medical devices for use in this type of endoscopic surgery system include an electric cautery, an ultrasonic device, and an insufflator in addition to an electronic endoscopic system. For example, as suggested in the Laid-Open Japanese Patent Publication No. 2003-76786 or 2003-70746, the endoscopic operation system integrally manages these devices as a system and operating devices disposed under a system controller control these devices.  
         [0007]     On the other hand, various peripheral devices are also placed besides the medical devices in the operating room where there is placed a medical system typified by the endoscopic surgery system. These peripheral devices are, for example, a server for storing reference images such as patient&#39;s pre-surgery CT images or ultrasound images referenced for surgical procedures, a display device for displaying the reference images, and an output device for recording or printing endoscopic images picked up by the endoscopic surgery system. Moreover, a teleconference system for communication with the outside of the operating room and a room light for controlling lighting of the operating room are placed as peripheral devices.  
         [0008]     Due to the presence of these peripheral devices in various forms, there is constructed an AV system, which is a nonmedical device system separate from the system for controlling the medical devices, and it is controlled by operating devices other than the operating devices for controlling the medical devices.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating room control system comprising a medical device control system for controlling one or more medical devices for conducting a surgical procedure and a medical support device control system for controlling one or more medical support devices, which support the surgical procedure, wherein a command input to the medical support device control system is enabled by changing an operating environment of an operating section of the medical device control system.  
         [0010]     Thereby, the one or more medical support devices can be controlled from the side of the medical system.  
         [0011]     For example, if the operating section comprises a touch panel, an operator can switch between a display function and a sensing function of the touch panel of the operating section in synchronization with each other when changing the operating environment.  
         [0012]     Thereupon, the operating environment changes between the display function and the input function in synchronization with each other, whereby operating errors can be minimized. In this instance, it is also possible to have a configuration in which the display function and the sensing function are transmitted via separate signal paths and are changed in different switching methods.  
         [0013]     If the medical support device control system also has an operating section (a second operating section), the operating environment can be changed by switching between the operating environment of the operating section and an operating environment of the second operating section.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the apparatus and methods of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings where:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of an endoscopic surgery system according to a first embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operating room control system having the endoscopic surgery system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a relevant part in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  is a first diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  is a second diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram showing a configuration of an operating room control system according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a relevant part in  FIG. 6 ;  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  is a first diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  is a second diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 7 ;  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  is a block diagram showing a configuration of a relevant part of an operating room control system according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0025]      FIG. 11  is a first diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 10 ; and  
         [0026]      FIG. 12  is a second diagram illustrating an action of the relevant part shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0027]     Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0028]     First, a configuration of an endoscopic surgery system  3  placed in an operating room  2  will be described hereinafter by reference to  FIG. 1 .  
         [0029]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , a patient&#39;s bed  10  on which a patient  48  is laying and the endoscopic surgery system  3  are placed in the operating room  2 . The endoscopic surgery system  3  has a first cart  11  and a second cart  12 .  
         [0030]     The first cart  11  is loaded with medical devices as controlled devices such as, for example, an electric cautery  13 , an insufflator  14 , an endoscopic camera  15 , a light source  16 , a video tape recorder (VTR)  17 , and other devices and a gas cylinder  18  filled with carbon dioxide. The endoscopic camera  15  is connected to a first endoscope  31  via a camera cable  31   a . The light source  16  is connected to the first endoscope  31  via a light guide cable  31   b.    
         [0031]     Moreover, the first cart  11  is loaded with a display device  19 , a first integrated display panel  20 , an operating panel  21 , and the like. The display device  19  is, for example, a TV monitor for displaying endoscopic images or the like.  
         [0032]     The integrated display panel  20  is a display member capable of selectively displaying various data during surgery. The operating panel  21  comprises a display section such as, for example, a liquid crystal display, and a touch sensor integrally arranged on the display section, for example. The operating panel  21  is an integrated operating device, which is operated by a nurse or the like in a nonsterilized area.  
         [0033]     Furthermore, the first cart  11  is loaded with a system controller  22 , which is a medical device controller for controlling medical devices. The system controller  22  is connected to the electric cautery  13 , the insufflator  14 , the endoscopic camera  15 , the light source  16 , and the VTR stated above via communication lines (not shown). The system controller  22  can be connected to a headset-type microphone  33 . Thereby, the system controller  22  can recognize voice input from the microphone  33  and can control devices according to a surgeon&#39;s voice.  
         [0034]     On the other hand, the second cart  12  is loaded with an endoscopic camera  23 , a light source  24 , an image processing device  25 , a display device  26 , and a second integrated display panel  27 , which are controlled devices.  
         [0035]     The endoscopic camera  23  is connected to a second endoscope  32  via a camera cable  32   a . The light source  24  is connected to the second endoscope  32  via a light guide cable  32   b.    
         [0036]     The display device  26  displays endoscopic images picked up by the endoscopic camera  23 . The second integrated display panel  27  can selectively display various data during surgery.  
         [0037]     The endoscopic camera  23 , the light source  24 , and the image processing device  25  are connected to a repeater unit  28  mounted on the second cart  12  via communication lines (not shown). The repeater unit  28  is connected to the system controller  22  mounted on the first cart  11  via a trunk cable  29 .  
         [0038]     The system controller  22  can integrally control the camera  23 , the light source  24 , and the image processing device  25  mounted on the second cart  12  and the electric cautery  13 , the insufflator  14 , the camera  15 , the light source  16 , and the VTR  17  mounted on the first cart  11 . If the system controller  22  is communicating with these devices, the system controller  22  can display the setting conditions of the connected devices and the setting screens of control switches on the liquid crystal display of the operating panel  21 . Moreover, the system controller  22  can enter an operation such as a change of a setting value through an operation on the touch panel in a given area in response to a touch on the setting screen of a desired control switch of the operating panel  21 .  
         [0039]     A remote controller  30  is a second integrated operating device operated by a surgeon or the like in the sterilized area. It can control other devices, for which the communication is established, via the system controller  22 .  
         [0040]     The system controller  22  is connected to a patient monitor system  4  via a cable  9 . As described later, the system controller  22  can analyze biological information acquired from the patient monitor system  4  and can display the analysis result on a required display device.  
         [0041]     Moreover, the system controller  22  is equipped with an infrared communication port (not shown), which is a communication member. The infrared communication port is provided in a position where it is readily irradiated with infrared rays such as, for example, in the vicinity of the display device  19  and is connected to the system controller  22  via a cable.  
         [0042]     As shown in  FIG. 2 , there is constructed an operating room control system with an endoscopic surgery system  3  in an operating room  2 . In the operating room control system, an AV system  100  is arranged besides the endoscopic surgery system  3 . The endoscopic surgery system  3  comprises an integrated display panel  20 , an operating panel  21 , a system controller  22 , a microphone  33 , a remote controller  30 , and a medical device group  50  including a light source  24 . The AV system  100  comprises various audio-visual devices or lighting devices, which are nonmedical devices. These devices are medical support devices for supporting medical treatment.  
         [0043]     More specifically, the AV system  100  includes a room light  101 , a room camera  102 , a ceiling camera  103 , a server for storing various reference images  104 , a teleconference system  105 , various peripheral devices  106 , various display devices  107 , and an AV controller  108  as a medical support device control system for controlling such devices.  
         [0044]     The server for storing various reference images  104  stores pre-surgery CT images or ultrasound images of a patient  48 . These images can be displayed on an LCD or a PDP in the display devices  107 .  
         [0045]     The AV controller  108  is capable of transmitting or receiving information to or from the system controller  22  of the endoscopic surgery system  3  via a signal cable  9 . Thereby, it can display an endoscopic image from the endoscopic surgery system  3  on the display devices  107  or output it to a CD, a DVD, and a printer as the peripheral devices  106 .  
         [0046]     The operating panel  21  of the endoscopic surgery system  3  is an operating section that can be used for displaying various information and entering commands related to the system controller  22  via a switcher  110 . Moreover, the operating panel  21  can be used for displaying various information and entering commands related to the AV controller  108  via the switcher  110 .  
         [0047]     Subsequently, the switcher  110  as an operating environment changing section will be described in detail.  
         [0048]     As shown in  FIG. 3 , to perform a touch panel function of the operating panel  21 , the switcher  110  receives inputs of a serial signal m 1  (for example, an RS-232C signal) as a control signal from the system controller  22 , a VGA or other video signal m 2 , a serial signal al (for example, an RS-232C signal) as a control signal from the AV controller  108 , and a VGA or other video signal a 2 .  
         [0049]     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the switcher  110  in an initial state is cut off from the serial signal al and the VGA or other video signal a 2  as control signals from the AV controller  108 . On the other hand, the switcher  110  outputs the serial signal m 1  and the VGA or other video signal m 2  as control signals from the system controller  22  to the operating panel  21  and displays a medical control screen on the operating panel  21 , whereby the endoscopic surgery system  3  can be controlled.  
         [0050]     If an operator selects a switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function under the control of the endoscopic surgery system  3 , the selection signal is transmitted to the system controller  22  by means of a serial signal m 1  and the system controller  22  transmits the information to the AV controller  108  by means of a parallel signal P. For example, the parallel signal P is a contact output signal.  
         [0051]     Upon receiving the parallel signal P based on the switching button  120 , the AV controller  108  outputs a control signal S for switching of the switcher.  
         [0052]     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the switcher then  110  turns off the serial signal m 1  and the VGA or other video signal m 2  as control signals from the system controller  22  by the control signal S and outputs the serial signal a 1  and the VGA or other video signal a 2  as control signals from the AV controller  108  to the operating panel  21  to display an AV control screen on the operating panel  21 . This enables a control of the AV system  100  using the operating panel  21 .  
         [0053]     If the operator selects the switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function under the control of the AV system  100 , the selection signal is transmitted to the AV controller  108  by means of a serial signal a 1 . Thereafter, the AV controller  108  outputs a control signal S for switching of the switcher  110 , whereby the control state shown in  FIG. 4  is resumed.  
         [0054]     In this manner, the endoscopic surgery system  3  and the AV system  100  can be controlled by using the operating panel  21  arranged in the endoscopic surgery system  3  via the switcher  110  in this embodiment. This allows the system in a sterilized area (the endoscopic surgery system  3 ) to control the system in a nonsterilized area (the AV system  100 ) by using the single operating panel.  
         [0055]     In other words, in this embodiment, the switcher  110  enables switching of the control environment on the operating panel  21 , whereby the AV system can be easily controlled from the side of the medical system at a low cost.  
         [0056]     A second embodiment is substantially the same as the first embodiment. Therefore, only different points will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the identical parts and their description is omitted here.  
         [0057]     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the AV system  100  is also provided with an operating panel  150  having a touch panel function in this embodiment, with the operating panel  21  of the endoscopic surgery system  3  and the operating panel  150  of the AV system  100  connected to the switcher  110 .  
         [0058]     In other words, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the switcher  110  receives inputs of a serial signal m 1  (for example., an RS-232C signal) and a VGA or other video signal m 2  as control signals from the system controller  22  and a serial signal a 1  (for example, an RS-232C signal) and a VGA or other video signal a 2  as control signals from the AV controller  108  in order to perform the touch panel function of the operating panel  21 . The switcher  110  then outputs the serial signal m 1  and the video signal m 2  or the serial signal a 1  and the video signal a 2  selectively to the operating panel  21  and the operating panel  150 .  
         [0059]     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 8 , the switcher  110  outputs the serial signal ml and the video signal m 2  from the system controller  22  to the operating panel  21  and outputs the serial signal a 1  and the video signal a 2  from the AV controller  108  to the operating panel  150  in the initial state. This allows the switcher  110  to make the endoscopic surgery system  3  controllable on the operating panel  21  by displaying a medical control screen on the operating panel  21  and to make the AV system  100  controllable on the operating panel  150  by displaying an AV control screen on the operating panel  150 .  
         [0060]     If an operator selects a switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function under the control of the endoscopic surgery system  3  with the operating panel  21 , the selection signal is transmitted to the system controller  22  by means of a serial signal m 1 . The system controller  22  then transmits the information to the AV controller  108  by means of a parallel signal P.  
         [0061]     Upon receiving the switching signal information, the AV controller  108  outputs a control signal S for switching of the switcher  110 .  
         [0062]     As shown in  FIG. 9 , by the control signal S, the switcher  110  outputs the serial signal m 1  and the video signal m 2  from the system controller  22  to the operating panel  150  and outputs the serial signal a 1  and the video signal a 2  from the AV controller  108  to the operating panel  21 . This allows the switcher  110  to make the endoscopic surgery system  3  controllable on the operating panel  150  by displaying a medical control screen on the operating panel  150  and to make the AV system  100  controllable on the operating panel  21  by displaying an AV control screen on the operating panel  21 .  
         [0063]     If the operator selects the switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function also under the control of the AV system  100  with the operating panel  21 , the selection signal is transmitted to the AV controller  108  by means of the serial signal a 1 . Then, the AV controller  108  outputs a control signal S for switching of the switcher  110 , whereby the control state shown in  FIG. 8  is resumed.  
         [0064]     In this manner, similar effects as in the first embodiment can be achieved with the second embodiment. Therefore, the system in a sterilized area (the endoscopic surgery system  3 ) can control the system in a nonsterilized area (the AV system  100 ) by using the operating panel of the system in the sterilized area (the endoscopic surgery system  3 ).  
         [0065]     A third embodiment is substantially the same as the second embodiment. Therefore, only different points will be described below. The same reference numerals are used for the identical parts and their description is omitted here.  
         [0066]     In this embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the switcher  110  makes switching of only video signals m 2  and a 2 , while six serial/network protocol converters  201 - 206  (hereinafter, each of the serial/network protocol converters are referred to as an RS-232C/IP) and two hubs  207  and  208  perform switching controls of serial signals m 1  and a 1 .  
         [0067]     In other words, the serial signal m 1  from the system controller  22  is entered into two RS-232C/IPs  201  and  202  and converted to network protocol signals. Output from the RS-232C/IP  201  is entered into the hub  207  and output from the RS-232C/IP  202  is entered into the hub  208 . A network protocol signal from the hub  207  is converted to a serial communication via the RS-232C/IP  203  and output to the operating panel  21 . A network protocol signal from the hub  208  is converted to a serial communication via the RS-232C/IP  204  and output to the operating panel  150 .  
         [0068]     Similarly, the serial signal a 1  from the AV controller  108  is entered into two RS-232C/IPs  205  and  206  and converted to network protocol signals. An output from the RS-232C/IP  205  is entered into the hub  208  and an output from the RS-232C/IP  206  is entered into the hub  207 .  
         [0069]     More specifically, as shown in  FIG. 11 , the switcher  110  outputs the video signal m 2  from the system controller  22  to the operating panel  21  and outputs the video signal a 2  from the AV controller  108  to the operating panel  150  in the initial state. This causes the switcher  110  to display a medical control screen on the operating panel  21  and to display an AV control screen on the operating panel  150 .  
         [0070]     Regarding the serial signals m 1  and a 1  in this state, the AV controller  108  turns off the RS-232C/IP  202  and the RS-232C/IP  206  by a control signal T.  
         [0071]     Thereby, the information carried by the serial signal m 1  from the system controller  22  is output to the operating panel  21 , passing through the RS-232C/IP  201 , the hub  207 , and the RS-232C/IP  203  in this order. Similarly, the information carried by the serial signal a 1  from the AV controller  108  is output to the operating panel  150 , passing through the RS-232C/IP  205 , the hub  208 , and the RS/232C/IP  204  in this order.  
         [0072]     Therefore, similarly to the second embodiment, the endoscopic surgery system  3  is controllable on the operating panel  21  and the AV system  100  is controllable on the operating panel  150 .  
         [0073]     Moreover, if an operator selects the switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function under the control of the endoscopic surgery system  3  with the operating panel  21 , the selection signal is transmitted to the system controller  22  by means of the serial signal m 1  and the system controller  22  transmits the information to the AV controller  108  by means of the parallel signal P.  
         [0074]     Upon receiving the information on the switching signal, the AV controller  108  outputs a control signal S for switching of the switcher  110  and turns on the RS-212C/IP  202  and the RS-232C/IP  206  and turns off the RS-233C/IP  201  and the RS-232C/IP  205  by a control signal T.  
         [0075]     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the switcher  110  outputs the video signal m 2  from the system controller  22  to the operating panel  150  and outputs the video signal a 2  from the AV controller  108  to the operating panel  21  by the control signal S. Thereby, the switcher  110  displays a medical control screen on the operating panel  150  and displays an AV control screen on the operating panel  21 .  
         [0076]     On the other hand, the information carried by the serial signal m 1  from the system controller  22  is output the operating panel  150 , passing through the RS-232C/IP  202 , the hub  208 , and the RS-232C/IP  204  in this order by means of the ON/OFF control of the control signal T. Similarly, the information carried by the serial signal a 1  from the AV controller  108  is output to the operating panel  21 , passing through the RS-232C/IP  206 , the hub  207 , and the RS-232C/IP  203  in this order.  
         [0077]     Therefore, similarly to the second embodiment, the endoscopic surgery system  3  is controllable on the operating panel  150  and the AV system  100  is controllable on the operating panel  21 .  
         [0078]     If the operator selects the switching button  120  displayed on the operating panel  21  using the touch panel function under the control of the AV system  100  with the operating panel  21 , the selection signal is transmitted to the AV controller  108  by means of the serial signal a 1 , too. The AV controller  108  then outputs the control signals S and T, whereby the control state shown in  FIG. 11  is resumed.  
         [0079]     As stated hereinabove, in this embodiment it is possible to achieve the same effects as those of the second embodiment.  
         [0080]     While there has been shown and described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the invention, it will, of course, be understood that various modifications and changes in form or detail could readily be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention not be limited to the exact forms described and illustrated, but constructed to cover all modifications that may fall within the scope of the appended claims.