Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US20090225060
Timestamp: 2018-03-20 02:27:23
Document Index: 498517333

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 61', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 60', 'Application No. 11']

US20090225060A1 - Wrist-mounted laser with animated, page-based graphical user-interface - Google Patents
Wrist-mounted laser with animated, page-based graphical user-interface
US20090225060A1
US20090225060A1 US12372690 US37269009A US2009225060A1 US 20090225060 A1 US20090225060 A1 US 20090225060A1 US 12372690 US12372690 US 12372690 US 37269009 A US37269009 A US 37269009A US 2009225060 A1 US2009225060 A1 US 2009225060A1
US12372690
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61,030,997, filed Feb. 24, 2008 and entitled WRIST-MOUNTED LASER WITH ANNIMATED, PAGE-BASED GRAPHICAL USER-INTERFACE (Att. Docket No. BI9975CIP4PR2), U.S. Provisional Application No. 61,030,976, filed Feb. 24, 2008 and entitled FLUID CONTROLLABLE LASER ENDODONTIC CLEANING AND DISINFECTING SYSTEM (Att. Docket B18083PR), and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61,029,305, filed Feb. 15, 2008 and entitled WRIST-MOUNTED LASER WITH SCROLLABLE GRAPHICAL USER-INTERFACE (Att. Docket BI9975CIP4PR). U.S. Provisional Application No. 61,030,997 incorporates by reference the contents of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/932,409, filed May 30, 2007 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY OUTPUT SYSTEM (Att. Docket B19975CIP3PR) and U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/921,057, filed Mar. 29, 2007 and entitled WRIST-MOUNT ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY EMITTING DEVICE (Att. Docket BI9975CIP2PR). This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/820,746, filed Jun. 19, 2007 and entitled METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY OUTPUT SYSTEM (Att. Docket B19975CIP3), U.S. application Ser. No. 11/800,435, filed May 3, 2007 and entitled WRIST-MOUNT ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY EMITTING DEVICE (Att. Docket B19975CIP2), and U.S. Application No. 11/800,434, filed May 3, 2007 and entitled ELECTROMAGNETIC ENERGY OUTPUT SYSTEM (Att. Docket BI9975CIP). The entire contents of all of the above applications, and of all of the disclosures referenced therein, and of all of the disclosures referenced in those referenced disclosures, are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.
FIG. 1A depicts a body-mount implementation of an electromagnetic energy output device according to an aspect of the present invention;
According to an aspect of the present invention, a wrist-mount electromagnetic energy emitting (e.g., lasing) device is disclosed. An aspect of the present invention comprises moving forward, along a line of delivery system component locations, components of a lasing device so that they are closer to the target. More particularly, components of the wrist-mount lasing device are configured to be positioned more forwardly, so that they are disposed closer to the target as compared to locations of components of typical prior-art systems. In other words, a substantial number of the elements of the wrist-mount lasing device, and in certain implementations all of the elements of the device, according to certain aspects of the present invention, are operatively disposed in a relatively close proximity to the target. While referenced herein as a lasing device, it is intended that the energy source be interpreted to cover electromagnetic energy sources in general rather than just laser systems.
One feature of the present invention provides for the coupling of a wrist-mount lasing device to a non-horizontal surface. Horizontal surface real-estate can be at a premium during lasing procedures, so that movement (and subsequent repositioning) of the wrist-mount lasing device from proximity of such surfaces can free-up the surfaces for other tools or uses. The wrist-mount lasing device does not, in certain implementations, require a surface or mount for placement on a counter or mounting on wall. Accordingly, horizontal surfaces are conserved. Attachment of the wrist-mount lasing device to a part of the body (e.g., the body, or clothing on the body) can, in addition to and/or as a consequence of alleviating a requirement for the wrist-mount lasing device to be mounted on the surface of a floor, countertop, or wall, attenuate a number or length of required cables, a fatigue of the user, an apprehension of a patient, an amount of clutter in a procedural area, and an amount of set-up time and/or clean-up time of a procedure. As defined herein, the user may be, for example, a physician, technician, or other professional seeking to perform a procedure, or may be a recipient of the procedure such as a patient.
In typical implementations, the wrist-mount lasing device can be mounted to a part of the user's body or clothing/apparel.
It has been discovered that, in conjunction with the coupling (e.g., mounting) of a wrist-mount lasing device, implementation of battery power can enhance the coupling. Moreover, as compared to a conventional disposition of a lasing device on a horizontal support surface, it has been discovered that, in the context of coupling of the wrist-mount lasing device to the mentioned non-horizontal surface or living creature, the of a user interface with fewer hard (physical) buttons and/or more of a display/software user interface (e.g., comprising more soft key and/or touch screen inputs, as compared to prior-art constructions) can facilitate a greater usability or versatility of the wrist-mount lasing device due to, for example, the less-restricting physical nature of the coupling. Similarly, as compared to a conventional lasing device, the coupling of the wrist-mount lasing device to the mentioned non-horizontal surface or living creature can provide greater operability and efficiency when implemented with shorter cables and/or fibers.
According to exemplary body-mount embodiments, the wrist-mount lasing device can be mounted, for example, to a writs or arm of the user. The wrist-mount lasing device may be affixed to the user's upper arm using an arm band, or may be attached to the user's wrist using a wrist strap or bracelet.
A possible net result of the current invention's implementation of a wrist-mount lasing system can be to at least partially, and in certain aspects, dramatically, enhance one or more of a safety (e.g., from a simpler assembly, less clutter on floor/table surfaces and/or less likelihood of user confusion/error), a versatility (e.g., movement/maneuverability of the device to/in or use of the device in more applications), and an efficiency (e.g., shorter fiber optic, less assembly/disassembly). Another possible net result of the implementation of a wrist-mount lasing system according to the present invention can be to at least partially, and in certain aspects, dramatically, attenuate one or more of a manufacturing cost (e.g., from more compact, fewer or shorter components), an operational and/or maintenance cost (e.g., from delivery of energy over a smaller distance, resulting in fewer energy loses during use), and a subjective element experienced by the patient during a medical procedure (e.g., from more discrete and/or less formidable-looking equipment, as compared to typical prior-art systems).
Following coupling of part or all of the components of a wrist-mount lasing device to a part of the body of a user, such as the arm (e.g., wrist), the user may not need to grip and hold, or may not need to grip and hold as much, the component(s), thus potentially freeing-up, or partially freeing-up, one or more of a functionality and a profile of that hand. Furthermore, freeing-up of one or more fingers of the user's hand (e.g., by finger mounting the output configuration) can provide, or provide further, that hand with one or more of a smaller profile and a greater procedural maneuverability or functionality. Thus, when not committed to the holding of a conventional laser handpiece, the user's hand may be used to perform other tasks as the user may not need to grip and hold as many components or may not need to grip and hold them to the same extent. Thus, fingers of the user's hand may be free, or at least potentially less burdened, for the performance of other tasks.
Furthermore, when inputting data into the device immediately before, during, or immediately following a procedure, the user does not have move away or look away from the site of the procedure to adjust parameters, as they can be adjusted on the user's wrist or arm. The display, furthermore, can be an object-oriented display that is intuitive and that can be rapidly navigated by a new or a seasoned user of the system with ease. For example, objects or icons in the display may comprise images of or symbols representing one or more of different procedural modes, tissue types, output tips, and other parameters disclosed or referenced herein. As one implementation, a desktop type of display and operability is implemented. According to certain aspects of the present invention, sliding animations, or one or more of any other structure, feature, step, or method, such as disclosed in, for example, U.S. Patent Application Pub. No. 20040055446 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,225,409, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, may be incorporated or modified to be incorporated, in any combination and/or permutation, with any part of the current disclosure. For instance, a plurality of buttons can be integrated into a scroll wheel with a sliding or scrolling animations display feature, to provide any implementation of the current invention with an intuitive, uncluttered, minimalistic interface. A desktop type of user interface display, for example, may be scrollable using a scroll wheel, and, furthermore, particular icons on the desktop, when selected and opened, may contain scrollable displays with selectable items. As an addition or alternative to a scroll wheel, up and down arrows, among other controls, may be implemented. Such a scrollable desktop may be embodied by creation of a single, oversized desktop that extends beyond the visible region of the display, wherein only a portion of the desktop is visible at a time and wherein the portion of the desktop being displayed (i.e., the view) can be moved, along with opened and unopened objects and windows on the desktop being movable as well.
A procedure or a sub-procedure can be described as a set (“chain”) of steps and considerations, one or more (e.g., each) of which may or should be implemented with certain pieces of equipment, equipment settings, equipment arrangements, surgical staff present, methodologies, observations, mental checkpoints, etc., and of which may differ from one or more prior steps or subsequent steps.
Such chains, and steps making up the chains, according to an aspect of the invention, may be displayed in a selectable and navigatable format to guide the user. For example, a general display may comprise a listing, menu, or outline of elements (e.g., general steps) of a chain or chains, with one or more of the elements being selectable by the user to open-up or move-to another (e.g., more detailed) display presenting further information, and/or a further menu, on or relating to the selected element. Selection of the element may comprise moving a displayed pointing device over the element or highlighting the element, followed by entering one or more confirmation inputs (e.g., a click of a pointing device, a depression of a button or arrow on a housing of the user interface, the tapping once on a return or enter key, a contacting of a user's finger or stylus on a part of a touchscreen, etc.), selecting on the display a number or other item or icon corresponding to the element, selecting a “next” or “previous” icon, providing a voice activated command, etc.
According to one aspect of the invention, a paradigm for facilitating navigation through and among chains comprises animated or virtual stacks or tablets (“groups”) of pages. To name a few examples, the groups may comprise, in any combination or permutation, settings, instructions, a user manual of the laser device, databases of records or other items (e.g., a collection of prior procedures for each patient), associations of information such as steps (e.g., pertaining to and guiding a user through a sequence of desensitizing, cutting, coagulating, settings and steps, etc.). The paradigm may be used in whole or in part, in any combination or permutation, with any one or more of the above described and referenced (or otherwise described or referenced, herein,) navigation and information-presentation architectures and methodologies. Combinations of groups can be displayed using any one or more of stacked, partially overlapping, and fully overlapping images. The elements, groups, and/or combinations of groups, can be factory installed and/or creatable or modifiable by a user.
In certain embodiments of the paradigm, each group may comprise, for example, a top virtual page and additional virtual pages beneath it. A user can move through the pages as he or she would through an actual (e.g., non-virtual) stack or tablet of pages. Thus, a top page may comprise a listing, menu, or outline of elements (e.g., general steps) of a chain or chains, with one or more of the elements on the top page being selectable by the user (“the selected element”) to open-up or move to another (e.g., a more detailed) page or element (or other association of elements and/or groups) which may present further information (in any format described or referenced herein), and/or present a further menu (or other association of elements and/or groups) on or relating to the selected element on the page. In one implementation, the listing, menu or outline of elements may resemble a table of contents such as may be contained in a book. Selection of a given element on a page may comprise moving a displayed pointing device over the element or highlighting the element, and/or entering one or more confirmation inputs (e.g., one or more of a click of a pointing device, depression of a button or arrow on a housing of the user interface, a return or enter key, and a contacting of a user's finger or stylus on a part of a touchscreen), etc.
Typically, the selection of a given element or group, displayed for example in the format of a stack or tablet, can comprise virtually selecting an edge or corner (or, in other embodiments, another portion) of the page. In an implementation utilizing a touchscreen display, the edge or corner of the page may be selected (contacted) by the user touching it with his or her finger or stylus and, while still contacting it, moving or sliding the finger or stylus to the left so as to “flip” or “turn” the page as would occur with a non-virtual page of a book. As with a non-virtual tablet or stack of pages, a user can be provided with the option of navigating back through virtual pages (e.g., in a direction toward a previously viewed, flipped, or turned page) by flipping or turning pages in a manner whereby touching or selecting of an edge or corner (e.g., an edge or corner on the page opposite to the edge or corner last-used to flip or turn the page in the opposite direction) of each virtual page and moving or sliding the finger or stylus to the right will flip or turn the page.
Also, in typical implementations, one or more of the elements on, for example, the first page of, for example, a group may comprise groups of pages (and/or elements), as well. According to one implementation, groups of pages (and/or elements), corresponding to chains (and/or other pieces of information), as described herein, are displayed (e.g., animated) on the virtual desktop of the display.
With reference to the body-attachment (e.g., wrist mount) implementation of the invention, such a wrist-mount lasing device can comprise, for example, a housing with a body attachment (e.g., a wrist band), an output configuration for outputting electromagnetic radiation, and a wave guide (e.g., fiber optic) for delivering electromagnetic radiation from the housing to the output configuration. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the output configuration may take the form of, for example, one or more of a thumbpiece, a fingerpiece, a fiber optic tip, and a distal end (e.g., a distal part) of a fiber optic. Fiber optic tips, according to one feature of the present invention, can be formed (e.g., of solid glass) with radiation output orifices of 3-10 mm corresponding, for example, to photo-biomodulation or low-level light therapy (LLLT) embodiments. Regarding low-level light therapy techniques, any combination or permutation of components, systems and steps of or in connection with any wrist-mount lasing device described or referenced herein can be used or implemented, to any extent and in any combination or permutation, with any one or more of the components, systems and steps disclosed or referenced in U.S. application Ser. No. 11/447,605, filed Jun. 5, 2006, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
With reference to FIG. 1A, a wrist-mount lasing device is exemplified in the form of a body-mount implementation. The body-attachment (e.g., wrist mount) implementation of the wrist-mount lasing device 141 can comprise a housing 143 with a body attachment (e.g., a wrist band) 145, a fiber optic 148, and an output configuration. The housing can comprise, for example, a display, such as a touchscreen 156, inputs or controls 159, an electromagnetic energy source such as a laser 161, and batteries 164 which may comprise two sets of batteries.
According to one feature of the present invention, the display is oriented to face the user. Thus, the display can be oriented to have a top-to-bottom axis (on the display) that is perpendicular to a length of the user's arm (e.g., wrist portion of the arm) around which the device is designed to be affixed. In this way, a user wearing the device on, for example, her left wrist can face the device toward her, as she would a wrist watch, and have the display and controls oriented for optimal use thereof (e.g., “right side up”). According to one aspect of the invention, the user is able to accurately and conveniently view or adjust procedural parameters of the wrist-mounted laser, without having to direct her attention away from the surgical site, by positioning her wrist, with the wrist-mounted display and controls attached thereto, between her person and the surgical site. Thus, monitoring or adjustments can be made with absolutely minimal to nil distraction or delay. Furthermore, another feature of the invention comprises the user viewing or adjusting procedural parameters of the wrist-mounted laser by positioning her wrist, with the wrist-mounted display and controls attached thereto, in a line-of-sight between her eyes and the surgical site. In either implementation, or in any other implementation described or referenced herein, the laser output can be integrally formed with the wrist-mounted laser or can extend therefrom (e.g., in the form of a handpiece or finger piece, as referenced herein) to be attached to or held in the same or the other hand, finger or fingers of the user. Moreover, in any of these implementations the laser output can be ergonomically sized and shaped to facilitate the user's manipulation of or inputting of information into the wrist-mounted laser without having to set aside, put down, or let go of the laser output, whereby monitoring or adjustments can be made with minimal to nil distraction or delay.
The program memory 255 of the illustrated computer system 240 may have stored therein software modules that, when executed, may cause the processor 245 to perform certain functions according to the software modules. For example, software modules comprising an initialization module 295, an executive module 300, a laser control module 305, and a graphical user interface manager 310 may be included. Additionally, the semi-permanent memory may store such items as a screen library 315 and an icon library 320 and, further, may include locations identified in FIG. 13 as parameter storage 325 for storing system parameters.
1. A laser device adapted to generate electromagnetic energy according to a plurality of display activated and controllable parameters, the device comprising:
a graphical user interface adapted to present the plurality of display activated and controllable parameters to a user, the graphical user interface further being adapted to receive adjustments to one or more of the plurality of the display activated and controllable parameters;
a touchscreen provided as a part of the graphical user interface;
a plurality of electromagnetic energy control icons displayed on the touchscreen; and
circuitry and software operationally coupling the graphical user interface and the microprocessor to the electromagnetic energy source, to facilitate communication among the graphical user interface, the microprocessor, and the electromagnetic energy device, whereby the microprocessor is enabled to control the electromagnetic energy source with commands according to user-inputted adjustments received from a user by way of the user's selection of one or more of the plurality of electromagnetic energy control icons of the touchscreen of the graphical user input device, wherein the electromagnetic energy source is responsive to the commands to vary a non-zero output of electromagnetic energy in response to one or more of the commands.
2. A laser device adapted to generate electromagnetic energy according to a plurality of display activated and controllable parameters, the device comprising:
a graphical user interface having a desktop viewable image that is scrollable using up and down arrows, the interface being adapted to present the plurality of parameters to a user, the graphical user interface being further adapted to receive adjustments to the plurality of preset parameter values, the graphical user interface comprising a touchscreen that is operably connected with an electromagnetic energy source; and
3. A laser device adapted to generate electromagnetic energy according to a plurality of display activated and controllable parameters, the device comprising:
a graphical user interface having a desktop viewable image that is scrollable using a wheel, the interface being adapted to present the plurality of parameters to a user, the graphical user interface being further adapted to receive adjustments to the plurality of preset parameter values, the graphical user interface comprising a touchscreen that is operably connected with an electromagnetic energy source; and
4. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein one or more of the plurality of electromagnetic energy control icons comprises an animated or virtual group of pages arranged as a stack or tablet of pages.
5. The laser device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the group comprises displayed elements of information elucidating one or more of settings, instructions, a user manual of the laser device, and databases of records, associations procedural steps.
6. The laser device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the group comprises displayed groups of information elucidating one or more of settings, instructions, a user manual of the laser device, and databases of records, associations procedural steps.
7. The laser device as set forth in claim 4, wherein the group comprises displayed elements and displayed further groups of information elucidating one or more of settings, instructions, a user manual of the laser device, and databases of records, associations procedural steps.
8. The laser device as set forth in claim 7, wherein combinations of elements are displayed on the touchscreen using one or more of stacked, partially overlapping, and fully overlapping images.
9. The laser device as set forth in claim 7, wherein combinations of groups are displayed on the touchscreen using one or more of stacked, partially overlapping, and fully overlapping images.
10. The laser device as set forth in claim 7, wherein combinations of elements and groups are displayed on the touchscreen using one or more of stacked, partially overlapping, and fully overlapping images.
11. The laser device as set forth in claim 5, wherein one or more of the elements and groups are factory installed.
12. The laser device as set forth in claim 5, wherein one or more of the elements and groups are created by a user.
13. The laser device as set forth in claim 5, wherein one or more of the elements and groups are created by a user from a factory-installed element or group.
14. The laser device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the elements and groups are factory installed and further are creatable and modifiable by a user.
15. The laser device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the elements, groups, and/or combinations of groups, are factory installed and/or creatable or modifiable by a user.
16. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein one or more of the groups comprises a top virtual page and additional virtual pages beneath it.
17. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, whereby upon selection by a user of a top page of a group the group undergoes a motion animatedly resembling a turning of the top page to an underlying page.
18. The laser device as set forth in claim 17, the underlying page comprising one or more of further information and a further menu on or relating to the selected top page.
19. The laser device as set forth in claim 16, whereby one or more of the elements on a top page of a group is selectable by a user to open-up or move-to another page or element.
20. The laser device as set forth in claim 19, the other page or element, corresponding to a selected element on the top page, comprising one or more of further information and a further menu on or relating to the selected element on the top page.
21. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, the top page comprising a listing, menu or outline of elements resembling a table of contents of a book.
22. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a given element on a page may comprise moving a displayed pointing device over the element or highlighting the element, and/or entering one or more confirmation inputs (e.g., one or more of a click of a pointing device, depression of a button or arrow on a housing of the user interface, a return or enter key, and a contacting of a user's finger or stylus on a part of a touchscreen).
23. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein turning of a page comprises a user selecting the page and sliding, moving or translating a pointer over a region of the selected page.
24. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein turning of a page comprises a user contacting the page and, while still contacting the page, moving or sliding a pointer over a region of the page.
25. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein turning of a page comprises a user touching an edge or corner of the page and, while still contacting the edge or corner, moving or sliding a pointer over a region of the page.
26. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein turning of a page comprises a user touching an edge or corner of the page with a finger or stylus and, while still contacting the edge or corner, moving or sliding the finger or stylus over a region of the page in a direction away from the edge or corner.
27. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a page comprises a user contacting a point on the page followed by sliding, moving or translating a pointer from the point over a region of the page.
28. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a page comprises a user contacting a region on the page followed by sliding, moving or translating a pointer from the region toward a more central region of the page.
29. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a page comprises a user touching an edge or corner of the page with a finger or stylus and, while still contacting the edge or corner, moving or sliding the finger or stylus over a part of the display.
30. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a page comprises a user moving or translating a pointer over a region of the page.
31. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein selection of a page comprises a user touching an edge or corner of the page with a finger or stylus and, while still contacting the edge or corner, moving or sliding the finger or stylus to a more central region of the page so as to “flip” or “turn” the page as would occur with a non-virtual page of a book.
32. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, and further comprising a wrist band.
33. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, wherein the touchpad is disposed over the display.
34. The laser device as set forth in any of claims 1, 2 or 3, and further comprising a scroll-wheel.
US12372690 2007-01-25 2009-02-17 Wrist-mounted laser with animated, page-based graphical user-interface Abandoned US20090225060A1 (en)
US2930508 true 2008-02-15 2008-02-15
US3097608 true 2008-02-24 2008-02-24
US3099708 true 2008-02-24 2008-02-24
PCT/US2010/024394 WO2010096427A1 (en) 2009-02-17 2010-02-17 Wrist-mounted laser with animated, page-based graphical user-interface
US20090225060A1 true true US20090225060A1 (en) 2009-09-10
ID=42634189
US12372690 Abandoned US20090225060A1 (en) 2007-01-25 2009-02-17 Wrist-mounted laser with animated, page-based graphical user-interface
US (1) US20090225060A1 (en)
WO (1) WO2010096427A1 (en)
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EP2528562A4 (en) * 2010-04-14 2013-07-31 Alcon Res Ltd Display for ophthalmic surgical console with user-selectable sectors
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WO2010096427A1 (en) 2010-08-26 application
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:RIZOIU, IOANA M.;BOUTOUSSOV, DMITRI;REEL/FRAME:022662/0907