Patent ID: 7386730

Claim:
An operation supporting system, which support an operation by sending information on the operation, comprising: an operating device including an imaging device for imaging a subject part of a patient and for outputting a real-time image signal; an information input device for inputting identification information of the patient and an identifier for indicating whether the identification information of the patient is encrypted or not; a first controller for encrypting or not encrypting the identification information of the patient input from the information input device according to the identifier without encrypting the real-time image signal; and a sending device for sending an encrypted or not encrypted information of the patient according to the identifier, and the identifier and the real time image signal output from the imaging device; a remote support device, said remote support device is located in a room remote from said operating device, said remote support device including a receiving device for receiving the encrypted information of the patient, the identifier and the real-time image signal sent from the sending device; a second controller for decrypting the information of the patient received by the receiving device only when the identifier indicates that the information of the patient is encrypted; and a display device for displaying the identification information of the patient via the second controller and the real-time image signal from the receiving device.