Patent ID: 8648900

Claim:
Apparatus for initiating an alert of a change in a feature of a patient's face while the patient is in a prone position during a medical procedure, comprising: a facial cushion for providing cranial support for a patient in a prone position during a medical procedure, wherein the cushion has at least one frontal aperture that is dimensioned so that at least one facial feature of a patient wearing the facial cushion and in a prone position is visible through the at least one aperture from beneath the patient; a video camera having a lens disposed for providing a sequence of video signals representing sequential images of the at least one facial feature through the at least one frontal aperture; and a computer coupled to the video camera for processing the video signals; wherein the computer is programmed (a) for processing the video signals to detect a change in at least one aspect of the sequential images of the at least one facial feature that exceeds a predetermined threshold while the facial cushion is providing cranial support for the patient in a prone position during a medical procedure, and (b) for initiating a alert when the predetermined threshold is exceeded.