초록 ▼

A medical tracking and appliance control system includes a medical tracking system having a camera array and an infrared light source, and at least one medical appliance controllable via infrared signals or operative to exchange data via infrared signals. The infrared light source of the medical tra

A medical tracking and appliance control system includes a medical tracking system having a camera array and an infrared light source, and at least one medical appliance controllable via infrared signals or operative to exchange data via infrared signals. The infrared light source of the medical tracking system is operable to provide wireless control and/or data exchange with the medical appliance.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A medical tracking and appliance control system, comprising: a medical tracking system including a camera array and an infrared light source, the infrared light source configured to provide infrared light in a medical workspace for reflection by trackable markers placed in the medical workspace,

1. A medical tracking and appliance control system, comprising: a medical tracking system including a camera array and an infrared light source, the infrared light source configured to provide infrared light in a medical workspace for reflection by trackable markers placed in the medical workspace, and the camera array configured to detect a position of the markers based on the infrared light reflected by the markers;at least one medical appliance controllable via infrared signals or operative to exchange data via infrared signals; anda controller for controlling the infrared light source of the medical tracking system to provide wireless control and/or data exchange with the at least one medical appliance,said controller configured to time-multiplex light output by the light source into a plurality of time periods, wherein a first time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to an image acquisition period of the camera array, and a second time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to at least one of a wireless control period or a data transfer period with the at least one medical appliance. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical appliance is at least one of an operation lamp, a medical navigation system, a medical robot, a data or image recording appliance, a data or image reproducing appliance, patient couch, an operating theater microscope, a bi-polar or uni-polar surgical high-frequency instrument, an endoscope, an ultrasound device, a fluoroscope, a laser registration device, multiple tracking means, automatic supporting or holding devices, a ceiling light, an audio/video system, a thermal mat, or a printer. 3. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central processing unit for control and/or data exchange. 4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the central processing unit is integrated in the at least one medical appliance. 5. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a central input unit for control and/or data exchange. 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the central input unit is integrated in the at least one medical appliance. 7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one medical appliance comprises a processing unit. 8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the infrared light source is integrated with the camera array. 9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to time displace tracking signals for tracking an object relative to control signals for controlling the at least one medical appliance or data signals exchanged with the at least one medical appliance, wherein the tracking signals are different from the control signals and the data signals. 10. A method for controlling at least one medical appliance in a medical setting or for data exchange between the at least one medical appliance and other systems, said controlling and data exchange performed using medical tracking system that includes an infrared light source configured to provide infrared light in a medical workspace for reflection by passive markers placed in the medical workspace, comprising using the infrared light source of the medical tracking system for both optically tracking an object in three-dimensional space and transmitting control signals and/or data signals from the medical tracking system to the at least one medical appliance. 11. The method according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the at least one medical appliance is addressed using the infrared light source. 12. The method according to claim 10, wherein using the infrared light source includes outputting control signals and/or data exchange signals in addition to or instead of tracking signal outputs of the infrared light source. 13. The method according to claim 10, further comprising controlling the camera array such that the camera array is not enabled to record positional data when tracking signal outputs are not generated. 14. The method according to claim 10, wherein control signals and/or data exchange signals during intervals between tracking signal outputs of the infrared light source. 15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising time displacing tracking signals for tracking an object relative to control signals for controlling the at least one medical appliance or data signals exchanged with the at least one medical appliance, wherein the tracking signals are different from the control signals and the data signals. 16. The method according to claim 10, wherein using includes using the infrared light source as a carrier for the control signals and/or the data signals transmitted between the medical tracking system and the at least one medical appliance. 17. The method according to claim 10, wherein using includes time-multiplexing light output by the light source into a plurality of time periods, wherein a first time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to an image acquisition period of the camera array, and a second time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to at least one of wireless control period or a data transfer period with the at least one medical appliance. 18. A computer program embodied on a non-transitory computer readable medium for controlling at least one medical appliance in a medical setting or for data exchange between the at least one medical appliance and other systems, said controlling and data exchange performed using medical tracking system that includes an infrared light source configured to provide infrared light in a medical workspace for reflection by passive markers placed in the medical workspace, comprising code that controls the infrared light source of the medical tracking system such that the infrared light source operates as a carrier for control signals and/or data signals communicated between the medical tracking system and the at least one medical appliance, wherein control of the infrared light source includes controlling the infrared light source to time-multiplex light output by the light source into a plurality of time periods, wherein a first time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to an image acquisition period of a camera array, and a second time period of the plurality of time periods corresponds to at least one of a wireless control period or a data transfer period with the at least one medical appliance.