Surgical patient and / or equipment positioning system and method

Abstract

A surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system (100) suitable for establishing a patient (166) and / or at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) as anchor points for a surgical procedure in an operating room (150) and / or for facilitating the optimal positioning of the patient (166) and / or at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) may include, hereafter, at least one of the following: a horizontal patient surgical position (178) corresponding to the optimal position of a surgical patient table (116) configured to support the patient (166) in a surgical procedure, and at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) corresponding to the optimal position of each surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) in a surgical procedure. A surgical patent and / or instrument positioning method (500) and an emitter positioning assembly (605) are also disclosed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the positioning of patients and / or surgical instruments for surgical procedures. More specifically, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system and method that facilitate the rapid and accurate positioning of a patient and / or surgical instrument using a light beam for a surgical procedure.

Background Art

[0002] U.S. Patent No. 5,116,344 discloses an apparatus for marking a predetermined position of a target for a surgical procedure within a patient's brain. The apparatus includes a frame for fixedly holding a patient's skull, the frame having a side piece with a guide extending along a first line on one side thereof, a first support member attached to the guide for adjustment along the first line and along a second line perpendicular to the first line, a rotatable member supported on the first support member for rotation about a third line perpendicular to the first and second lines, an arm spaced from the third line and attached to the rotatable member and having a first end extending longitudinally parallel to the third line in a direction away from the opposite side of the frame, whereby the arm is adjustable about the third line by rotation of the rotatable member, a second support member including the arm, an arcuate support member attached to the arm for adjustment along the third line and for transverse adjustment of the arm along an arcuate path defined by the arc of the arcuate support member, and a laser light source attached to the arcuate support member for aiming a laser beam directly into the patient's skull at the position of the target to provide guide beam illumination of intervening tissue on the surgical path to the target as the surgeon proceeds along the path and to mark the target when the surgeon arrives.

[0003] U.S. Patent No. 6,591,239 discloses a voice-controlled surgical suite for one person to control multiple surgical instruments. The system includes a voice recognition device adapted to recognize a set of predetermined voice commands from one person and generate a corresponding set of command output signals. A surgical table is operably connected to the voice recognition device and responds to a first set of command output signals to initiate movement of the selected surgical table. A surgical light head is connected similarly to the voice recognition system and responds to a second set of command output signals to initiate operation of the selected surgical light head. In addition, a surgical camera and task light device are included in the system and respond to fourth and third sets of command output signals generated by the voice recognition device to initiate operation of the selected surgical camera and surgical task light, respectively. The surgical instruments have manual controls to provide redundancy and to disable voice control signals as needed.

[0004] U.S. Patent No. 7,238,177 discloses a method, system, and apparatus for calibrating a laser ablation system, such as an excimer laser system for selectively ablating the cornea of ​​a patient's eye. This intervention also facilitates the alignment of an eye-tracking camera that measures the position of the eye during laser ophthalmic surgery. A calibration and alignment fixture for a scanning laser beam delivery system with an eye-tracking camera may include a structure that can be positioned in the treatment plane. This structure has the feature of directing the laser energy incident thereon to a calibration energy sensor, and has at least one reference edge for determining the characteristics (shape, dimensions, etc.) of the laser beam, and an artificial pupil for determining the alignment of the eye-tracking camera with the laser system.

[0005] U.S. Patent No. 10,799,294 discloses a method and system for generating operating room layout plans for surgical procedures involving a patient and access trajectory. A patient model is positioned in a virtual coordinate space representing the operating room and rendered on a display along with an access trajectory relative to the patient. The access trajectory defines the operating zone in the virtual coordinate space. The planning system receives a selection of navigation camera positions in the virtual coordinate space, renders a navigation camera model visually representing the field of view of the operation, determines whether the navigation camera has a direct line of sight to the operating zone, indicates an error if it does not, and outputs an operating room layout plan based on the model's position in the virtual coordinate space.

[0006] U.S. Patent No. 11,183,297 discloses a system and method for positioning objects within an operating room in preparation for a surgical procedure. The objects are positioned based on surgical procedure information provided to a guidance station. The surgical procedure information indicates the desired positioning of the objects. The positioning of the objects is then guided using one or more tracking elements according to those desired positions.

[0007] U.S. Patent No. 11,389,246 discloses a generated virtual operating room (OR) that includes virtual surgical equipment based on existing operating room models and existing equipment models. Sensor feedback is received to define a physical operating room with physical equipment, which includes a surgical robotic system within the physical operating room. The virtual operating room and virtual surgical equipment are updated based on the sensor feedback. The layout of the virtual surgical equipment is optimized within the virtual operating room. The virtual operating room and virtual surgical equipment are rendered on a display.

[0008] U.S. Patent Application No. 2020 / 0060786 discloses an operating room layout and method of using it, providing a portable or handheld communication device capable of transmitting instructions and commands necessary for operating a laser to each person in charge of operating a surgical instrument such as a laser, and further providing a display device capable of displaying video and other information shown on a monitor to each person in the operating room who is required to observe the monitor. The handheld wireless communication device may be a smartphone or tablet, and the display device may be a separate wireless display device or the display of a smartphone or tablet. Operation of the surgical instrument may be by voice command, and it is possible to control the instrument while continuously viewing video and information on the display device.

[0009] Chinese Utility Model No. 206526110(U) discloses a laser head fixing device for an X-ray machine. The laser head fixing device includes a first steering wheel positioned on the X-ray machine, a vertical first rotating shaft, and a second steering wheel mounted on the first steering wheel.

[0010] Chinese Patent No. 217853297 discloses a terminal laser positioning device for a surgical robot, including a positioning mechanism. The positioning mechanism includes a first connecting plate. The surface of the first connecting plate is fixed to a first connecting shaft. The side of the first connecting plate is fixed to an elastic plate. A glass shell is mounted in an internal cavity within the elastic plate. The internal fixing part of the glass case is connected to a copper wire. The device can perform rapid and accurate positioning without the need to repeatedly adjust the position of the positioning ruler and the position of the X-ray imaging device by using a laser-irradiated copper wire to produce a halo effect.

[0011] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-700021 discloses a method for arranging an operating room that allows a person to easily consider, decide on, or change the layout of medical instruments and other equipment in the operating room on-site, and enables even a person unfamiliar with drawings to easily understand the drawings. This method uses an operating room layout system. The layout system comprises a base corresponding to the floor of the operating room, wall panels corresponding to the walls of the operating room, and wall panels depicting medical instruments and containing instruments. The panels are attachable to and detachable from the base. This method achieves the determination of the room layout by utilizing the temporary placement of panels on the base.

[0012] German Patent Application Publication No. 4418216A1 discloses a method for positioning a patient on an adjustable underlay table for radiological diagnosis or radiotherapy. The method uses one, preferably three, laser outputs to transmit beams along the length of the patient's body and / or across the patient's body. These beams should intersect at locations on the patient's body required for isocenters that may be pre-marked. The underlay is adjusted along one or three orthogonal axes until the markings are in the required relationship with the laser beams. Three housing pads, fixed to the patient's skin using surgical plaster, reflect the laser beams back to sensors that control evaluation and steering devices. This generates a signal when the pads reach a selected distance from the isocenters of the radiological equipment and positioning is complete. [Overview of the project] [Means for solving the problem]

[0013] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure generally relate to surgical patient and / or instrument positioning systems for optimally positioning a patient and / or at least one surgical instrument unit for surgical procedures in an operating room. An exemplary embodiment of the system may include, below, a horizontal patient surgical position corresponding to an optimal position of a surgical patient table configured to support a patient in a surgical procedure; a horizontal patient positioning light emitter located directly above the horizontal patient surgical position, the horizontal patient positioning light emitter configured to emit a downward light beam incident on a selected point on the patient when the surgical patient table is deployed to a predetermined position at the horizontal patient surgical position; at least one horizontal instrument operating position corresponding to an optimal position of at least one surgical instrument unit in a surgical procedure; at least one horizontal instrument positioning light emitter configured to be positioned on at least one surgical instrument unit; and at least one high-altitude light marker located directly above at least one horizontal instrument operating position, the at least one horizontal instrument positioning light emitter configured to emit at least one upward light beam incident on at least one high-altitude light marker at at least one light beam inlet when at least one surgical instrument unit is at at least one horizontal instrument operating position.

[0014] The exemplary embodiments of this disclosure further relate, in general, to surgical patient and / or instrument positioning methods for optimally positioning a patient and / or at least one surgical instrument unit for surgical procedures in an operating room. An exemplary embodiment of this method may include at least one of the following: determining a horizontal patient surgical position corresponding to the optimal position of a surgical patient table in the horizontal plane; emitting a downward light beam from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter directly above the horizontal patient surgical position; placing a patent on the surgical patient table; moving the surgical patient table to the horizontal patient surgical position by moving the surgical patient table in the horizontal plane until the downward light beam strikes a selected point on the patient; fixing the surgical patient table to the horizontal patient surgical position; determining a horizontal instrument operating position corresponding to the optimal position of at least one surgical instrument unit in the horizontal plane; emitting an upward light beam from a horizontal instrument positioning light emitter on at least one surgical instrument unit; moving at least one surgical instrument unit in the horizontal plane until the upward light beam strikes a high-altitude light marker directly above the horizontal instrument operating position of at least one surgical instrument unit; and fixing at least one surgical instrument unit to the horizontal instrument operating position.

[0015] Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure further relate, in general, to surgical patient and / or instrument positioning methods for optimally positioning any combination of at least two of a surgical patient table and at least one surgical instrument unit for surgical procedures in an operating room. Exemplary embodiments of the method may include: establishing a selected one of at least two of a surgical patient table and at least one surgical instrument unit as an anchor point for positioning the remaining at least one of the at least two of a surgical patient table and at least one surgical instrument unit by deploying the selected one of at least two of a surgical patient table and at least one surgical instrument unit to a selected one of the at least two of a surgical patient table and at least one surgical instrument unit located at a corresponding selected one of the patient surgical position and at least one surgical instrument position in an operating room.

[0016] Exceptional embodiments of this disclosure further generally relate to emitter positioning assemblies. Exceptional embodiments of emitter positioning assemblies may include a vertical assembly arm. A horizontal assembly arm may be supported by the vertical assembly arm. A horizontal patient positioning optical emitter may be supported by the horizontal assembly arm. The horizontal patient positioning optical emitter may be configured to emit a downward-facing light beam along the vertical Z-axis.

[0017] Herein, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described by reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] [Figure 1]An example implementation of the surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system of the present disclosure, after adjusting the horizontal X and Y axes of the machine and the surgical patient table and the vertical Z axis of the surgical patient table, deploying a plurality of units of the surgical instrument and the surgical patient table at their respective horizontal instrument operating positions and horizontal patient surgical positions. It is a diagram of the operating room floor in an operating room in a typical implementation.

[0019] [Figure 2] A diagram of the operating room ceiling in an operating room shown in FIG. 1, having a plurality of high-place light markers corresponding to the respective horizontal instrument operating positions of the surgical instrument and a horizontal patient positioning light emitter corresponding to the horizontal patient surgical position of the surgical patient table in a typical implementation of an exemplary surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system.

[0020] [Figure 3] A front view of the operating room shown in FIG. 1 in a typical implementation of an exemplary surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system.

[0021] [Figure 4] An enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part of the operating room floor showing the typical rotational X and Y axis position adjustments of a surgical instrument unit in the implementation of some embodiments of a surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system.

[0022] [Figure 5] An enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part of the operating room floor before the typical horizontal X and Y axis position adjustments of the surgical patient table to the horizontal patient surgical position (shown by imaginary lines).

[0023] [Figure 6] An enlarged top cross-sectional view of the operating room floor and the surgical patient table shown in FIG. 5, where the surgical patient table is in the horizontal patient surgical position after the position adjustment is completed.

[0024] [Figure 7]A downward light beam with a crosshair is emitted from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter (not shown), enters the patient, and an angled light beam with a crosshair is emitted from a vertical patient positioning light emitter, first above the patient and across the patient, and is a front cross-sectional view of a part of an operating room before vertical Z-axis positioning adjustment of an operating table for surgery to a desired height.

[0025] [Figure 8] A downward light beam with a crosshair is emitted from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter, enters the patient, and an angled light beam with a crosshair is emitted from a vertical patient positioning light emitter and enters the patient in a relationship that coincides with the crosshair of the downward light beam. It is a front cross-sectional view of a part of an operating room shown in FIG. 7 when the operating table for surgery is adjusted to a desired height.

[0026] [Figure 9] It is a top cross-sectional view of an operating table for surgery where the crosshair of the angled light beam emitted by the vertical patient positioning light emitter coincides with the crosshair of the downward light beam emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter on the patient.

[0027] [Figure 10] It is an enlarged view of the crosshair of the angled light beam that coincides with the crosshair of the downward light beam of the downward light beam on the patient.

[0028] [Figure 11] It is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of a part of an operating room floor before typical horizontal X-axis and Y-axis positioning adjustments of a surgical instrument unit to a horizontal instrument operation position (shown by imaginary lines).

[0029] [Figure 12] After the positioning adjustment is completed, the surgical instrument unit is in the horizontal instrument operation position, and it is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of an operating room floor and surgical instruments shown in FIG. 11.

[0030] [Figure 13]This is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of a portion of the operating room floor and operating room wall of a typical operating room before adjustment of the horizontal rotation X-axis and Y-axis position of a rotatable surgical instrument unit to a horizontal rotation position (shown by dashed lines).

[0031] [Figure 14] Figure 13 is an enlarged top cross-sectional view of the operating room floor, operating room wall, and rotatable surgical instrument unit, showing the rotatable surgical instrument in the horizontal rotation position after position adjustment is complete.

[0032] [Figure 15] This is a top view of the operating room floor in an operating room in a typical implementation of an exemplary ophthalmic surgical embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of the present disclosure.

[0033] [Figure 16] Figure 15 is a bottom view of the operating room ceiling inside the operating room.

[0034] [Figure 17] Figure 15 is a perspective view of a typical ophthalmic surgical microscope with an optical emitter mounting assembly and optical emitter retrofitted to the microscope, representing a typical implementation of the system shown.

[0035] [Figure 18] This is an enlarged side view of the optical emitter mounting assembly shown in Figure 17, attached to an ophthalmic surgical microscope (shown in cross-sectional view).

[0036] [Figure 19] This is a magnified cross-sectional view of a portion of an ophthalmic surgical microscope in which an optical emitter mounting assembly is incorporated into the microscope, according to several embodiments of a surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system.

[0037] [Figure 20]Figure 15 shows an enlarged top cross-sectional view of the operating room floor and side wall of an operating room, which has a rotatably adjustable visualization system on the operating room floor, a rotating instrument position light emitter on the visualization system, and side light markers on the side wall of the operating room.

[0038] [Figure 21] Figure 15 shows an enlarged top cross-sectional view of the operating room floor and side wall of an operating room, where the display screen of the visualization system is rotatably adjusted to the equipment operating position when a horizontal side light beam emitted onto the display screen by a rotating equipment position light emitter is aligned with a side light marker on the operating room wall.

[0039] [Figure 22] This is a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of the present disclosure, which more specifically illustrates a typical control system configured in which a centralized user interface operates various components of the system.

[0040] [Figure 23] This block diagram more specifically illustrates a typical control system in which an instrument user interface configured to control each surgical instrument unit may also be configured to operate a corresponding instrument positioning optical emitter on the surgical instrument unit, illustrating an alternative exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of the present disclosure.

[0041] [Figure 24] This is a block diagram of another alternative exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system of the present disclosure, which more specifically illustrates a typical control system in which each unit of the surgical instrument has its own dedicated optical emitter user interface.

[0042] [Figure 25] This flowchart illustrates a typical assembly or setup method for an exemplary embodiment of a surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system.

[0043] [Figure 26] This is a flowchart illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure.

[0044] [Figure 27] More specifically, an emitter positioning assembly (shown by dashed lines) mounted on a surgical instrument unit supports and positions a horizontal patient positioning light emitter (not shown) on the patient when the patient lies on the surgical patient table, facilitating horizontal positioning of the patient in the operating room, the emitter positioning assembly also supports a vertical patient positioning light emitter when an angled light beam is emitted onto the patient from the vertical patient positioning light emitter, facilitating vertical positioning of the patient in the operating room, is shown as a top view of the operating room floor in an operating room in a typical implementation of an alternative exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of the present disclosure.

[0045] [Figure 28] Figure 27 is a bottom view of the operating room ceiling inside the operating room, showing the emitter positioning assembly supporting the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter at the horizontal patient surgical position inside the operating room.

[0046] [Figure 29] This is a rear view of the operating room taken along line 29-29 in Figure 27, in a typical implementation of an exemplary surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system, in which an emitter positioning assembly supports a horizontal patient positioning light emitter on the patient, from which a downward light beam is emitted onto the patient, and a vertical patient positioning light emitter supports a vertical patient positioning light emitter, from which an angled light beam is emitted onto the patient.

[0047] [Figure 30]Figure 27 is an enlarged cross-sectional top view of a portion of the operating room floor of an operating room, showing a vertical patient positioning optical emitter supported by the emitter positioning assembly, which more specifically illustrates the typical positioning of a horizontal patient positioning optical emitter on a patient by the operation of the emitter positioning assembly in the implementation of several embodiments of a surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system.

[0048] [Figure 31] A front view of an operating room, including a visualization system, of a surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system, in which an emitter positioning assembly is mounted on a visualization system, a horizontal patient positioning light emitter is supported on the patient by the emitter positioning assembly when a downward light beam is emitted on the patient from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter, and a vertical patient positioning light emitter is mounted on the emitter positioning assembly when an angled light beam is emitted on the patient from a vertical patient positioning light emitter.

[0049] [Figure 32] Figure 31 is a top view of a portion of an operating room, in which a visualization system is adjacent to an operating table that supports the patient, a horizontal light beam is emitted from a rotating instrument positioning light emitter and incident on a side light marker, an emitter positioning assembly extends from the visualization system and supports a horizontal patient positioning light emitter on the patient for horizontal positioning of the operating table and the patient, and a vertical patient positioning light emitter is mounted on the emitter positioning assembly.

[0050] [Figure 33]A surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system is shown in a front view of an operating room, comprising an emitter assembly stand on which an emitter positioning assembly is mounted, wherein a horizontal patient positioning light emitter is supported on the patient by the emitter positioning assembly when a downward light beam is emitted onto the patient from the horizontal patient positioning light emitter, and a vertical patient positioning light emitter is supported on the patient by the emitter positioning assembly when an angled light beam is emitted onto the patient from the vertical patient positioning light emitter.

[0051] [Figure 34] This is a flowchart of another exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure, in which a surgical instrument unit functions as an anchor point for positioning the surgical patient table and / or the rest of the surgical instrument units in the operating room.

[0052] [Figure 35] This is a flowchart of another exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure, in which a surgical patient table functions as an anchor point for positioning a surgical instrument unit within the operating room. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0053] The following detailed description is by its very nature illustrative and is not intended to limit the embodiments described or the application and use of those embodiments. Where used herein, the terms “exemplary” or “illustrative” mean “serving as an example, example, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” should not necessarily be construed as being preferable or advantageous to other implementations. All implementations described below are illustrative implementations provided to enable a person skilled in the art to make or use embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure as defined by the claims. For the purposes of this description, the terms “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and their derivatives refer to the invention as oriented as shown in Figure 1. Furthermore, this description is not intended to be bound by any prior art, background art, summary, or any express or implied theory presented in the following detailed description. Furthermore, it should be understood that the specific devices and processes shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specification are merely illustrative embodiments of the concept of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims. Accordingly, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein should not be considered as limitations unless expressly stated otherwise in the claims.

[0054] All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable order of steps, unless otherwise stated herein or in accordance with the laws of logic. The use of any and all examples or illustrative language provided herein is intended to clarify the subject matter of this disclosure and not to limit the scope of the subject matter described in the claims. No element, step, component, or limitation referred to or described in the specification shall be construed as essential for performing the claimed subject matter with respect to any unclaimed component, step, or limitation.

[0055] Unless otherwise expressly or implicitly indicated, terms such as “comprise,” “comprising,” and “comprised of” throughout the specification and the appended claims should be interpreted in a comprehensive rather than exclusive or exhaustive sense, and are equivalent to the phrase “including but not limited to.” Each embodiment disclosed herein may include, be essentially composed of, or consist of the specific described elements, steps, components, or limitations. As used herein, the transitional terms “comprise” or “comprises” mean “to include, but not limited to, elements, steps, components, or limitations not specified, even in a major quantity.” The transitional term “consisting of” excludes any elements, steps, components, or limitations not specified. The transitional phrase “consint essentially of” limits the scope of the embodiment to the specified elements, steps, components, or limitations, and to those that do not substantially affect the embodiment. Throughout the specification, drawings and claims appended to this specification, unless otherwise stated, each embodiment of the subject matter described, illustrated and claimed may include, be essentially of, or be composed of any components, elements or combinations of components or elements described herein.

[0056] Unless otherwise stated using precise or limiting terminology, all numbers expressing quantities of components throughout the specification and claims should be understood as approximations of numerical values ​​cited to express quantities of those components. When used throughout the specification and claims, the term “about” has the meaning reasonably attributed to a person skilled in the art when used in conjunction with a stated numerical value or range, namely, a deviation from the stated value or range that is slightly more or slightly less than the stated value or range, ranging from a 0% deviation to a maximum of 20% of the stated value or range.

[0057] Various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein. Variations of the exemplary embodiments described herein may become apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the specification, drawings and claims of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present disclosure, as encompassed by the specification, claims and drawings, includes, to the extent permitted by applicable law, all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter described in the claims. Furthermore, any combination of elements in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the subject matter of the present disclosure unless otherwise stated herein.

[0058] Referring first to Figures 1 to 14 of the drawings, the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of this disclosure, hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the system, are shown as a whole by reference no. 100. As shown in Figure 1 and described below, in a typical application, the system 100 can facilitate the rapid and accurate positioning of an operating table or surgical patient table 116 on which a patient 166 lies, within a horizontal plane 164 formed by the horizontal X-axis 160 and the horizontal Y-axis 161, for surgical procedures in an operating room (OR) 150. As shown in Figure 3, in some embodiments, the system 100 can facilitate the rapid and accurate vertical positioning of the surgical patient table 116 along the Z-axis 162 to position the patient 166 at a selected height for surgical procedures. As used herein, “operating room” includes, but is not limited to, any room, enclosure, area or space within a clinic, hospital, medical center or other medical facility that is dedicated to or suitable for the performance of medical procedures.

[0059] As further shown in Figure 1, in some embodiments, the system 100 can facilitate the rapid and accurate horizontal positioning of at least one surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114 in a horizontal plane 164 formed by the X-axis 160 and the Y-axis 161 for surgical procedures. As shown in Figure 4, in some embodiments, the system 100 can facilitate the horizontal rotational positioning of at least one of the surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, 114 in a horizontal plane 164. Accurate horizontal positioning of the patient 166 and / or one or more surgical assistants 172 (Figure 1) may be necessary or desirable for the surgeon 170 and / or one or more surgical assistants 172 (Figure 1) to perform surgical procedures in an accurate, efficient, and time-effective manner. In this specification, non-limiting examples of system 100 are illustrated and described as having four surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114, respectively, but it will be recognized and understood that system 100 can be implemented using any number of surgical instrument units.

[0060] As shown in Figure 3 and described later, system 100 may utilize at least one downward-facing light beam 138 to facilitate the positioning of the surgical patient table 116 in the horizontal plane 164 (Figure 1). System 100 may utilize at least one angled light beam 142 to facilitate the vertical positioning of the surgical patient table 116 along the Z-axis 162. The angled light beam 142 may be directed downward at an angle to the horizontal plane 164 formed by the X-axis 160 and the Y-axis 161. System 100 may utilize at least one upward-facing light beam 128 to facilitate the horizontal positioning of surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, and 114 in the horizontal plane 164. As shown in Figure 4, system 100 may utilize at least one typical horizontal side light beam 146 to facilitate the horizontal rotational positioning of one or more units of the surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, and 114 in the horizontal plane 164.

[0061] As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the operating room 150 in which the system 100 is implemented may have a standard or conventional operating room design or layout, typically comprising an operating room floor 151, a rear operating room wall 152, side operating room walls 153, a front operating room wall 154, and an operating room ceiling 155. As shown in Figure 1, the surgical patient table 116 supporting the patient 166 may have an optimal horizontal patient operating position 178 on the operating room floor 151. Furthermore, or alternatively, the surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 may have corresponding optimal horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 on the operating room floor 151. The optimal horizontal patient operating position 178 of the surgical patient table 116 and / or the optimal horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, 184 of one or more units of each of the surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 may be necessary or desirable for the surgeon 170 and / or one or more surgical assistants 172 to easily access, operate, and perform the surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 for accurate, efficient, and timely management and execution of the procedure. Therefore, the system 100 can facilitate the rapid and accurate return, repositioning, and orientation of the surgical patient table 116 and / or surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 to their respective optimal horizontal patient surgical positions 178 and one or more horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, 184, after the surgical patient table 116 and / or surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 have been removed from their respective optimal horizontal patient surgical positions and instrument operating positions, particularly when the surgical patient table 116 and / or surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 are moved within or removed from the operating room 150 for cleaning of the operating room 150 between procedures or for repair, maintenance, replacement and / or other purposes of the instruments.

[0062] System 100 may be applicable to any type of surgical or medical procedure in an operating room 150 where precise positioning of a patient 166 by a surgical patient table 116 and / or surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 along the X-axis 160 and Y-axis 161 in the horizontal plane 164 and / or along the vertical Z-axis 162 is desired. Suitable surgical or medical procedures for implementation of System 100 may include, but are not limited to, surgical and medical procedures in general surgery, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, otolaryngology, orthopedics, podiatry, plastic or cosmetic surgery, ophthalmology, and neurosurgery, as well as invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular and other medical procedures. The surgical instruments 111, 112, 113, 114 used to perform the surgical procedure may depend on the procedure in question. Non-exclusive examples of surgical instruments include surgical robots, instrument holders, anesthesia equipment, surgical microscopes, vitrectomy equipment, visualization equipment, and the like.

[0063] As shown in Figure 2, at least one horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 may be provided on the operating room ceiling 155. The horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 may be positioned directly above the horizontal patient surgical position 178, which defines the optimal operating position of the surgical patient table 116 on the operating room floor 151. The horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 may include any type of device or combination of devices configured to emit a downward light beam 138 (Figure 3) toward and to the patient 166 when the patient 166 lies on the surgical patient table 116. In some embodiments, the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 may include, for example, at least one optical projector. One or more optical projectors of the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 may be configured to generate and emit a downward light beam 138 (Figure 3) so that the downward light beam 138 is incident on the patient 166 when the patient 166 lies on the surgical patient table 116. The downward light beam 138 may have an intensity that is safe for the patient 166's eyes 167 (Figure 5). As shown in Figures 1 and 6, the downward light beam 138 may be configured to form a downward light beam crosshair 140 at its point of incidence on the patient 166. The downward light beam crosshair 140 can be used to mark the surgical site on the patient 166.

[0064] As shown in Figure 1, in some embodiments, at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be mounted on the rear wall 152 of the operating room, one of the side walls 153 of the operating room (as shown), the ceiling 155 of the operating room, and / or the front wall 154 of the operating room. The vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be configured to emit an angled light beam 142 at a downward angle. The vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may include any type of device or combination of devices configured to emit an angled light beam 142 toward and toward the patient 166 when the patient 166 is lying on the surgical patient table 116 and the surgical patient table 116 is deployed to the optimal height for the surgical procedure. In some embodiments, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may include, for example, at least one optical projector. One or more optical projectors of the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be configured to generate and emit an angled light beam 142 such that the angled light beam 142 is incident on the patient 166 when the patient 166 lies on the surgical patient table 116. The angled light beam 142 may have an intensity that is safe for the patient 166's eyes 167.

[0065] As shown in Figure 7, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 can be configured so that the angled light beam 142 moves over and across the patient 166 when the surgical patient chair 116 is supporting the patient 116 above the operating room floor 154, below a desired operating height or vertical operating position, and incident on the patient 166 when the surgical patient chair 116 is supporting the patient 166 at a selected vertical operating position (Figure 8). As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the angled light beam 142 can be configured to form an angled light beam crosshair 144 at its point of incidence on the patient 166. As shown in Figure 10, the angled light beam crosshair 144 of the angled light beam 142 may coincide with or intersect the downward light beam crosshair 140 of the downward light beam 138 at the respective points of incidence of the downward light beam 138 and the angled light beam 142 on the patient 166.

[0066] As further shown in Figure 1, in some embodiments, at least one horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 101, 102, 103, 104 may be provided on each corresponding surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114. As shown in Figure 3, each horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 101, 102, 103, 104 may be configured to emit a corresponding upward light beam 128. In some embodiments, each horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 101, 102, 103, 104 may include a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam as the upward light beam 128.

[0067] As shown in Figure 2, the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, and 124 may be positioned directly above the horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 of the respective surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 within the operating room 150. For example, in some embodiments, though not limited to these, the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, and 124 may be positioned on the operating room ceiling 155. In other embodiments, the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, and 124 may be further or alternatively positioned on one or more high-altitude structures below the operating room ceiling 155 within the operating room 150. When surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 are in their respective horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184, the upward light beams 128 emitted by their respective horizontal instrument positioning light emitters 101, 102, 103, and 104 can coincide in position with and form the light beam inlet portions 131, 132, 133, and 134 on their respective high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, and 124.

[0068] Each of the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, 124 may include any type of marker having a color, texture and / or other appearance that visually contrasts with the operating room ceiling 155 and / or other high-altitude structures in which the high-altitude light markers are located. For example, but not limited to, each of the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, 124 may include a spot or mark, protrusion or indentation, made of ink, paint or chalk, or a button, tab, disc, strip, or tape made of plastic, metal, cloth and / or other material. In some embodiments, the upward light beam 128 emitted by the horizontal instrument positioning light emitters 101, 102, 103, 104 may be color-coded to match the color assigned to each surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114. For example, but not limited to, the upward light beam 128 may be blue, green, yellow, and red to identify which surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114 corresponds to which high-altitude light marker 121, 122, 123, 124. Thus, each high-altitude light marker 121, 122, 123, 124 may be color-coded to match the color of the upward light beam 128 emitted by its corresponding horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 101, 102, 103, 104. In some embodiments, surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, 114 may be assigned numbers, letters and / or other identification marks, in which case the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, 124 corresponding to the horizontal instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, 184 of each surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114 may have the same matching numbers, letters and / or other identification marks.

[0069] As shown in Figures 4, 13, and 14, in some embodiments, the optimal horizontal instrument operating position 181 or optimal horizontal rotation position of the surgical instrument unit 111 or its components can be achieved by rotating the surgical instrument unit 111 or its components around a rotation axis 136 (Figure 13) that can coincide with the vertical Z-axis 162. For example, but not limited to, the surgical instrument unit 111 may include a display screen of a visualization system (not shown) described later. The display screen may require a specific rotation direction relative to the surgeon 170 (Figure 1) for optimal visibility and visualization for the surgeon 170 during surgical procedures. Therefore, at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter 118 may be provided on the surgical instrument unit 111. The rotary instrument positioning light emitter 118 may typically be configured to emit a horizontal side light beam 146. In some embodiments, the rotating equipment positioning optical emitter 118 may include a laser configured to emit a collimated laser beam as a side optical beam 146.

[0070] At least one side light marker 125 may be provided on the rear wall 152 of the operating room, the side wall 153 of the operating room (as shown), and / or the front wall 154 of the operating room. The location or position of the side light marker 125 may be selected so that when the surgical instrument unit 111 or its rotatable component is in the optimal horizontal rotation position after a selected rotation in the horizontal plane 164 formed by the X-axis 160 and the Y-axis 161, the side light beam 146 emitted by the rotating instrument positioning light emitter 118 is incident on the side light marker 125. The side light marker 125 may have the same design as the high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, and 124 described herein.

[0071] In a typical application of System 100, one or more surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, 114 and surgical patient tables 116 may be moved from their corresponding operating positions 181, 182, 183, 184 for cleaning the operating room 150 and / or for maintenance, repair, replacement, and / or other purposes of the equipment. Therefore, the horizontal instrument light emitters 101, 102, 103, 104 may be operated to first emit their respective upward light beams 128 typically toward the operating room ceiling 155. As shown in Figure 11, each surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114 can be pulled, pushed, and / or otherwise operated horizontally along the horizontal X-axis 160 and / or horizontal Y-axis 161 in the horizontal plane 164 on the operating room floor 151 until the upward light beam 128 coincides with and enters the respective high-altitude light markers 121, 122, 123, 124 at the light beam inlet 131, 132, 133, 134 (Figure 2). Thus, as shown in Figure 12, each surgical instrument unit 111, 112, 113, 114 is positioned at its corresponding optimal horizontal instrument operating position 181, 182, 183, 184 on the operating room floor 151 in preparation for performing the surgical procedure.

[0072] Patient 166 may be brought into the operating room 150 on a patient transport stretcher (not shown) and subsequently transferred to a surgical patient table 116. A horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 (Figure 2) may be operated to emit a downward light beam 138 (Figure 3) typically having a downward light beam crosshair 140, which first enters the patient surgical position 178 on the operating room floor 151, as shown in Figure 5. The surgical patient table 116 may be pulled, pushed, and / or otherwise manipulated horizontally along the horizontal X-axis 160 and / or horizontal Y-axis 161 in the horizontal plane 164 on the operating room floor 151 until the downward light beam crosshair 140 is positionally aligned with and enters the surgical site on patient 166. Thus, as shown in Figure 6, the surgical patient table 116 is positioned at the optimal horizontal patient surgical position 178 on the operating room floor 151 in preparation for the performance of the surgical procedure. Subsequently, the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters 101, 102, 103, 104 and the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110 are turned off, and the surgical procedure can be initiated.

[0073] As shown in Figures 7 to 10, in some applications, the system 100 can facilitate vertical height adjustment of the surgical patient table 116 along the Z-axis 162 to properly position the patient 166 at a desired height for surgical procedures. Thus, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 can be operated to emit an angled light beam 142. As shown in Figure 7, the angled light beam 142 may first move above the patient 166 and typically enter the operating room floor 154, forming an angled light beam crosshair 144 (Figure 10) on the operating room floor 154. The surgical patient table 116 can then be operated to raise the patient 166 until the angled light beam 142 enters the patient 166 and the angled light beam crosshair 144 typically coincides with or intersects with the downward light beam crosshair 140 of the downward light beam 138 emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110, as shown in Figure 8. Subsequently, the surgical patient table 116 may be locked in place or fixed at a height selected by other means, and then the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be turned off to begin the surgical procedure.

[0074] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, in some applications, the system 100 can facilitate the rotational position adjustment of one or more of the surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 in the horizontal plane 164. Thus, the rotary instrument positioning light emitter 118 can be operated to emit a side light beam 146. As shown in Figure 13, the side light beam 146 can first be incident on the operating room side wall 153 adjacent to the side light marker 125. The surgical instrument unit 181 can then be rotated around its axis of rotation 136 until the side light beam 146 is incident on the side light marker 125, and the surgical instrument unit 181 is oriented to the optimal horizontal instrument operating position 181 as shown in Figure 14. The surgical instrument unit 181 can then be locked or otherwise fixed in place, and the rotary instrument positioning light emitter 118 can be turned off to initiate the surgical procedure.

[0075] In some applications, the system 100 may be implemented such that one selected of the surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 functions as an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of the surgical patient table 116 and / or the remaining surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 within the operating room 150. For example, but not limited to, the first surgical instrument unit 111 may first be deployed to its first instrument operating position 181 by an upward light beam 128 emitted from a first horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 101 being incident on a first light marker 121 at a first light beam inlet 131. Furthermore, rotational adjustment of the first surgical instrument unit 111 may be performed by, for example, by an incident on a side light beam 146 emitted by a rotating instrument positioning light emitter 118 being incident on a side light marker 125, as typically described herein. Subsequently, the first surgical instrument unit 111 becomes an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of the surgical patient table 116 at the patient surgical position 178, typically with the patient 166 placed on it. Thus, the surgical patient table 116 can then be positioned relative to the first surgical instrument unit 111 by, for example, but not limited to, typically by using a horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110, or by any other suitable means such as estimating or determining the position of the patient surgical position 178 relative to the first surgical instrument unit 111, and then the surgical patient table 116 is transported to the patient surgical position 178 on the operating room floor 151 and fixed in place.Subsequently, the remaining surgical instrument units 112, 113, and 114 can be positioned relative to the first surgical instrument unit 111 or the surgical patient table 116 by, for example, but typically by using their respective optical markers 122, 123, and 124, or by any other suitable means such as estimating or determining the positions of the instrument operating positions 182, 183, and 184 relative to the first surgical instrument unit 111 or the surgical patient table 116 by any other suitable means, such as estimating or determining the positions of the instrument operating positions 182, 183, and 184 relative to the first surgical instrument unit 111 or the surgical patient table 116, and then transport the surgical instrument units 112, 113, and 114 to their respective instrument operating positions 182, 183, and 184 on the operating room floor 151 and fix them in place.

[0076] In some applications, the system 100 may be implemented such that the surgical patient table 116 functions as an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of one or more surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 at their respective instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184. For example, but not limited to, the surgical patient table 116, typically with a patient 166 on it, can first be deployed into a patient surgical position 178, typically as described herein, when the downward beam crosshairs 140 of a downward beam 138 emitted by a horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 are incident on the patient 166. The surgical patient table 116 then becomes an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of one or more surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114. Subsequently, the surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 can be positioned relative to the surgical patient table 116 within their respective instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 by, for example, but not limited to, transporting or guiding the units to a predetermined position, by using the respective optical markers 121, 122, 123, and 124 as described herein, or by any other suitable means such as estimating or determining the position of the instrument operating positions 182, 183, and 184 relative to the surgical patient table 116 by any other suitable means, such as estimating or determining the position of the instrument operating positions 182, 183, and 184 relative to the surgical patient table 116, and then transporting or guiding the surgical instrument units 112, 113, and 114 to their respective instrument operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184 on the operating room floor 151.

[0077] Referring next to Figures 15 to 21 of the drawings, an exemplary ophthalmic surgical embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of this disclosure is shown collectively by reference numeral 200. In system 200, elements similar to each element of system 100 described herein with respect to Figures 1 to 14 are shown in Figures 15 to 21 by the same corresponding numbers in the range of 200 to 299. Thus, to the extent applicable, the entire same description described herein with respect to system 100 is incorporated herein by reference with respect to system 200. Accordingly, in a right eye ophthalmic surgical procedure, the position of the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 210 (Figure 16) on the operating room ceiling 255 or other elevated structure within the operating room 150 may correspond to the position of the patient's right eye 267 (Figure 15) when the patient 266 lies on the surgical patient table 216 in a horizontal patient surgical position 278. Therefore, the downward light beam 238 (Figure 16) emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210 can be incident on the right eye 267 of patient 266 with the downward light beam crosshairs 240 typically appearing over the patient's right eye 267. In left eye treatment, the position of the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210 (Figure 16) can correspond to the position of the left eye of patient 266.

[0078] The vertical patient positioning light emitter 208 may be mounted on the rear wall 252 of the operating room, as shown in the figure, or on one of the operating room side walls 253, the front wall 254, or the operating room ceiling 255. The vertical patient positioning light emitter 208 may be directed or aimed so that the angled light beam 242 emitted by the vertical patient positioning light emitter 208 is incident on the right eye 267 of the patient 266 when the operating table 216 is positioned in a desired vertical operating position along the vertical Z-axis 262. Thus, the angled light beam crosshairs 244 of the angled light beam 242 may coincide with or intersect with the downward light beam crosshairs 240 of the downward light beam 238 (Figure 16) emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210.

[0079] As shown in Figures 15 and 17-19, a surgical microscope 211 may be used in some ophthalmic surgical procedures. As shown in Figures 17-19, the surgical microscope 211 may have a standard or conventional ophthalmic surgical microscope design, typically having a wheeled base 293 that allows the surgical microscope 211 to be portablely supported on the operating room floor 251. A support column 294 may extend upward from the base 293. A main housing 295 may be supported by the support column 294. The main housing 295 may house various operating and control functions and components of the surgical microscope 211. An elongated swivel arm 296 may extend from the main housing 295. An eyepiece head 297 with an eyepiece lens 298 may be supported by the arm 296.

[0080] As shown in Figure 15, the surgical microscope 211 may have a microscope operating position 281 adjacent to the surgical patient table 216 on the operating room floor 251. Typically, as described later herein, a horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 201 may be provided on the surgical microscope 211. The horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 201 may be directed upward to emit an upward light beam 228. As shown in Figure 16, a first elevated light marker 221 may be provided on the operating room ceiling 255 or other elevated structure in the operating room 250, directly above the microscope operating position 281. Thus, when the surgical microscope 211 is in the microscope operating position 281 as shown in Figure 15, the upward light beam 228 emitted by the horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 201 may coincide with and incident upon the first elevated light marker 221 at the first light beam inlet 231, as shown in Figure 16.

[0081] As shown in Figures 17 and 18, in some embodiments, the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 can be retrofitted to the surgical microscope 211. Therefore, in an optical emitter mounting assembly 300 suitable for this purpose, the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 can be mounted typically to the main housing 295 of the surgical microscope 211 or to another component. In some embodiments, the optical emitter mounting assembly 300 may include a mounting bracket 301. The mounting bracket 301 may be attached to the main housing 295 by mounting bracket fasteners 302. The horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 can be mounted to the mounting bracket 301 in an upwardly oriented position. In alternative embodiments, the optical emitter mounting assembly 300 may have other designs suitable for mounting the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 on the main housing 295 of the surgical microscope 211. Wiring 306 may connect the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 to a suitable power supply and user interface (not shown), which will be discussed further in this specification.

[0082] As shown in Figure 19, in some embodiments, the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 may be incorporated into or manufactured as part of the main housing 295 or other components of the surgical microscope 211. Thus, the optical emitter cavity 304 may be provided within the main housing 295. The horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 201 may be mounted within the optical emitter cavity 304 using appropriate brackets and / or other fasteners (not shown).

[0083] As shown in Figures 15, 20, and 21, at least one visualization system 212 may be used in some ophthalmic surgical procedures. As shown in Figures 20 and 21, the visualization system 212 may include a typically wheeled base 286 that supports the visualization system 212 on the operating room floor 251 and can make it portable. A support column 287 may extend upward from the base 286. A display screen 289 may be mounted on the support column 287 via a screen support frame, bracket, or arm 288. The display screen 289 may be adjustablely rotatable around a rotation axis 236, typically defined by the longitudinal vertical axis of the support column 287. For example, in some embodiments, though not limited to them, the visualization system 212 may include the NGENUITY® ophthalmic surgical visualization system, which is well known in the art. The rotation axis 236 may coincide with the vertical Z-axis 262.

[0084] As shown in Figure 15, the visualization system 212 may have a visualization system operating position 282 on the operating room floor 251. In some applications, the visualization system operating position 282 may generally be located on the side of the surgical patient table 216 opposite to the surgical microscope 211. A horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 202 may be provided on the visualization system 212. For example, but not limited to, as shown in Figures 20 and 21, in some embodiments, the horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 202 may be provided on a support column 287 of the visualization system 212, which is on the rotation axis 236 of the display screen 289. As shown in Figures 18 and 19, the horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 202 may be directed upward to emit an upward light beam 228. As shown in Figure 16, a second elevated light marker 222 may be provided on the operating room ceiling 255 or other elevated structure within the operating room 250, directly above the visualization system operating position 282. Therefore, when the visualization system 212 is in the visualization system operating position 282 as shown in Figure 15, the upward light beam 228 emitted by the horizontal equipment positioning light emitter 202 can coincide with the second high-altitude light marker 222 at the second light beam inlet 232 as shown in Figure 16, and may be incident upon it.

[0085] As further shown in Figures 20 and 21, in some embodiments, the system 200 may include a rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 which may be mounted on the display screen 289 of the visualization system 212. The rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 may be horizontally oriented to emit a typical horizontal side light beam 246 (Figure 21) laterally from the display screen 289. A side light marker 225 may be mounted on the operating room side wall 253 as shown, or on the rear operating room wall 252 or the front operating room wall 254 of the operating room 250. The side light marker 225 may be positioned so that the side light beam 246 emitted by the rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 is incident on the side light marker 225 when the display screen 289 of the visualization system 212 is oriented to a selected field of view angle or orientation or horizontal rotation position for optimal viewing by the surgeon 270 (Figure 15) during a surgical procedure.

[0086] As shown in Figure 15, a phacoemulsification unit 213 may be used in some ophthalmic surgical procedures. The phacoemulsification unit 213 may be used to remove a cataract from the right eye 267 of patient 266. The phacoemulsification unit 213 may be positioned adjacent to the surgeon 270 to facilitate access by the surgeon 270 during the surgical procedure.

[0087] The ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213 may have a standard or conventional design including a handpiece, foot pedal, perfusion hardware, and a suction system (not shown). A horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 203 may be mounted on the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213. The horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 203 may be oriented upward to emit an upward light beam 228.

[0088] As shown in Figure 16, a third high-altitude optical marker 223 may be located on the operating room ceiling 255 or other high-altitude structure within the operating room 250, directly above the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit operating position 283. Therefore, when the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213 is in the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit operating position 283 as shown in Figure 15, the upward light beam 228 emitted by the horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 203 may coincide with the third high-altitude optical marker 223 at the third light beam ingress 233, as shown in Figure 16, and may be incident upon it.

[0089] The operation of system 200 may be as described herein with respect to the operation of system 100. Thus, the horizontal instrument positioning light emitters 201, 202, and 203 may each be operated to emit their corresponding upward light beams 228. The operating microscope 211, visualization system 212, and ultrasonic phacoemulsification unit 213 may be moved within a horizontal plane 264 defined by the X-axis 260 and Y-axis 261 and may be appropriately positioned at the respective microscope operating position 281, visualization system operating position 282, and ultrasonic phacoemulsification unit operating position 283, indicated by each upward light beam 228 incident on its corresponding high-altitude light markers 221, 222, and 223.

[0090] With the patient 266 on it, the surgical patient table 216 can be moved in the horizontal plane 264 until the downward beam crosshairs 240 of the downward beam 238 emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210 enter the right eye 267 of the patient 266, thus indicating that the surgical patient table 216 is in the horizontal patient surgical position 278. In some applications, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 208 may be operated to emit an angled beam 242, and the surgical patient table 216 may be raised until the angled beam crosshairs 244 of the angled beam 242 enter the right eye 267 of the patient 266 and typically coincide with or intersect the downward beam crosshairs 240 of the downward beam 238, after which the surgical patient table 216 may be locked or fixed in the selected vertical operating position.

[0091] In some applications, the rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 may be operated to emit a side light beam 246, and the display screen 289 of the visualization system 212 may be rotated to indicate that the side light beam 246 is incident on the side light marker 225 as shown in Figure 21, and therefore the display screen 289 is oriented to the optimal viewing angle for the surgeon 270. After the patient and instrument positioning is complete, the horizontal instrument positioning light emitters 201, 202, 203, the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 208, and the rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 may then be turned off and the surgical procedure may commence.

[0092] In some applications, the system 200 may be implemented such that the surgical microscope 211 functions as an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of the surgical patient table 116, the visualization system 212, the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213, and / or other surgical instrument units within the operating room 250. For example, but not limited to, the surgical microscope 211 may first be deployed into its corresponding instrument operating position 281 by an upward light beam 228 emitted from a horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 201, which is incident on a light marker 221 at a first light beam inlet 231. The surgical microscope 211 then becomes an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of the surgical patient table 216, typically with a patient 266 placed on it, at the patient surgical position 278. Subsequently, the surgical patient table 216 may be positioned relative to the surgical microscope 211 at the patient surgical position 278 by using the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210, as typically described herein, or by any other suitable means, such as estimating or determining the appropriate position of the patient surgical position 278 by other means, and then the surgical patient table 216 is transported or moved to bring it operationally close to the surgical microscope 211. The arms 296 and eyepiece head 297 of the surgical microscope 211 may be positioned so that the eyepiece head 297 is positioned over the eye 267 of the patient 266. Subsequently, the visualization system 212, the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213, and / or other surgical instrument units may be positioned relative to the surgical patient table 216 and / or surgical microscope 211, typically by using their respective optical markers 222, 223, or by any other suitable means, such as estimating or otherwise determining the appropriate positions of the instrument operating positions 282, 283 relative to the surgical microscope 211. Then, for example, but not limited to, the visualization system 212 and the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213 are transported or moved on the operating room floor 251 to their respective instrument operating positions 282, 283.

[0093] In some applications, the surgical microscope 211 may be programmed or configured to automatically move to a home or reference position corresponding to its instrument operating position 281. Therefore, the base 293 of the surgical microscope 211 may be fitted with a wheel motor (not shown) configured to rotate wheels on the base 293. At least one controller (not shown) may operably interface with the wheel motor to facilitate proper positioning of the base 293 at the instrument operating position 281 in accordance with the rotation of the wheels on the operating room floor 251. To facilitate precise positioning of the base 293 at the instrument operating position 281, the controller may guide or control the direction and rotation of the wheels on the base 293 using GPS and / or other guidance systems, typically in accordance with the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Subsequently, the surgical patient table 216 may be manually transported across the operating room floor 251 until the surgical patient table 216 is properly positioned at the patient surgical position 278 and the patient 266 placed on the surgical patient table 216 is positioned under the eyepiece head 297 on the arm 296 of the surgical microscope 211. The visualization system 212, the ultrasonic phacoemulsification and aspiration unit 213 and / or other surgical instrument units may then be positioned relative to the surgical patient table 116 and / or surgical microscope 211, typically using their respective optical markers 122, 123, 124 or any other suitable means.

[0094] Referring next to Figure 22 of the drawings, a typical control system 320 suitable for implementing system 100 or system 200, hereafter system 100, is shown. In the control system 320, a centralized user interface 322 may be configured to operate the horizontal equipment positioning optical emitters 101, 102, 103, 104 of system 100, as well as the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110, the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108, and the rotary equipment positioning optical emitter 118. Thus, the emitter controller 321 can operably interface with the user interface 322, as well as the horizontal equipment positioning optical emitters 101, 102, 103, 104, the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110, the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108, and the rotary equipment positioning optical emitter 118. The emitter controller 321 may be configured to facilitate control of various components 100 of the system by user input via the user interface 322. At least one emitter power supply 323 may interface with the emitter controller 321. In some embodiments, the emitter power supply 323 may include a standard electrical outlet that may be located on a wall, floor, ceiling, power module, or other surface or component within the operating room 150.

[0095] The user interface 322 of the control system 320 may include any control function or combination of control functions suitable for controlling the upward light beam 128 emitted by the horizontal equipment positioning light emitters 101, 102, 103, and 104, the side light beam 146 emitted by the rotating equipment positioning light emitter 118, the downward light beam 138 emitted by the horizontal patient positioning emitter 110, and the angled light beam 142 emitted by the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108. Suitable control functions, for example, but not limited to, may include buttons, switches, dials, and touchscreen displays, or combinations thereof. One or more control functions of the user interface 322 may be configured to control the horizontal equipment positioning light emitters 101, 102, 103, and 104, the rotating equipment positioning light emitter 118, the horizontal patient positioning emitter 110, and the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 individually or collectively.

[0096] The user interface 322 of the control system 320 may be located in any place or position accessible to the surgeon 170, one or more surgical assistants 172, and / or other operating room personnel. For example, in some embodiments, but not limited to, the user interface 322 may be configured as a mobile wireless remote control unit that enables the surgeon 170, one or more surgical assistants 172, or other personnel to remotely control components of the system 100. The control system 320 having the user interface 322 may be configured as an application that can be operated on a smartphone, tablet computer, etc. In some embodiments, the user interface 322 may be provided as a control panel on the rear wall 152 of the operating room, one of the side walls 153 of the operating room, the front wall 154 of the operating room, and / or other surfaces, components, or modules within the operating room 150. For example, in some embodiments, but not limited to, the user interface 322 may be provided on a portable control module that can be transported by rollers on the operating room floor 151.

[0097] Referring next to Figure 23 of the drawings, a typical alternative control system 326 suitable for implementation of systems 100, 200 is shown. In control system 326, an instrument user interface 331 that controls each surgical instrument unit 111 may be configured to also operate the corresponding instrument positioning optical emitter 101 on the surgical instrument unit 111. The instrument user interface 331 may interface with an instrument controller 330 configured to operate both the surgical instrument unit 111 and the instrument positioning optical emitter 101 of the surgical instrument unit 111 by user operation of the instrument user interface 331. Thus, the instrument user interface 331 may include one or more control functions that can be operated to control the instrument positioning optical emitter 101. An instrument power supply 332 may electrically interface with the instrument controller 330. The instrument power supply 332 may provide a power source for both the surgical instrument unit 111 and the instrument positioning optical emitter 101. In some embodiments, the instrument user interface 331 of the control system 326 may be configured to control the rotating instrument positioning optical emitter 118 in the same or similar manner.

[0098] Referring next to Figure 24 of the drawings, another alternative control system 336 is shown in which each surgical instrument unit 111 has its own dedicated optical emitter user interface 341 and optical emitter power supply 342. In some embodiments, an optical emitter controller 340 may controllly interface with the instrument positioning optical emitter 101. The optical emitter user interface 341 and the optical emitter power supply 342 may interface with the optical emitter controller 340. The optical emitter user interface 341 may be operated to facilitate control of the instrument positioning optical emitter 101 via the optical emitter controller 340. Alternatively, the optical emitter controller 340 may be omitted, and the optical emitter power supply 342 may interface with the instrument positioning optical emitter 101 via the optical emitter user interface 341.

[0099] Referring next to Figure 25 of the drawings, a flowchart 400 is shown illustrating a typical assembly or setup method 100, 200 of an exemplary embodiment of a surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system. In step 402, a horizontal patient surgical position can be determined that corresponds to the optimal position of the surgical patient table in a horizontal plane defined by the X and Y axes on the operating room floor within the operating room.

[0100] In step 404, the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter may be positioned on the vertical Z-axis directly above the horizontal patient surgical position.

[0101] In step 406, the vertical patient positioning optical emitter may be positioned at an angular position above the horizontal patient surgical position.

[0102] In step 408, at least one horizontal instrument operating position can be determined that corresponds to the optimal position of at least one surgical instrument unit in the horizontal plane defined by the X and Y axes.

[0103] In step 410, horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters may be positioned on each surgical instrument unit.

[0104] In step 412, the high-altitude optical marker may be positioned on the vertical Z-axis directly above the horizontal instrument operating position of each surgical instrument unit.

[0105] In step 414, the optimal horizontal rotation position of at least one rotatable surgical instrument unit or a rotatable component of a rotatable surgical instrument unit can be determined.

[0106] In step 416, the rotating instrument positioning optical emitter may be positioned on each rotatable surgical instrument unit or its rotatable component.

[0107] In step 418, the side light markers may be positioned to correspond to the optimal horizontal rotation position of each rotatable surgical instrument unit or rotatable component.

[0108] Referring next to Figure 26 of the drawings, a flowchart 500 of an exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure is shown. In step 502, a downward light beam may be emitted from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter.

[0109] In step 504, the patient may be placed on an operating table.

[0110] In step 506, the surgical patient table may be moved in a horizontal plane defined by the X and Y axes until a downward light beam is incident on a selected point on the patient. In some applications, the selected point may be the surgical site.

[0111] In step 508, the surgical patient table may be fixed within the horizontal patient surgical position.

[0112] In step 510, an angled light beam may be emitted from a vertical patient positioning light emitter.

[0113] In step 512, the height of the surgical patient table may be adjusted along the vertical Z-axis until the angled light beam enters the patient in a manner that typically coincides with or intersects with the downward light beam.

[0114] In step 514, the surgical patient table may be fixed in a vertical operating position.

[0115] In step 516, upward light beams may be emitted from each horizontal instrument positioning light emitter.

[0116] In step 518, each surgical instrument unit may be moved in the horizontal plane until an upward light beam is incident on a high-altitude light marker corresponding to the horizontal instrument operating position of the surgical instrument unit.

[0117] In step 520, the surgical instrument unit may be locked or fixed in a horizontal instrument operating position.

[0118] In step 522, a side light beam may be emitted from a rotating instrument positioning light emitter.

[0119] In step 524, the rotational position of the rotatable surgical instrument unit or its rotatable component may be adjusted in the horizontal plane until the side light beam is incident on the side light marker.

[0120] In step 526, the rotatable surgical instrument unit or its rotatable components may be locked or fixed in an optimal horizontal rotation position.

[0121] Referring next to Figures 27 to 30 of the drawings, an alternative exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of this disclosure is shown collectively by reference no. 600. In system 600, components that are structurally and / or functionally similar to the components of system 100 described herein with respect to Figures 1 to 14 are shown by the same corresponding reference no. Thus, the entire same description described herein with respect to system 100 is incorporated herein by reference with respect to system 600.

[0122] In system 600, the emitter positioning assembly 605 (shown by dashed lines in Figure 27) may be supported by surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114, such as, but not limited to, the first surgical instrument unit 111 shown. The horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110 (Figures 28 and 29) may be supported by the emitter positioning assembly 605. Thus, in a typical implementation of system 600 described later, the surgical instrument unit 111 may first be deployed within its optimal instrument operating position 181 in the operating room 150, typically as described herein with respect to system 100. The emitter positioning assembly 605 may be configured to position the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 on the operating room floor 151 so that the surgical patient table 116 on which the patient 166 typically lies can then be moved to the optimal patient surgical position 178 on the operating room floor 151, indicated by the downward light beam 138 (Figure 29) emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 being incident on the patient 166. Thus, the surgical instrument unit 111, initially properly positioned, can function as a guide or template for the subsequent proper positioning of the surgical patient table 116 and the patient 166 within the optimal patient surgical position 178 in the horizontal plane 164 (Figure 27) formed by the X-axis 160 and the Y-axis 161 for the surgical procedure.

[0123] In some embodiments of the system 600, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be further or otherwise supported by an emitter positioning assembly 605. The emitter positioning assembly 605 may be configured to support the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 in a manner and position such that the surgical patient table 116 and patient 166 can be adjusted to the optimal vertical patient surgical position indicated by the angled light beam 142 emitted by the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 entering the patient 166 in a relationship that typically coincides with the downward light beam 138 in the downward light beam crosshairs 140. Thus, the surgical instrument unit 111 may further or otherwise function as a guide or template for the subsequent proper positioning of the vertical surgical patient table 116 and patient 166 along the vertical Z-axis 162 for surgical procedures (Figure 29).

[0124] In some embodiments, the emitter positioning assembly 605 may include a vertical assembly arm 611. The vertical assembly arm 611 may be configured to extend along the Z-axis 162 (Figure 29) within the operating room 150. A horizontal assembly arm 620 may extend from the vertical assembly arm 611. The horizontal assembly arm 620 may be configured to extend along the horizontal axis 160 within the operating room 150. A horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110 may be supported by the horizontal assembly arm 620. A vertical patient positioning optical emitter 110 may be supported by the vertical assembly arm 611 and / or the horizontal assembly arm 620.

[0125] In some embodiments, the vertical assembly arm 611 of the emitter positioning assembly 605 may be selectively adjustable vertically along the Z-axis 162, typically according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Similarly, the horizontal assembly arm 620 may be selectively adjustable horizontally along the horizontal axis 160. In some embodiments, the vertical assembly arm 611 may be rotatably adjustable relative to the surgical instrument unit 111 and around the Z-axis 162, typically according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art.

[0126] In a typical application of System 600, surgical instrument units 111, 112, 113, and 114 can be moved to their respective operating positions 181, 182, 183, and 184. In some applications, this can be achieved with respect to surgical instrument unit 111 by adjusting its position along the X-axis 160 and Y-axis 161 in the horizontal plane 164 by having an upward light beam 128 emitted from a horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 102 incident on a high-altitude light marker 121 at a light beam inlet 131, as shown in Figures 28 and 29. In some applications, the position of surgical instrument unit 111 can be rotatably adjusted in the horizontal plane 164 by having a side light beam 146 emitted from a rotating instrument positioning light emitter 118 incident on a side light marker 125, as shown in Figures 29 and 30. Therefore, as will be described later, the surgical instrument unit 111 deployed here within its optimal instrument operating position 181 can function as a guide, template, or anchor point for the subsequent proper positioning of the surgical patient table 116 and patient 166 within the optimal patient surgical position 178 in the horizontal plane 164 and / or along the Z-axis 162 for surgical procedures.

[0127] After the surgical instrument unit 111 is properly positioned within its optimal instrument operating position 181, a downward-facing light beam 138 can be emitted from the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 110 on the horizontal assembly arm 620 of the emitter positioning assembly 605. The downward-facing light beam 138 may first be incident on the operating room floor 151 of the operating room 150. Subsequently, the surgical patient table 116 on which the patient 166 lies may be moved in the horizontal plane 164 until the downward-facing light beam 138 is incident on the patient 166, thereby forming a downward-facing light beam crosshair 140 (Figure 27) on the surgical site on the patient 166, indicating that the surgical patient table 116 is in the optimal patient surgical position 178. As shown in Figures 27 and 29, in some applications, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 108 may be operated to emit an angled light beam 142. The vertical position of the surgical patient table 116 can be adjusted, typically as described herein, until the angled light beam 142 is incident on the patient 166, forming an angled light beam crosshair 144 that can coincide with the downward light beam crosshair 140 of the downward light beam 138, and marking the surgical site on the patient 166.

[0128] As previously stated herein, before positioning the patient 166 for a surgical procedure, the appropriate rotational direction or position of the vertical assembly arm 611, and therefore the position of the horizontal assembly arm 620 in the horizontal plane 164 and the length of the horizontal assembly arm 620 of the emitter positioning assembly 605, can be determined in order to obtain the precise position of the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110 in order to properly position the surgical patient table 116 and the patient 166 in the optimal patient surgical position 178 for a given surgical procedure. In some applications, these determinations may be made by trial and error. The position and length of the horizontal assembly arm 620 for deploying the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 110 to the appropriate position in the horizontal plane 164 may vary depending on the specific type of surgical instrument 111 supporting the emitter positioning assembly 605 and the type or nature of the surgical procedure being performed.

[0129] In some embodiments, the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108 may be mounted on the emitter positioning assembly 605 in accordance with the knowledge of those skilled in the art. For example, in some embodiments, but not limited to, mounting brackets, arms, clips, clamps, platforms and / or other optical emitter supports (not shown) may be used to mount the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108 to the vertical assembly arm 611, the horizontal assembly arm 620 and / or one or more other structural components of the emitter positioning assembly 605. The optical emitter support may be configured to facilitate rotational or swiveling adjustment of the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108 in the horizontal plane 164 in order to facilitate precise aiming of the angled optical beam 142 onto the surgical site of the patient 166. In some embodiments, the emitter positioning assembly 605 may further or, typically in accordance with the knowledge of those skilled in the art, facilitate the vertical positioning of the vertical patient positioning optical emitter 108 along the vertical Z-axis 162.

[0130] Referring next to Figures 31 and 32 of the drawings, an exemplary embodiment of system 600 is shown in which the emitter positioning assembly 605 is supported by the visualization system 212. In system 600 shown in Figures 31 to 33, the visualization system 212 may have the same or similar description as the visualization system 212 described herein with respect to Figures 20 and 21, and similar components are indicated by the same reference numerals. Thus, to the extent applicable, the entire same description described herein with respect to system 200 is incorporated herein by reference with respect to system 600.

[0131] The vertical assembly arm 611 of the emitter positioning assembly 605 may be supported by the base 286, the support column 287 (Figure 32), and / or other structural components of the visualization system 212. In some embodiments, the vertical assembly arm 611 may be rotatable around the vertical Z-axis 262 (Figure 31). Thus, the arm base 612 may be provided on the visualization system 212. The vertical assembly arm 611 may be rotatably mounted within the arm base 612. The rotation adjustment control unit 616 may operably engage with the vertical assembly arm 611. The rotation adjustment control unit 616 may be configured to lock the vertical assembly arm 611 to a desired 360-degree rotation position along the vertical Z-axis 262. For example, in some embodiments, though not limited to these, the rotation adjustment control unit 616 may include a threaded knob extending through a threaded opening (not shown) in the arm base 612 and engaging with the vertical assembly arm 611. Alternatively, the rotation adjustment control unit 616 may include a pin (not shown) that extends through a pin opening (not shown) in the arm base 612 and engages with a positioning stopper or pin opening (not shown) of the vertical assembly arm 611 to lock the vertical assembly arm 611 to a desired rotational position. In some embodiments, the rotation adjustment control unit 616 may be electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically operated.

[0132] In some embodiments, the vertical assembly arm 611 may have a telescopic structure. Thus, multiple telescopic vertical arm segments 613 may extend from and from the arm base 612. At least one vertical adjustment control unit 618 can facilitate the fixing of the telescopic vertical arm segments 613 to fix the vertical assembly arm 611 at a desired height. For example, in some embodiments, but not limited to, each vertical adjustment control unit 618 may include a threaded knob extending through a threaded opening (not shown) of each vertical arm segment 613 and engaging with the corresponding telescopic vertical arm segment 613. Alternatively, each vertical adjustment control unit 618 may include a pin (not shown) extending through a pin opening (not shown) of each corresponding vertical arm segment 613 and engaging with a selected alignment pin opening (not shown) of a plurality of movement stoppers or pin openings (not shown) of the corresponding telescopic vertical arm segment 613. In some embodiments, the vertical adjustment control unit 618 may be electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically operated.

[0133] In some embodiments, the horizontal assembly arm 620 may have a telescopic structure. Thus, multiple telescopic horizontal arm segments 621 may extend from and from the end vertical arm segment 613 of the vertical assembly arm 611. At least one horizontal adjustment control unit 624 may facilitate the fixing of the telescopic horizontal arm segments 621 to fix the horizontal assembly arm 620 to a selected length. For example, in some embodiments, but not limited to, each horizontal adjustment control unit 624 may include a threaded knob extending through a threaded opening (not shown) of each corresponding horizontal arm segment 621 and engaging with the corresponding telescopic horizontal arm segment 621. Alternatively, each horizontal adjustment control unit 624 may include a pin (not shown) extending through a pin opening (not shown) of each corresponding horizontal arm segment 621 and engaging with a selected alignment pin opening (not shown) of a plurality of movement stoppers or pin openings (not shown) of the corresponding telescopic horizontal arm segment 621. In some embodiments, the horizontal adjustment control unit 624 may be electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically operated. The horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 210 may be mounted on the terminal, distal, or extension segment of the horizontal assembly arm segment 621, as shown in the figure. The vertical patient positioning optical emitter 208 may be supported by the vertical assembly arm 611, arm base 612, and / or one or more other structural components of the emitter positioning assembly 605, as shown in the figure.

[0134] The application of system 600 may be as described herein with respect to system 600 in Figures 27 to 30. Prior to the surgical procedure, the rotational position of the horizontal assembly arm 620 of the emitter positioning assembly 605 may be adjusted and locked by the engagement of the rotation adjustment control unit 616. The selected length of the vertical assembly arm 611 may be fixed by the engagement of one or more vertical adjustment control units 618. The selected length of the horizontal assembly arm 620 may be fixed by the engagement of one or more horizontal adjustment control units 624. During the surgical procedure, the visualization system 212 may be operated as described herein with respect to Figures 20 and 21.

[0135] Referring next to Figure 33 of the drawings, another alternative exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system of this disclosure is shown collectively by reference no. 700. Unless otherwise indicated herein, system 700 may have the same or similar description as that given herein to system 600 with respect to Figures 31 and 32, and structurally and / or functionally similar components are indicated by similar reference no. So, to the extent applicable, the entire similar description given herein to system 600 with respect to Figures 31 and 32 is incorporated herein by reference with respect to system 700.

[0136] In system 700, the emitter positioning assembly 605 may be mounted on an emitter assembly stand 710. The emitter assembly stand 710 may include a wheeled stand base 786. The wheels on the stand base 786 may include a wheel locking mechanism (not shown) that facilitates locking the stand base 786 in place at a desired instrument operating position on the operating room floor 251, typically by conventional means. A stand frame or support, hereafter referred to as the stand frame 787, may extend upward from the stand base 786. The emitter positioning assembly 605 may be supported by the stand frame 787.

[0137] In some embodiments, the horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter 202 may be supported in an upward-emitting position by a stand frame 787. The rotary instrument positioning optical emitter 218 may be supported in a horizontal-emitting position by a stand frame 787, typically according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. The horizontal patient positioning optical emitter 210 may be mounted on the end, distal, or extension segment of the horizontal assembly arm segment 621, as shown. The vertical patient positioning optical emitter 208 may be supported by one or more structural components of the vertical assembly arm 611, arm base 612, stand base 786 and / or emitter assembly stand 710, as shown.

[0138] The application of System 700 may be similar to that described herein with respect to System 600 in Figures 31 and 32. Prior to the surgical procedure, the emitter assembly stand 710 can be operated to its desired optimal horizontal instrument operating position 181 (Figure 27) by transporting the emitter assembly stand 710 on the operating room floor 251 until the upward light beam 228 radiates from the horizontal instrument positioning light emitter 202 and the upward light beam 228 enters the high-altitude light marker 221. The assembly stand 710 can be oriented to a desired rotational position by rotating the emitter assembly stand 710 on the operating room floor 251 until the horizontal light beam 246 radiates from the rotating instrument positioning light emitter 218 and the horizontal light beam 246 enters the side light marker 225. The assembly stand 710 can then be locked in place to prevent unintended movement of the assembly stand 710 on the operating room floor 251. Therefore, the emitter assembly stand 710 can serve as an anchor point for the subsequent positioning of the surgical patient table 216 and / or surgical instrument units 211, 212, 213, and 214. Subsequently, a downward-facing light beam 238 may be emitted from the horizontal patient positioning light emitter 210, and the surgical patient table 216, on which the patient 266 is placed, is moved to a predetermined position until the downward-facing light beam 238 is incident on the patient 266, indicating that the surgical patient table 216 is in the optimal patient surgical position 278, as typically described herein with respect to system 600. In some applications, the vertical patient positioning light emitter 208 may be operated to emit an angled light beam 242. The vertical position of the surgical patient table 216 can be adjusted until an angled light beam 242 is incident on the patient 266 and forms an angled light beam crosshair 144 (Figure 27) which can coincide with the downward light beam crosshair 140 of the downward light beam 238 that marks the surgical site on the patient 266, as typically described herein.

[0139] Referring next to Figure 34 of the drawings, a flowchart 800 is shown of another exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure, in which a surgical instrument unit functions as an anchor point for positioning the surgical patient table and / or the remaining surgical instrument units in the operating room. In step 802, the first surgical instrument unit may be established as an anchor point for positioning the surgical patient table and / or the remaining surgical instrument units by deploying the first surgical instrument unit to a first instrument operating position on the operating room floor in the operating room.

[0140] In step 804, the surgical patient table may be deployed relative to the first surgical instrument unit at the patient's surgical position on the operating room floor.

[0141] In step 806, the remaining surgical instrument units may be deployed relative to the first surgical instrument unit or surgical patient table at their respective instrument operating positions on the operating room floor.

[0142] Referring next to Figure 35 of the drawings, a flowchart 900 is shown of another exemplary embodiment of the surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method of the present disclosure, in which a surgical patient table functions as an anchor point for positioning a surgical instrument unit within the operating room. In step 902, the surgical patient table may be established as an anchor point by deploying the surgical patient table to the patient surgical position on the operating room floor within the operating room.

[0143] In step 904, the remaining surgical instrument units can be deployed relative to the surgical patient table at their respective instrument operating positions on the operating room floor.

[0144] While specific exemplary embodiments of this disclosure have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made to these embodiments, and the appended claims are intended to encompass all such modifications that may fall within the spirit and scope of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A surgical patient and / or instrument positioning system (100) suitable for establishing a patient (166) and / or at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) as anchor points for surgical procedures in an operating room (150) and / or for facilitating the optimal positioning of the patient (166) and / or at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114), wherein, A horizontal patient surgical position (178) corresponding to the optimal position of a surgical patient table (116) configured to support the patient (166) in the surgical procedure, and a horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) located directly above the horizontal patient surgical position (178), wherein the horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) is configured to emit a downward light beam (138) that is incident on a selected point (140) on the patient (166) when the surgical patient table (116) is deployed to a predetermined position at the horizontal patient surgical position (178), In the surgical procedure, each of the following is provided: at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) corresponding to the optimal position of each of the at least one surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114); at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101, 102, 103, 104) configured to be positioned on each of the at least one surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114); and at least one high-altitude optical marker (121, 122, 123, 124) directly above each of the at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184). Includes at least one of the following: The at least one horizontal instrument positioning light emitter (101, 102, 103, 104) is configured to emit at least one upward light beam (128) incident on the at least one high-altitude light marker (121, 122, 123, 124) at at least one light beam inlet (131, 132, 133, 134) when the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) is in the at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184), respectively. Surgical patient and / or equipment positioning system (100).

2. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one high-altitude light marker (121, 122, 123, 124) is a spot or mark made of ink, paint or chalk; a projection; a recess; or a button, tab, disc, strip or tape.

3. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) includes at least one optical projector.

4. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the downward light beam (138) is configured to form a downward light beam crosshair (140) at the selected point on the patient (166).

5. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one upward light beam (128) includes at least one collimated laser beam.

6. The system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108) positioned at an elevation angle with respect to the horizontal patient surgical position (178), wherein the at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108) is configured to emit at least one angled light beam (142) to facilitate the vertical positioning of the surgical patient table (116).

7. The system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising at least one side light marker (125) and at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118) configured to be positioned on the at least one surgical instrument unit (111) at a distance from the at least one side light marker (125), wherein the at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118) is configured to emit at least one side light beam (146) incident on each of the at least one side light marker (125) to facilitate the horizontal rotational positioning of the at least one surgical instrument unit (111) within the at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181).

8. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101) is configured to be retrofitted to the at least one surgical instrument unit (111).

9. The system (100) according to claim 8, further comprising at least one optical emitter mounting assembly (300) configured to mount the at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101) to the at least one surgical instrument unit (111).

10. The system (100) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one optical emitter mounting assembly (300) includes at least one mounting bracket (301) configured to be mounted on the at least one surgical instrument unit (111), and the at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101) is supported by the at least one mounting bracket (301).

11. The system (100) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101) is configured to be constructed or manufactured integrally with the at least one surgical instrument unit (111).

12. The system (100) according to claim 11, wherein the at least one horizontal instrument positioning optical emitter (101) is configured to be mounted in an optical emitter cavity (304) within the at least one surgical instrument unit (111).

13. The system (100) according to claim 1, further comprising an emitter positioning assembly (605) configured to be supported by at least one surgical instrument unit (111), wherein the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter (110) is supported by the emitter positioning assembly (605).

14. The system (100) according to claim 13, wherein the emitter positioning assembly (605) includes a vertical assembly arm (611) configured to be attached to the at least one surgical instrument unit (111) and a horizontal assembly arm (620) supported by the vertical assembly arm (611), and the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter (110) is supported by the horizontal assembly arm (620).

15. A surgical patient and / or instrument alignment system (100) suitable for establishing a patient (166) and a plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) as anchor points for surgical procedures in an operating room (150) having an operating room floor (151) and an operating room ceiling (155), and / or for facilitating the optimal positioning of the patient (166) and a plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114), A horizontal patient surgical position (178) designated on the operating room floor (151), wherein the horizontal patient surgical position (178) corresponds to the optimal position of the surgical patient table (116) configured to support the patient (166) during the surgical procedure, A horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) deployed on the operating room ceiling (155) directly above the horizontal patient surgical position (178), wherein the horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) is configured to emit a downward light beam (138) that is incident on a selected point (140) on the patient (166) when the surgical patient table (116) is in the horizontal patient surgical position (178), A plurality of horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184) located on the operating room floor (151), wherein the plurality of horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184) correspond to the optimal positions of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) in the surgical procedure, Each of the above-mentioned multiple surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) is configured to be positioned on a plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104), A plurality of high-altitude optical markers (121, 122, 123, 124) are deployed on the operating room ceiling (155) directly above the plurality of horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184), and the plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) are configured to emit a plurality of upward optical beams (128) that enter the plurality of high-altitude optical markers (121, 122, 123, 124) at a plurality of optical beam inlet sections (131, 132, 133, 134) when the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) are each at the plurality of horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184), respectively. At least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108) deployed at an elevation angle with respect to the horizontal patient surgical position (178), wherein the at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108) is configured to emit at least one angled light beam (142) to facilitate the vertical positioning of the surgical patient table (116), A surgical patient and / or equipment positioning system (100), including the above.

16. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of high-altitude light markers (121, 122, 123, 124) is a spot or mark made of ink, paint or chalk; a projection; a recess; or a button, tab, disc, strip or tape.

17. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein the horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) includes at least one optical projector.

18. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein the downward-pointing light beam (138) is configured to form a downward-pointing light beam crosshair (140) at the selected point on the patient (166).

19. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of upward light beams (128) includes a collimated laser beam.

20. The system (100) according to claim 15, further comprising at least one side light marker (125) and at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118) configured to be positioned on at least one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114), wherein the at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118) is configured to emit at least one side light beam (146) incident on the at least one side light marker (125) to facilitate the horizontal rotation positioning of the at least one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) within one corresponding of the plurality of horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184).

21. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) is configured to be retrofitted to a corresponding one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114).

22. The system (100) according to claim 21, further comprising at least one optical emitter mounting assembly (300) configured to mount at least one of the plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) to the corresponding one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114).

23. The system (100) according to claim 15, wherein at least one of the plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) is configured to be built or manufactured in conjunction with a corresponding one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114).

24. The system (100) according to claim 23, wherein at least one of the plurality of horizontal instrument positioning optical emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) is configured to be mounted in an optical emitter cavity (304) in the corresponding one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114).

25. The system (100) according to claim 15, further comprising an emitter positioning assembly (605) configured to be supported by at least one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114), wherein the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter (110) is supported by the emitter positioning assembly (605).

26. The system (100) according to claim 25, wherein the emitter positioning assembly (605) includes a vertical assembly arm (611) configured to be attached to at least one of the plurality of surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114), and a horizontal assembly arm (620) supported by the vertical assembly arm (611), and the horizontal patient positioning optical emitter (108) is supported by the horizontal assembly arm (620).

27. A surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method (500) for optimally positioning a patient (166) and / or at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) for a surgical procedure in an operating room (150), wherein, Determining a horizontal patient surgical position (178) corresponding to the optimal position of the surgical patient table (116) in a horizontal plane (164); emitting a downward light beam (138) from a horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) directly above the horizontal patient surgical position (178); positioning the patient (166) on the surgical patient table (116); moving the surgical patient table (116) in the horizontal plane (164) until the downward light beam (138) is incident on a selected point (140) on the patient (166), thereby moving the surgical patient table (116) to the horizontal patient surgical position (178); fixing the surgical patient table (116) at the horizontal patient surgical position (178); The process involves determining horizontal instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184) corresponding to the optimal position of the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) within the horizontal plane (164), emitting an upward light beam (128) from horizontal instrument positioning light emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) on the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114), and the upward light beam (128) being directed to the at least one surgical instrument unit The at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) is moved in the horizontal plane (164) until it is incident on a high-altitude light marker (121, 122, 123, 124) directly above the horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) of the knit (111, 112, 113, 114), and the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) is fixed in the horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184). Including at least one of the following: Surgical patient and / or equipment positioning method (500).

28. The method according to claim 27 (500), further comprising: facilitating the vertical positioning of the surgical patient table (116) by positioning at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108) at an elevation angle to the horizontal patient surgical position (178); emitting at least one angled light beam (142) from the at least one vertical patient positioning light emitter (108); and adjusting the vertical position of the surgical patient table (116) until the at least one angled light beam (142) is incident on a patient (166) lying on the surgical patient table (116).

29. The method according to claim 27 (500), further comprising: arranging at least one side light marker (125) to facilitate the horizontal rotational positioning of the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) within the at least one horizontal instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184); arranging at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118) on the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114); emitting at least one side light beam (146) from the at least one rotary instrument positioning light emitter (118); and rotating the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) until the at least one side light beam (146) is incident on the at least one side light marker (125).

30. The method according to claim 27 (500), wherein emitting the upward light beam (128) from the horizontal instrument positioning light emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) on at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) includes emitting the upward light beam (128) from the horizontal instrument positioning light emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) on a surgical robotic instrument, instrument holding instrument, anesthesia instrument, surgical microscope, vitrectomy instrument or visualization instrument.

31. A surgical patient and / or instrument positioning method (500) for optimally positioning any combination of at least two of a surgical patient table (116) and at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) for surgical procedures in an operating room (150), By deploying the surgical patient table (116) and one of the at least two selected surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) to the corresponding selected patient surgical position (178) and instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) in the operating room (150), the surgical patient table (116) and one of the at least two selected surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) are established as anchor points for positioning the remaining at least one of the at least two selected surgical patient table (116) and one of the at least two surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114), To deploy the surgical patient table (116) and the remaining one of the at least two of the at least two surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) to the selected one of the at least two of the surgical patient table (116) and the at least two of the at least two surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) located in the corresponding selected one of the patient surgical position (178) and instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) within the operating room (150), A surgical patient and / or equipment positioning method (500), including the above.

32. The method according to claim 31 (500), wherein establishing the selected one of the at least two of the surgical patient table (116) and the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) as the anchor point includes establishing the surgical patient table (116) as the anchor point.

33. The method according to claim 32 (500), wherein establishing the surgical patient table (116) as the anchor point includes deploying the surgical patient table (116) at the patient surgical position (178) when the downward beam crosshairs (140) of the downward beam (138) emitted by the horizontal patient positioning light emitter (110) are incident on the patient (166) on the surgical patient table (116), thereby guiding the surgical patient table (116) to a predetermined position.

34. The method according to claim 31 (500), wherein establishing one of the selected at least two of the surgical patient table (116) and the at least one surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) as the anchor point includes establishing one of the surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) as the anchor point.

35. The method according to claim 34 (500), wherein establishing the surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) as anchor points includes deploying the surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) to the instrument operating positions (181, 182, 183, 184) in the operating room (150) by emitting at least one light beam (128) from horizontal instrument positioning light emitters (101, 102, 103, 104) on the surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) to at least one light marker (121, 122, 123, 124).

36. The method according to claim 31 (500), further comprising deploying the surgical instrument units (111, 112, 113, 114) located at at least one additional instrument operating position (181, 182, 183, 184) within the operating room (150) and at least one additional surgical instrument unit (111, 112, 113, 114) to one of the surgical patient tables (116).

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