Patient Face Touchpad Interface for Sterile Medical Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
ENT physicians face challenges in using computer systems during sterile medical procedures without assistance, as they need to remove gloves to operate traditional input devices like mice or keyboards, which is inconvenient and impractical.
Innovation Solution
A system that registers a patient's face as a touchpad user interface using a magnetic position tracking system, allowing physicians to control equipment by assigning functions to predefined locations on the face, eliminating the need for manual input devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional input devices (mouse, keyboard) are used during sterile medical procedures, then the computer system can be operated, but the physician must remove gloves which compromises sterility and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patient's face serves as an intermediary touch interface between the physician and the computer system. By mapping anatomical landmarks on the face to coordinate systems and assigning functions to specific regions, the physician can operate the computer through tactile interaction with the patient's face while maintaining glove integrity and sterility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical input devices (mouse, keyboard) with a capacitive touch-based interface using the patient's face. The face acts as a capacitive sensor that detects touch inputs, eliminating the need for separate mechanical input devices that would require glove removal.
2Measurement precision
If fiducial markers are placed on the patient for registration, then accurate coordinate system mapping is achieved, but the procedure requires additional materials and steps
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the fiducial marker component from the registration process. Instead of placing external markers on the patient, the system directly uses anatomical landmarks visible in the 3D image data, simplifying the procedure while maintaining registration accuracy through correlation of anatomical points with coordinate system positions.
3Ease of operation
If the patient's face is used as a touch interface, then glove removal is eliminated, but new input methods and registration procedures are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patient's face serves multiple functions: it is both the anatomical subject of the medical procedure and the input interface for the computer system. The same anatomical landmarks used for surgical navigation registration are also used to define the touch interface zones, eliminating the need for separate interface hardware or procedures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables ENT physicians to use the patient's face as a touchpad interface, allowing them to operate medical equipment without removing gloves, enhancing usability and convenience during sterile procedures without nurse assistance.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic position tracking system, allowing physicians to control equipment
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of registering a patient face and using it as a touchpad interface is provided. The method includes steps of acquiring a three-dimensional anatomical image of a patient face, identifying multiple anatomical points at the predefined locations on the patient face in a first coordinate system and assigning at least one function to at least one predefined location, receiving multiple positions in a second coordinate system at the respective predefined locations on the patient face, registering the first and second coordinate systems, by correlating between the positions and the respective anatomical points on the patient face, triggering a command corresponding to the at least one assigned function and communicating the command to an electronic device. A system for registering a patient face by the method is described.