Detecting surgical phases and/or interventions

Abstract

Surgical monitoring techniques detect surgical contexts, such as induction, intubation, preparation and positioning, incision, maintenance, emergence, recovery, and/or therapy administration based on information received from a patient monitor and/or other medical equipment, which can be compared to predetermined data patterns, which can be based on heuristic or statistical classifications. With detectors and/or controllers operating in conjunction therewith and in various combinations thereof, responses can also be invoked and/or also overridden.

1 . A surgical monitoring device, comprising:
 a detector operable in electronic communication with a patient monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more of a surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor.   
   
   
       2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said detector is operable to determine said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on one or more comparisons of said information to one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein a controller is operable to invoke at least one or more responses, based, at least in part, on said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both. 
   
   
       5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein said response can be overridden. 
   
   
       6 . The device of  claim 5 , wherein said response can be manually overridden. 
   
   
       7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said detector is operable in electronic communication with other medical equipment to determine said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from said other medial equipment. 
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein said other medical equipment is selected from a group consisting of at least one or more of an anesthesia machine, intravenous pump, and electronic record system. 
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, is selected from a group consisting of at least one or more of induction, intubation, preparation and positioning, incision, maintenance, emergence, recovery, and therapy administration. 
   
   
       10 . A surgical monitoring method, comprising:
 automatedly determining at least one or more of a surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from a patient monitor.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said determining comprises comparing said information with one or more predetermined data patterns. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said data patterns are based, at least in part, on one or more of a heuristic or statistical classification. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 invoking at least one or more responses, based, at least in part, on said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 overriding said response.   
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein said overriding comprises manually overriding said response. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein said determining comprises determining said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from other medical equipment. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein said other medical equipment is selected from a group consisting of at least one or more of an anesthesia machine, intravenous pump, and electronic record system. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, is selected from a group consisting of at least one or more of induction, intubation, preparation and positioning, incision, maintenance, emergence, recovery, and therapy administration. 
   
   
       19 . A surgical monitoring system, comprising:
 a patient monitor; and   a detector operable in electronic communication with said monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more of a surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor.   
   
   
       20 . A surgical monitoring system, comprising:
 a patient monitor;   a detector operable in electronic communication with said monitor to automatedly determine at least one or more of a surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both, based, at least in part, on information received from said monitor; and   a controller operable to invoke at least one or more responses, based, at least in part, on said surgical phase, surgical intervention, or both.