Integrated physiology and imaging workstation

Abstract

A physiology workstation includes a communications interface conveying physiology signals and ultrasound data representative of a region of interest. The ultrasound data is obtained by an ultrasound device in real-time during a procedure. Also included is a physiology processing unit, an ultrasound processing unit, and a display unit displaying the physiology signals and the ultrasound images, the physiology signals and ultrasound signals being presented jointly to a user in real-time during the procedure being carried out on the subject. The display unit includes at least one monitor co-displaying the physiology signals and ultrasound images in adjacent windows on a single display. The physiology processing unit, ultrasound processing unit and display unit are located in a control room divided from a procedure room. The communications interface extends between the procedure and control rooms and the physiology processing unit is configured to remotely control the ultrasound system via the communications interface.

1 . A physiology network, comprising:
 physiology lead inputs configured to receive leads to be attached to a subject located in a procedure room;   an imaging device, located in the procedure room for obtaining real-time images of a region of interest of the subject during a physiology procedure;   a database storing previously acquired pre-case images of the region of interest,   a physiology processing unit communicating with the physiology leads and imaging device, the physiology processing unit receiving and processing physiology signals from the physiology leads; and   a display unit displaying the physiology signals and co-displaying the pre-case images and the real-time images.   
   
   
       2 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a medical network joined to the physiology processing unit, a remote workstation and a server joined to the medical network, the remote workstation and the display unit co-displaying the real-time images. 
   
   
       3 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame grabber coupled to the display unit to capture real-time images selected by a user, the captured real-time images being saved in the database as part of a patient record associated with the subject undergoing the physiology procedure. 
   
   
       4 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the display unit presents the real-time images and pre-case images integrated and simultaneously with one another. 
   
   
       5 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising memory storing patient records, the physiology processing unit capturing still images from at least one of the physiology signals and real-time images and stores the still images with a corresponding one of the patient records in the memory. 
   
   
       6 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a video processor that combines one or more frames generated from different types of image information to form a final displayed image, the image information corresponding at least one of the real-time images and the pre-case images. 
   
   
       7 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a video processor that super imposes color data and greyscale data to form a single multi-mode image frame, the color and greyscale data corresponding to at least one of the real-time images and the pre-case images. 
   
   
       8 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a remote device user interface, located remote from the procedure room and joined to the physiology processing unit, for entering at least one of settings, parameters and modes that are conveyed to the imaging device in order to remotely control the imaging device, the imaging device adjusting operation based on the at least one of settings, parameters and the modes entered at the remote device user interface. 
   
   
       9 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a physiology user interface located in the control room and controlling physiology operations, wherein the remote device user interface is presented on the display unit as a virtual keyboard comprised of keys assigned to the settings, parameters and modes of the imaging device. 
   
   
       10 . The network of  claim 1 , wherein the imaging device constitutes one of an ultrasound device, an IVUS device, an x-ray device, a fluoroscopy device, an ablation device and a physiology mapping device. 
   
   
       11 . The network of  claim 1 , further comprising a link between the physiology processing unit and the imaging device, wherein the link constitutes one of a data bus, a wireless link, a video cable, a network connection and a local area network. 
   
   
       12 . A method for maintaining a physiology network, comprising:
 configuring physiology lead inputs to receive leads to be attached to a subject located in a procedure room;   obtaining real-time images of a region of interest of the subject during a physiology procedure from an imaging device located in the procedure room;   obtaining, from a database, previously acquired pre-case images of the region of interest,   receiving and processing physiology signals from the physiology leads at a physiology processing unit communicating with the physiology leads and imaging device; and   co-displaying, on a display unit, the physiology signals, the pre-case images and the real-time images.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising joining a medical network to the physiology processing unit, a remote workstation and a server, and co-displaying the real-time images on the remote workstation and the display unit. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising capturing, with a frame grabber coupled to the display unit, real-time images selected by a user, and saving the captured real-time images in the database as part of a patient record associated with the subject undergoing the physiology procedure. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the display unit presents the real-time images and pre-case images integrated and simultaneously with one another. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising storing, in memory, patient records, capturing still images from at least one of the physiology signals and real-time images, and storing the still images with a corresponding one of the patient records in the memory. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising superimposing real-time and pre-case images upon one another to form a single multi-mode image frame. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising combining one or more frames generated from different types of image information to form a final displayed image, the image information corresponding at least one of the real-time images and the pre-case images. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising superimposing color data and greyscale data to form a single multi-mode image frame, the color and greyscale data corresponding to at least one of the real-time images and the pre-case images. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 providing a remote device user interface, located remote from the procedure room;   utilizing the remote device user interface to enter at least one of settings, parameters and modes that are conveyed to the imaging device in order to remotely control the imaging device; and   adjusting operation of the imaging device based on the at least one of settings, parameters and the modes entered at the remote device user interface.