System and Method for Wearable User Interface in Computer Assisted Surgery

Abstract

A computer assisted surgery system includes a display for visual rendering of surgical data, a processor for receiving a control signal and performing operations associated with the control signal and for controlling the surgical data rendered by the display, and a wearable input device in communication with the processor. The wearable input device in one embodiment includes a mounting surface on a first side of the input device for mounting to a body portion of a user and a sensor assembly located on the side of the input device opposite the mounting surface.

1 . A method of performing a medical procedure comprising:
 mounting an input device on a user;   establishing a communications link between the input device and a computer;   placing a light permeable garment over the input device;   sensing with the input device a desired cursor control input through the light permeable material;   generating a cursor control signal based upon the control input; and   controlling the visual rendering on a display based upon the cursor control signal.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein controlling the visual rendering further comprises:
 rendering a cursor on the display at a first location based upon the cursor control signal;   rendering a first surgical data in support of a first surgical activity based upon the first location of the cursor;   moving the rendered cursor to a second location in response to a change in the cursor control signal; and   rendering a second surgical data in support of a second surgical activity based upon the second location of the cursor.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first surgical data comprises a first x-ray of a surgical patient and the second surgical data comprises a second x-ray of the surgical patient. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein sensing comprises:
 detecting, through the garment, movement of an object.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein detecting further comprises:
 comparing a first image of the object with a second image of the object.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein detecting further comprises:
 detecting the location of an appendage of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mounting comprises:
 Mounting the input device to the forearm of the user.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 rendering medical data of a patient undergoing surgery based upon the cursor control signal.