Thermal surgical monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed for monitoring a thermal surgical procedure including a thermal camera for monitoring temperature at a plurality of locations within at least a portion of a surgical field undergoing thermal surgical treatment and generating a series of thermal images based on said monitoring, a processor for processing the thermal images, and a display for displaying, in real time, a series of display images indicative of temperature at the plurality of positions.

1 . An apparatus for monitoring temperature at a surface comprising: a temperature sensor for remotely sensing the temperature of an area of the surface; a light source for illuminating a of portion of the surface proximal to said area; and an indicator for providing information indicative of the temperature of the area sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a headpiece adapted to be worn by a user, and wherein said temperature sensor, light source, and indicator are integrated with said headpiece. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said headpiece is a pair of eyewear, and wherein the light source is positioned to illuminate a portion of the surface within a field of view of a wearer of the eyewear. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the eyewear comprise a nosebridge, and the light source and temperature sensor are mounted on said nosebridge. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises a modulator which modulates the light source, wherein said modulation has one or more modulation properties which depend on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein at least one of the modulation properties is selected from the group consisting of: modulation rate and modulation duty cycle. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises a tone generator configured to produce an audible tone having one or more characteristics which depends on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein said one or more characteristics comprises at least one chosen from the group consisting of: frequency, modulation rate, modulation duty cycle, volume. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the indicator comprises a visual display which depends on the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the visual display comprises a digital display positioned on the headpiece. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising: a sensor for sensing information indicative of the spatial orientation of the headpiece; and a controller configured to control the output of the light source based on the information indicative of the spatial orientation of the headpiece. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising monitor unit adapted to compare the temperature sensed by the sensor to a selected threshold temperature and produce an alarm based on the comparison. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , comprising a controller in communication with said monitor unit for adjusting the selected threshold temperature. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the controller is integral with said headpiece. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the alarm is selected from the group consisting of: an audible alarm indication and a visual alarm indication. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the monitor unit is in communication with a thermal surgical device to control said device based on the sensed temperature. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the monitor unit is configured to inhibit operation of the thermal surgical device if the sensed temperature is greater than a selected threshold temperature. 
     
     
         18 . A method for monitoring tissue temperature during a thermal surgical procedure performed by an operator comprising: providing headwear for the operator, said headwear comprising: a temperature sensor for remotely sensing the temperature of an area of a surface within a surgical clean version field; a light source for illuminating a of portion of the surface proximal to said area; and an indicator for providing information indicative of the temperature of the area sensed by the temperature sensor; directing the light source to a illuminate an area of interest within the surgical field; using the temperature sensor to remotely sense the temperature of the area of interest; and using the indicator to provide information indicative of the temperature of the area. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising modulating the light source, wherein said modulation has one or more modulation properties which depend on the sensed temperature of the area of interest. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising: comparing the sensed temperature of the area of interest to a selected threshold temperature; providing an alarm based on the comparison. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising controlling the operation of a thermal surgical device based on sensed temperature of the area of interest.