User interface devices for electrophysiology lab diagnostic and therapeutic equipment

Abstract

In an electrophysiology (EP) lab, a bedside interface device allows an EP physician to directly control various diagnostic and therapeutic systems, including an electro-anatomic mapping system. The bedside interface device can include a computer with wireless communication capability as well as a touch-responsive display panel and voice recognition. The bedside interface device can also be a hand-graspable wireless remote control device that is configured to detect motions or gestures made with the remote control by the physician, allowing the physician to directly interact with the mapping system. The bedside interface device can also be a motion capture camera configured to determine motion patterns of the physician's arms, legs, trunk, face and the like, which are defined in advance to correspond to commands for the mapping system. The bedside interface device may also include voice recognition capabilities to allow a physician to directly issue verbal commands to the mapping system.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device for allowing a user to communicate with a plurality of electrophysiological systems, comprising:
 an electronic control unit, a display panel, and a microphone;   user interface logic stored in a memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to display on said display panel a user interface which includes a first group of buttons corresponding to a plurality of electrophysiological (EP) diagnostic and therapeutic systems; and   voice recognition logic stored in said memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to analyze user speech input captured by said microphone to identify a user-spoken command;   wherein said user interface logic is configured to allow the user to select one button from said first group of buttons according to said identified command to thereby select a corresponding one of said plurality of EP systems and to present, in response to said user selection, an application-specific user interface on said display panel that enables access to and control of said one user-selected EP system while maintaining said display of said first group of buttons;   wherein said user interface logic is further configured to allow the user to interact with said application-specific user interface, said voice recognition logic being configured to identify a further spoken command with respect to said application-specific user interface wherein said electronic control unit is configured to communicate said further spoken command to the user-selected one EP system.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21  where said application-specific user interface of said one user-selected EP system comprises at least a second group of buttons displayed on said display panel that is different from said first group of buttons. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said user interface logic is configured to present on said display panel, for each one of said plurality of EP systems when selected by the user, a respective application-specific user interface that enables access to and control of said user-selected EP system. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said display panel comprises a touch-responsive display panel, and wherein said user interface logic is configured to receive from the user a user touch input from said touch-responsive display panel, said user interface logic being further configured to allow the user to select one button from said first group of buttons according to said user touch input. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said user interface logic is further configured to switch between respective application-specific user interfaces via a common interface displayed on said display panel, wherein said common interface includes said first group of buttons. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said electronic control unit communicates said identified command wirelessly. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the user interface logic is further configured to alter an appearance of said one user-selected button of said first group of buttons so as to be visually distinguishable from remaining, non-selected buttons of said first group of buttons, thereby visually indicating to the user which corresponding EP system has been selected. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27  wherein said one user-selected button is altered so as to have one of a depressed appearance and shaded appearance. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising a user profile stored in said memory and associated with the user, wherein said voice recognition logic is further configured to identify said command using said user profile. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 29  wherein the user is a first user and the user profile is a first user profile, further comprising a second user and a second user profile associated with the second user wherein said second user profile is stored in said memory. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 30  wherein said voice recognition logic is configured to identify a spoken command of the second user by using said second profile. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 30  wherein each of the first and second users have unique commands associated therewith stored in respective first and second user profiles. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 30  wherein the currently active user profile is displayed on said display panel. 
     
     
         34 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said user interface logic is further configured to allow the user to enable or disable the operation of said voice recognition logic. 
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 21  further comprising a sterile drape configured to protect said display panel from contamination. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said plurality of EP systems includes an electro-anatomic mapping system, an EP monitoring and recording system, a cardiac stimulator, an EP data editing system, a medical positioning system, and an imaging system. 
     
     
         37 . A device for allowing a user to communicate with a plurality of electrophysiological systems, comprising:
 an electronic control unit, a touch-responsive display panel, and a microphone;   user interface logic stored in a memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to display on said display panel a user interface which includes a common interface comprising a first group of buttons corresponding to a plurality of electrophysiological (EP) diagnostic and therapeutic systems, said user interface logic is further configured to receive from the user a user touch input from said touch-responsive display panel;   voice recognition logic stored in said memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to analyze user speech input captured by said microphone to identify a user-spoken command;   wherein said user interface logic is configured to allow the user to select one button from said common interface using one of (i) said user interface logic according to said user touch, and (ii) said voice recognition logic according to said identified user-spoken command, to thereby select a corresponding one of said plurality of EP systems and to present, in response to said user selection, an application-specific user interface on said display panel that enables access to and control of said one user-selected EP system while maintaining said display of said common interface;   wherein said user interface logic is further configured to allow the user to interact with said application-specific user interface, said voice recognition logic being configured to identify a further spoken command with respect to said application-specific user interface wherein said electronic control unit is configured to communicate said further spoken command to the user-selected one EP system.   
     
     
         38 . A device for allowing a user to communicate with a plurality of electrophysiological systems, comprising:
 an electronic control unit coupled to a memory;   a microphone;   an input means for acquiring a user input comprising a display panel;   user interface logic stored in said memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to display on said display panel a user interface which includes a first group of buttons corresponding to a plurality of electrophysiological (EP) diagnostic and therapeutic systems; and   voice recognition logic stored in said memory configured to be executed by said electronic control unit and configured to analyze user speech input captured by said microphone to identify a user-spoken command;   wherein said user interface logic is configured to allow the user to select one button from said first group of buttons according to said identified command to thereby select a corresponding one of said plurality of EP systems and to present, in response to said user selection, an application-specific user interface on said display panel that enables access to and control of said one user-selected EP system while maintaining said display of said first group of buttons;   wherein said user interface logic is further configured to allow the user to interact with said application-specific user interface and obtain a further command taken with respect to said application-specific user interface, and wherein said electronic control unit is configured to communicate said further command to said user-selected one EP system.