Global input device for multiple computer-controlled medical systems

Abstract

An integrated control and display system for operating a plurality of separate computer systems each having a visual display, includes at least one cursor control device for seamlessly moving a cursor among the visual displays of the separate computer systems, the cursor control device operating to control the computer system associated with the display on which the cursor appears.

1 - 6 . (canceled) 
   
   
       7 . An integrated control and display system for operating a plurality of separate computer systems each having a visual display, comprising:
 at least two cursor control devices for seamlessly moving a cursor among the visual displays of the separate computer systems, the cursor control device operating to control the computer system associated with the display on which the cursor appears, each cursor control device operating a different cursor.   
   
   
       8 . The integrated control and display system according to  claim 7  wherein when two or more cursors are on the visual display of the same separate computer system, each of the cursors are identified with an associated identifying indicia. 
   
   
       9 . The integrated control and display system according to  claim 7  wherein when two or more cursors are on the visual display of the same separate computer system, only one of the cursors is identified as being active for controlling the separate computer system. 
   
   
       10 . The integrated control and display system according to  claim 7  wherein when two or more cursors are on the visual display of the same separate computer system, only one of the cursors is selected to be active for controlling the separate computer system. 
   
   
       11 . The integrated control and display system according to  claim 10  wherein when two or more cursors are on the visual display of the same separate computer system, the cursor that was moved most recently is selected to be active. 
   
   
       12 - 15 . (canceled) 
   
   
       16 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein there are at least two cursor control devices, and further comprising separately operating each cursor control device to separate cursors on the composite display. 
   
   
       17 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . The method according to  claim 35  wherein only one of the cursor control devices can operate the separate computer system when two or more cursors are on the same visual display corresponding to the separate computer system. 
   
   
       22 - 34 . (canceled) 
   
   
       35 . A method of operating a plurality of separate computer systems, each having a visual display, comprising:
 displaying the visual displays from each of a plurality of separate computer systems;   operating a first cursor control device to manipulate a cursor on one of the visual displays, to thereby operate the separate computer system corresponding to the visual display, and operating a second cursor control device to manipulate a cursor on another of the visual displays, to thereby operate the separate computer system corresponding to the visual display.