Body mounted Laser Indirect Ophthalmoscope (LIO) system

Abstract

A body-mounted laser-indirect ophthalmoscope (LIO) system for delivering laser energy into an eye of a patient includes a wearable assembly which secures a control module, laser module, and/or power module (including a battery) to the body of the user. The control module receives activation signals and parameter information from an activation unit a mobile computing device and controls the laser energy emitted by the laser module based on the parameter information. The parameter information is user-provided via a graphical user interface or by voice control (e.g. recognizing voice commands in audio data captured by the mobile computing device). In the preferred embodiment, the wearable assembly includes only a headset, in which case the control, power and laser modules are provided on the headset; however, an alternative embodiment includes a utility belt from which a fiber optic cable for emitting the laser energy is routed to the headset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser indirect ophthalmoscope system for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient, the system comprising:
 a mobile computing device for capturing audio data;   a voice control process executing on the mobile computing device for receiving the captured audio data and generating parameter information based on the captured audio data; and   a control module for receiving the parameter information and setting s for the delivered laser energy based on the parameter information.   
     
     
         2 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the voice control process generates the parameter information by recognizing spoken language in the captured audio data. 
     
     
         3 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device captures the audio data in response to detecting a predetermined wake word. 
     
     
         4 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device provides audible feedback confirming the parameter information. 
     
     
         5 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the voice control process executes on the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         6 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device generates the parameter information based on input received via a graphical user interface rendered on a touchscreen display of the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         7 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device generates the parameter information based on input received via one or more peripheral devices. 
     
     
         8 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an activation unit for sending activation signals for emitting the laser energy to the control module in response to engagement of an activation mechanism of the activation unit. 
     
     
         9 . The system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the activation unit is a footswitch, and the activation mechanism includes compression of the footswitch. 
     
     
         10 . The system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the control module comprises a wireless communication interface for receiving the parameter information from the mobile computing device. 
     
     
         11 . A laser indirect ophthalmoscope system for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient, the system comprising:
 a laser module for generating and delivering the laser energy; and   a wearable assembly for securing the laser module to a body of a user of the laser indirect ophthalmoscope system.   
     
     
         12 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the wearable assembly includes at least a headset worn on the user's head. 
     
     
         13 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the wearable assembly includes at least a utility belt worn around the user's waist. 
     
     
         14 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the wearable assembly secures a control module for setting parameters for the delivered laser energy to the body of the user. 
     
     
         15 . The system as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the wearable assembly secures a power module for providing power to the laser module to the body of the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the power module comprises a portable battery for providing the power. 
     
     
         17 . A method for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient using a laser indirect ophthalmoscope system, the method comprising:
 capturing audio data;   generating parameter information based on the captured audio data; and   setting parameters for the delivered laser energy based on the parameter information.   
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising generating the parameter information by recognizing spoken language in the captured audio data. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising capturing the audio data in response to detecting a predetermined wake word. 
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising providing audible feedback confirming the parameter information. 
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising generating the parameter information based on input received via a graphical user interface rendered on a touchscreen display of a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising generating the parameter information based on input received via one or more peripheral devices. 
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising an activation unit sending activation signals for emitting the laser energy to the control module in response to engagement of an activation mechanism of the activation unit. 
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the activation unit is a footswitch, and the activation mechanism includes compression of the footswitch. 
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising receiving the parameter information via a wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         26 . A method for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient a laser indirect ophthalmoscope system, the method comprising:
 a laser module generating and delivering the laser energy; and   a wearable assembly securing the laser module to a body of a user of the laser indirect ophthalmoscope system.   
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the wearable assembly includes at least a headset worn on the user's head. 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the wearable assembly includes at least a utility belt worn around the user's waist. 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising the wearable assembly securing a control module for setting parameters for the delivered laser energy to the body of the user. 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising the wearable assembly securing a power module for providing power to the laser module to the body of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 26 , further comprising the power module providing power via a portable battery. 
     
     
         32 . A laser indirect ophthalmoscope system for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient, the system comprising:
 a mobile computing device for generating parameter information; and   a control module for receiving the parameter information via a wireless communication interface and for setting parameters for the delivered laser energy based on the parameter information.   
     
     
         33 . A laser indirect ophthalmoscope system for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient, the system comprising:
 an activation unit comprising an activation mechanism for receiving user input, the activation unit generating activation signals based on the user input;   a mobile computing device for receiving the activation signals via a wireless communication interface and relaying the activation signals; and   a control module for receiving the relayed activation signals via a wireless communication interface and for generating control signals for the delivered laser energy based on the activation signals.   
     
     
         34 . A laser indirect ophthalmoscope system for delivering laser energy to an eye of a patient, the system comprising:
 a laser module for generating and delivering the laser energy in discrete treatments;   a plurality of interchangeable batteries for providing stored power to the laser module, wherein a predetermined storage capacity for the batteries is based on an estimated amount of power consumed during a single treatment.