Merged image user interface and navigational tool for remote control of surgical devices

Abstract

The invention provides a system for remote control of a surgical device, comprising a first imaging device of a first type having a first image output. The first imaging device is positioned to image an area being subject to surgery. A second imaging device of a second type has a second image output. The second imaging device is positioned to image the area being subjected to surgery. A computer is coupled to receive the first and second image outputs and merge the first and second image outputs into a unitary image output representing a unitary image. Software, resident in the computer generates a graphic user interface including a menu and submenu items. A surgical device is coupled to the computer. Software, resident in said computer, receives and displays information received from the surgical device and/or controls the operation of the surgical device. A display as coupled to the computer for displaying the graphic user interface and the unitary image.

1 . A system for use during a surgical procedure, the system comprising:
 an ablation device having a trocar and a plurality of stylets configured for conducting radiofrequency (RF) energy;   a controller; and   a first imaging device comprising an ultrasound probe, the first imaging device configured to be positioned in contact with an organ or other tissue structure within a patient, wherein the ultrasound probe is configured to provide an ultrasound image of an internal region of the organ or other tissue structure,   wherein the ultrasound probe and the ablation device are moveable independent of each other, and   
       wherein the controller is configured to generate an image representative of the ablation device, and to superimpose the image representative of the ablation device over the ultrasound image provided by the ultrasound probe. 
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a foot pedal actuatable to deliver RF energy to the plurality of stylets of the ablation device sufficient to ablate or coagulate a tissue mass within the patient, wherein the trocar and plurality of stylets are configured to be deployed within the tissue mass. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the system is configured to conduct RF energy from the plurality of stylets, through the tissue mass, to each of a right pad coupled to a right leg, and a left pad coupled to a left leg, respectively, of the patient, and   
       wherein the system is configured to provide a graphical indication of a highest temperature reached by the tissue mass adjacent the ablation device during the delivery of RF energy and in each of the right pad and the left pad. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a graphical user interface having one or more menus selected from the group consisting of:
 a fibroid data menu,   a descriptors menu,   a summary menu,   a select procedure menu,   a ready ablate menu, and   a ready coag menu.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the fibroid data menu includes one or more choices selected from the group consisting of:
 a number choice,   a diameter choice,   a position choice, and   a type choice.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the position choice is selected from the group consisting of:
 an anterior position choice,   a posterior position choice, and   a lateral position choice.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each of the anterior position choice, posterior position choice, and lateral position choice includes one or more submenus selected from the group consisting of:
 a midline submenu,   a right submenu, and   a left submenu.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein each of the midline submenu, right submenu, and left submenu includes a further submenu selected from the group consisting of:
 a fundal submenu,   a mid-uterine submenu,   a lower segment submenu, and   a cervical submenu.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each of the fundal submenu, mid-uterine submenu, lower segment submenu, and cervical submenu includes one or more choices selected from the group consisting of:
 intramural,   subserosal,   submucous 1, and   submucous 2.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the select procedure menu includes one or more choices selected from the group consisting of:
 a temperature choice,   a manual choice, and   an impedance choice.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the system is configured to start delivery of RF energy to the tissue mass in response to the foot pedal being pressed and released a first time, and to stop delivery of RF energy to the tissue mass in response to the foot pedal being pressed and released a second time. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the system is configured to deliver RF energy to the tissue mass until the tissue mass reaches a preset target temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a respective temperature associated with each stylet of the ablation device, and to calculate an average temperature from the respective temperatures. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the manual choice includes target power delivery levels ranging from about 10 watts to about 100 watts. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a second imaging device comprising a laparoscopic camera, the second imaging device configured to image an external region of the organ or other tissue structure, wherein the controller is coupled to receive and merge the ultrasound image and an image of the external region into a unitary image output representing a unitary image. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a respective temperature associated with each stylet of the ablation device, and to include the respective temperatures in a displayed image representative of the ablation device. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the ultrasound image comprises an intraabdominal ultrasound image, and wherein the controller is configured to superimpose the image representative of the ablation device over the intraabdominal ultrasound image