Display method and system for surgical procedures

1. A method for facilitating a surgical procedure using a surgical navigation system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a primary screen on a display device generated by the surgical navigation system, the primary screen including an image generated by the surgical navigation system, the primary screen being one of a plurality of primary screens that guide a first user through the surgical procedure, the primary screen being controllable by the first user;

displaying a secondary screen on a display device generated by the surgical navigation system, the secondary screen being related to the primary screen and the secondary screen being one of a plurality of secondary screens displaying information that guide a second user through the surgical procedure, the secondary screen being controllable by the second user independent from the control of the first user;

changing at least one of the primary screen and the secondary screen to another screen within the plurality of primary screens and plurality of secondary screens, the changing based on an interaction from at least one of the first user and the second user; and

providing a warning if an incorrect instrument is picked up.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary screen and the secondary screen are on the same display device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary screen and the secondary screen are on separate display devices.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the changing is based on movement of a device within the view of the surgical navigation system.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the changing is also based on an interaction of one of the users with the surgical navigation system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the changing is also based on a database within the surgical navigation system.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary screen will also display screens not related to the primary screen between two screens that are related to the primary screen.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the primary screen will also display screens that do not have a relation to a secondary screen in between primary screens that do have a relation to respective secondary screens.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary screen displays information shown on the related primary screen in addition to information specific to that particular secondary screen.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the secondary screen also displays additional information that is useful to the second user.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the additional information includes vital sign information that is updated in real time.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the secondary screen displays information relating to the appropriate stage of the surgical procedure.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the secondary screen also displays additional information that is useful to the second user.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the display screens also includes information that is currently being shown on the other display screen.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein either user can jump to a particular screen at any time.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the screens includes a representation of a tray of surgical instruments.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the screen highlights the representation to identify the next surgical instrument to be used.

18. The method of claim 1 that includes indicating a next instrument to be used.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the indicating is provided by the instrument itself.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the warning is provided by the tool itself.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein the warning is displayed on the display device.

22. A system to facilitate the performance of a surgical procedure comprising:

a surgical navigation system;

one or more display devices that are driven by the surgical navigation system that can simultaneously display a first display screen and a separate second display screen associated with the procedure;

a first control device; and

a second control device,

wherein each display screen can be separately controlled by one of the first control device and the second control device to manipulate one of the first display screens and the second display screens, and wherein the first and second display screens display different but related information relative to the procedure, and

wherein the system provides a warning if an incorrect instrument is picked up.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first and the second display screens are displayed on a single display device.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the first and the second display screens are displayed on separate display devices.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the display screen can be advanced by movement of an instrument within the view of the surgical navigation system.

26. The system of claim 22 that also includes a database that can interact with the user to change the display screen.

27. The system of claim 22 , wherein one of the display screens also displays some of the information shown at the same time on the other display screen.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein one of the display screens includes a representation of a tray of surgical instruments.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the representation highlights the next surgical instrument to be used.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein one or both of the display screens displays information not related to the navigation system but important to one or more of the users.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the system indicates a next instrument to be used.

32. The system of claim 31 wherein the next instrument itself provides the indication.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein the warning is provided by the instrument itself.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein the warning is provided on the display device.

35. The method of claim 13 wherein the additional information includes vital sign information that is updated in real time.