SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USING MACHINE-READABLE INFORMATION IN A MEDICAL PROCEDURE

1 . A system, comprising:

a processor operable to receive images via a camera; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, operable to store instructions to be executed by the processor;

the system operable to, as the processor executes the instructions:

acquire machine-readable information received from at least one of the images received via the camera;

process the machine-readable information to determine patient data from the machine-readable information;

determine a medical procedure based on the patient data;

permit use of at least a first portion of medical equipment coupled to the system;

receive user input that indicates at least one planned procedure step; and

determine if the medical procedure incorporates the at least one planned procedure step.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, as the processor executes the instructions, the system is further operable to provide at least a portion of the images to a display if the medical procedure does incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, as the processor executes the instructions, the system is further operable to provide error information to the display if the medical procedure does not incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable information is disposed upon a garment worn by a patient during the medical procedure.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein, as the processor executes the instructions, the system is further operable to prevent operation of at least a second portion of the medical equipment coupled to the system if the medical procedure does not incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the second portion of the medical equipment is the same as the first portion of the medical equipment.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a microscope comprising the camera.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the machine-readable information comprises a bar code.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein as the processor executes the instructions, the system is further operable to authenticate at least a portion of the machine-readable information.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein as the processor executes the instructions, the system is further operable to:

determine if an orientation of the machine-readable information is in accordance with one or more rules;

permit operation of the at least the first portion of the medical equipment if the orientation of the machine-readable information is in accordance with the one or more rules; and

prevent operation of the at least the first portion of the medical equipment if the orientation of the machine-readable information is not in accordance with the one or more rules.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein when the system determines the patient data based on the machine-readable information, the system retrieves at least a portion of the patient data from a storage device.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:

the storage device is coupled to a network; and

when the system retrieves the at least the portion of the patient data from the storage device, the system retrieves the at least the portion of the patient data from the storage device via the network.

13 . A method of verifying a medical procedure, the method comprising:

acquiring images via a camera;

processing at least one image of the images to determine patient data based on machine-readable information of the at least one image;

determining a medical procedure based on the patient data;

permitting use of at least a first portion of medical equipment;

receiving user input that indicates at least one planned procedure step;

determining if the medical procedure incorporates the at least one planned procedure step.

14 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising providing at least a portion of the images to a display if the medical procedure does incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

15 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising providing error information to the display if the medical procedure does not incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

16 . (canceled)

17 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising preventing operation of at least a second portion of the medical equipment if the medical procedure does not incorporate the at least one planned procedure step.

18 . (canceled)

19 . The method of claim 13 , wherein a microscope comprises the camera.

20 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the machine-readable information comprises a bar code.

21 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising authenticating at least a portion of the machine-readable information.

22 . The method of claim 13 , the method further comprising:

determining if an orientation of the machine-readable information is in accordance with one or more rules;

permitting operation of the at least the first portion of the medical equipment if the orientation of the machine-readable information is in accordance with the one or more rules; and

preventing operation of the at least the first portion of the medical equipment if the orientation of the machine-readable information is not in accordance with the one or more rules.

23 . (canceled)

24 . (canceled)