IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,517,636
Granted Patent B2
US 12,517,636 · App. 18/170,475 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Intelligent surgical display system and method

Inventor: Bruce Laurence Kennedy (Santa Barbara, CA)
Assignee: SoftAcuity Inc.
G06F3/04845G16H40/67H04N13/239
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,517,636
App. No.
18/170,475
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An integrated and intelligent surgical display system comprising: an image processing module couplable to at least one surgical camera and configured for receiving images from the at least one surgical video camera; a processor coupled to the image processor, the processor being couplable to a network; an audio subsystem coupled to the processor, the audio subsystem further comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker; a visualization subsystem coupled to the processor, the visualization subsystem further comprising at least one camera; a display coupled to the image processing module and the processor; wherein the processor is configured to receive data from at least one of the audio subsystem and the visualization subsystem to authenticate a user; and wherein the display is configured to display images from the image processing module and on-screen information from the processor.

Claims (40)

1 . A surgical display system comprising:

an image processing module couplable to at least one surgical camera and configured for receiving images from the at least one surgical video camera;

a processor coupled to the image processing module, the processor being couplable to a network;

an audio subsystem coupled to the processor, the audio subsystem further comprising at least one microphone and at least one speaker;

a visualization subsystem coupled to the processor, the visualization subsystem further comprising at least one camera; and

a display coupled to the image processing module and the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to receive data from both the audio subsystem and the visualization subsystem to authenticate a user;

wherein the display is configured to display images from the image processing module and on-screen information from the processor; and

wherein the image processor further comprises at least one wired network interface or at least one wireless network interface; and at least one cellular network interface; and wherein the system is configured for redundant network connectivity with cellular backup in case of a network outage.

2 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to alter the size and position of displayed images from the image processing module and the on-screen information depending on operation context or workflow state.

3 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the image processing module further comprises at least one input from the group consisting of: an HDMI interface, a DisplayPort interface a Serial Digital Interface and video over IP network interface for receiving images from the at least one surgical camera.

4 . The surgical display system of claim 3 wherein the image processing module further comprises at least one output from the group consisting of: an HDMI interface, a DisplayPort interface and a Serial Digital Interface for transmitting images to the display.

5 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the display is a two dimensional display or a three dimensional display.

6 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the audio subsystem comprises at least two microphones; and wherein the visualization system comprises at least two cameras.

7 . The surgical display system of claim 6 wherein the visualization system further comprises stereo cameras or cameras for forming a three dimensional image.

8 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to encode video and communicate video through the at least one wired network interface; the at least one wireless network interface; and the at least one cellular interface.

9 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to receive video through the at least one wired network interface; the at least one wireless network interface; and the at least one cellular interface and communicate the received video to the image processing module for display.

10 . The surgical display system of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to communicate with a user database through the at least one network interface and obtain user specific settings for surgical devices or operating room parameters.

11 . The surgical display system of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to identify and track each of the people in an operating room.

12 . The surgical display system of claim 10 wherein the processor is configured to automatically download authenticated user settings for at least one of: operating room music, operating room temperature, operating room lighting, and operating room humidity.

13 . The surgical display system of claim 1 further comprising:

a temperature sensor coupled to the processor;

a humidity sensor coupled to the processor; and

a smoke sensor coupled to the processor; and

wherein the processor is configured to record images from the at least one surgical camera, images from the visualization subsystem, audio from the audio subsystem and information from at least one of the temperature sensor, humidity sensor and smoke sensor during a surgical procedure.

14 . A surgical display system comprising:

an image processing module couplable to at least one surgical camera and configured for receiving images from the at least one surgical video camera and modifying the received images for display;

a processor coupled to the image processing module, the processor being couplable to a network and configured for running a plurality of apps and for providing on-screen information for display;

an audio subsystem coupled to the processor, the audio subsystem further comprising at least two microphones and at least one speaker;

a visualization subsystem coupled to the processor, the visualization subsystem further comprising at least two cameras; and

a touchscreen display coupled to the image processing module and the processor;

wherein the system is configured to alter the size and position of the displayed images from the image processing module and the on-screen information depending on operation context or workflow state; and

wherein the image processor further comprises at least one wired network interface or at least one wireless network interface; and at least one cellular network interface; and wherein the system is configured for redundant network connectivity with cellular backup in case of a network outage.

15 . The surgical display system of claim 14 wherein the system is configured to display surgical images received by the image processing module regardless of whether the processor is operational.

16 . The surgical display system of claim 14 wherein the processor is configured to receive data from both the audio subsystem and the visualization subsystem to authenticate a user.

17 . The surgical display system of claim 14 wherein the plurality of apps link to at least one of cloud services and local services.

18 . The surgical display system of claim 17 wherein the cloud services comprise artificial intelligence and machine learning functions.

19 . The surgical display system to claim 17 wherein the plurality of apps comprise at least one of the groups consisting of: pre-operation related apps and post-operation related apps.

20 . The surgical display system to claim 19 wherein the plurality of apps comprise at least one of the groups consisting of: telemedicine services, authentication services, transcription services and fleet management services.

21 . The surgical display system of claim 14 wherein the system is configured to present a virtual tablet interface.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: KENNEDY, BRUCE LAURENCE
To: SOFTACUITY INC
Reel/Frame 063023/0020 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 63311916 · Feb 18, 2022
Related Publication 20230266872A1 · Aug 24, 2023
References Cited (9)
US 20160015471A1 · Piron · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20160379504A1 · Bailey · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20180197624A1 · Robaina · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20180227369A1 · DuCray · 2018 [cited by examiner]
US 20190183591A1 · Johnson · 2019 [cited by examiner]
US 20210076966A1 · Grantcharov · 2021 [cited by examiner]
US 20220313338A1 · Carroll · 2022 [cited by examiner]
“Biometrics” by Wikipedia, The Fee Encyclopedia; https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Biometrics&oldid=1161511212; Jun. 23, 2023, pp. 1-18. [cited by applicant]
International Search Report and Written Opinion, dated May 22, 2023, pp. 1-17. [cited by applicant]