Operating Room Educational Television "OReduTV"

RELATED APPLICATIONS

0001The present invention is a continuation in part of a parent application having a Ser. No. 11/551,262 and filed on Oct. 23, 2006.

FIELD OF INVENTION

0002The present invention is directed generally to an Internet based wireless or wired communication device, and more particularly, to a system and method for maintaining a video image for interactive communication at areas in the surgical suite of a hospital or clinic to transmit educational instruction of pertinent and timely information for the medical profession. In one embodiment, the device would be in the surgical suite located above the surgical scrub sinks.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

0003Due to recent federal legislation as well as new educational institutional policies, pharmaceutical and medical device companies are banned from providing any significant financial assistance or incentive to the doctors or the medical staff in order to promote their products or services. Traditional marketing methods included the use of company employees to entertain, gift, or otherwise incentive medical personnel to listen to or to see presentations concerning the respective company's products or services. In response to the loss of this traditional method, the medical companies have taken to marketing their products directly to the public via commercial media, i.e. television, magazines, newspapers. The thrust of such marketing is to motivate the potential patient to ask their doctor about the product. Often, this is the first notification of such a product. It is no longer the direct relationship with the supplier for information, but it is the patient who is now the agent of information. This method often is confusing to the patient who may lack medical understanding and novel to the physician or staff who was not prepared educationally to respond to the patient's inquiry. The problem now is how to get this timely educational information to the medical profession. Continuing medical education is provided by the hospitals, universities, and medical societies, but these are monthly or less frequent.

0004This problem is further complicated by the doctor's and staff's available time being limited. Daily patient care activities minimize or eliminate daily education opportunity. There is little time available on a daily basis to learn about the new products or services of the pharmaceutical or medical device companies for the above reasons.

0005Furthermore, immediately prior to or during an actual operation or treatment, there may be a need to review these new products or services in order to treat the patient or to obtain the latest information about the actual operation or treatment.

0006Prior to an operation, surgeons and staff spend a significant amount of total time washing his/her hands and forearms, even multiple times each day. The period of time “scrubbing” is typically three to ten minutes at a surgical scrub sink. It is a time of isolation from any and all other activities. Therefore, this is an opportune time for short segments of video and or sound bites concerning relevant medical educational material. Surgical sinks are used in order to permit a surgeon to wash his/her hands prior to entering the surgical suite and subsequent placement of the sterile surgical gloves for surgery. Furthermore, the surgical sinks are located in or near the operating room and consequently may be difficult to hard wire. It is essential, in order to maintain the sterile conditions, that the surgeon's hands not touch any object which might be unsterile. Voice or physical mode for activation is possible for selection from the menu on the television monitor for the program of their choosing; by their specialty or their academic interest.

0007Technology continues to enter the operating room. Presently, surgery can be aided with 3-D vision. This was a technology that was originally developed by the military to help fighter pilots immerse themselves in air combat. The same technology is helping surgeons. Surgeons set a pair of sophisticated goggles over their head to view the surgery with the aid of cameras inserted into incisions into the patient as their surgical tools are inserted below the skin. The surgeons can obtain a real-time view of the effect of their surgery. However, this does not address the need of the surgeon for instantaneous training and guidance for unexpected problems.

0008U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,799 discloses a method and apparatus for controlling a computer screen adapted for use by individuals with limited or no manual dexterity.

0009Because of the closeness of the scrub sink to the OR room, there may be a need to avoid excess noise from or in consideration of other doctors and staff members.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0010An object of this invention is to provide an automatically or manually operated monitor and surgical scrub sink which overcomes the above disadvantages.

0011A further object of this invention is to provide such a surgical scrub sink and wireless interactive monitor which can be wirelessly or wire connected to an information source which includes pharmaceutical or other types of information which would be useful for the surgeon. Consequently, while the surgeon is cleaning his hands, he can activate the wireless interactive monitor in order to obtain additional information such as pharmaceutical information. This may be accomplished by infra red transmission methods.

0012Wireless communications devices, such as the monitor and the cell phone, typically include a housing and various data input and output devices, such as a keyboard, a display, a microphone and a speaker. In addition, some wireless communications devices have video conferencing capabilities. The same system may be used for in-service educational training of the support staff on new procedures, medications or instrumentation.

0013In accordance with this invention, a wireless interactive monitor is positioned over the sink. An electronically operated on/off mechanism controls the wireless interactive monitor positioned near or approximately under the surgeon scrub sink. The wireless interactive monitor may be voice activated and controlled so that the surgeon does not need to physically touch the monitor. The interactive monitor may include a computer in order to perform the voice activation of the interactive monitor and to perform the voice control of the interactive monitor. A sensor may be mounted under or alongside the tub for directing a beam in front of the tub at the height of the user's legs so as to detect the presence and absence of a user in the immediate vicinity of the tub. The sensor is operationally connected to the on/off mechanism so as to comprise a control for turning on the monitor when the presence of the user is detected and turning off the monitor when the absence of a user is detected. The sensor provides an alternative to voice activation. The activation may be by foot pedal.

0014The sensor may be operative over a focal distance of approximately a few inches so as to avoid false starts by detecting objects other than the surgeon standing in the immediate vicinity of the tub. A further preferred practice of the invention provides mounting the sensor on a support arm which extends below and generally to the front edge of the tub so as to assure properly locating the short focus sensor at its desired location. The support arm may be suspended from the tub by mounting the support arm to the tub drain pipe. The support arm may be used for mounting the mixing valve for the faucet.

0015Implementation may involve leasing or purchasing the air space in and about the hospital and/or the operating room suite, specifically those areas of transmission; i.e. above and in front of the scrub sink, in the operating room, the instrument ready rooms, physicians and nurses' lounges. The present invention may be used in convention in hotel rooms. It can also be used in cars, planes, buses, trains etc. Bill Gates has indicated that advertising and TV as we know it today will be passé very soon. This invention furthers that notion.

0016An apparatus for viewing information includes a wireless interactive monitor including a screen for displaying the information and adapted to receive the said information from a memory and a surgeon scrub sink for allowing a surgeon and/or hospital personnel to sterilize the hands of the surgeon, positioned under the wireless interactive monitor. The memory receives the information wirelessly.

0017Additionally, the present invention includes an apparatus for viewing information including a wireless interactive monitor including a screen for displaying the information and adapted to receive the information wirelessly and a surgeon 3-D vision apparatus for allowing a surgeon to view a 3-D image. The 3-D vision apparatus is coupled to the wireless interactive monitor.

0018The wireless cellular phone of the present invention receives a video image provided by a video-output device of a wireless communications device, and as a result enables a surgeon of the wireless communications device to receive information in the form of video and audio through the display and the speaker and to provide feedback by the buttons to the video-output device in order to instruct the video-output device which information that the surgeon would like to see and hear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

0019The invention may be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which, like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

0020<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates a computer diagram of the video output device of the present invention;

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates the video output device and the wireless interactive monitor of the present invention;

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates a front view of the wireless interactive monitor and surgeon sink of the present invention;

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref> illustrates a side view of the wireless interactive monitor and the surgeon sink of the present invention;

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates a computer diagram associated with the monitor of the present invention;

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a diagram of a 3-D system with the monitor of the present invention;

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> illustrates a cell phone being used in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

0027The present invention involves improvements over surgical scrub sinks utilizing automatic control apparatus for turning the wireless interactive monitor on and off. Although the present invention is described in terms of a wireless device, the principles of the present invention can be equally applied to a wired system including a wired interactive monitor.

0028The concepts of the invention may be practiced with various types of known surgical scrub sinks wherein the invention is incorporated therein by providing a sensor mounted at a location which would generally correspond to the legs, and more particularly the knee area, at the immediate vicinity of the sink tub. Preferably, the sensor is of short focus with a focal distance of about 2-6 inches, so as to avoid false signals which would otherwise be caused by detecting objects other than the user of the sink. The invention is based upon the recognition that when the user of the sink, such as a surgeon, is performing a hand scrubbing operation, he or she will stand immediately juxtaposed to the sink tub during the scrubbing or hand washing operation and will remain in that position until the scrubbing operation is completed, although during the scrubbing operation there might be periods of time when the hands are not in the immediate vicinity of the faucet. During this period of time, the surgeon is free to view the material presented on the interactive wireless monitor. Thus, the present invention could rely upon detection of the hands near the faucet as well as the detection of the legs near the tub. The monitor <b>102</b> which may shut itself off after a predetermined amount of time or could be shut off by voice-activated command. Although the present invention is described in terms of the interactive monitor <b>102</b> positioned above a scrub sink <b>10</b>, other locations within the surgical suite are within the scope of the present invention. For example, the interactive monitor <b>102</b> could be positioned to the left of or to the right of the scrub sink <b>10</b>. Furthermore, the present invention describes the user of the interactive monitor <b>102</b> and a scrub sink <b>10</b> as a surgeon, but other users such as nurses and assistants could take advantage of the interactive monitor <b>102</b>. The scrub sink <b>10</b> could be found in the preparation area and could be used to clean surgical instruments between cases. Individuals who are not familiar with the various instruments, their care, use, safety, and sterilization issues could use the interactive monitor <b>102</b> for tutorials which is sometimes called in-service education. The interactive monitor <b>102</b> could be positioned in a doctors or nurses lounge and might be used with earphones <b>404</b>, which may be wireless or wired, that allows each person to hear their individualized program without disturbing others in the room or area.

0029As illustrated herein and in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3-4</figref>, a surgical scrub sink <b>10</b> is shown which includes a tub <b>12</b> of any suitable known description and wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. The tub <b>12</b> would include a drain hole <b>14</b> at its lower portion and would include a front edge <b>16</b>. A faucet <b>18</b> is mounted at the top of tub <b>12</b>. The faucet <b>18</b> terminates in a nozzle <b>20</b> which is disposed over and toward the open body of tub <b>12</b>.

0030The wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> is electronically operated by an on/off mechanism <b>22</b> as described above, or the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> could be voice-activated by user <b>402</b>. The user <b>402</b> may use a wired or wireless ear piece <b>404</b> which could be attached to the user <b>402</b> before the user <b>402</b> washes his hands and could be removed by an attendant to maintain the sterile condition of the hands. Such on/off mechanism <b>22</b> may include, for example, a solenoid controlled electronic switch in order to turn on and off the electric power for the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> in housing <b>28</b>. A sensor module cable <b>30</b> is also provided in housing <b>28</b>.

0031The housing or enclosure <b>28</b> for the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> is mounted to a support arm <b>34</b>. A sensor <b>36</b> is mounted to the remote or free end of support arm <b>34</b> as best shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 3-4</figref>.

0000Support arm <b>34</b> includes a main bracket <b>38</b> which is fixedly mounted to any suitable support. For example, as best illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the main bracket <b>38</b> is attached to drain tube <b>44</b> of tub <b>12</b> and is stabilized against rotation by a pair of wall adjustment screws bearing against wall <b>40</b>. Tub <b>12</b> is secured directly to wall <b>40</b>.

0032Advantageously, support arm <b>34</b> is utilized for mounting various components of the surgical scrub sink <b>10</b>. As noted, sensor <b>36</b> and on/off mechanism <b>22</b> are mounted to support arm <b>34</b>. Support arm <b>34</b> is suspended from tub <b>12</b> by connection to drain tube <b>44</b> leading from drain hole <b>14</b>. Tube <b>44</b> is mounted to and through support arm <b>34</b> with the tail piece <b>46</b> extending downwardly below support arm <b>34</b>. As illustrated in the various figures, the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> includes a transformer <b>48</b> mounted at any suitable location, such as to wall <b>40</b>. The wiring for transformer <b>48</b> is electrically connected to the wiring from on/off mechanism <b>22</b>. The on/off mechanism also includes a wire to connect to the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. Transformer <b>48</b> may be of any suitable known construction such as a 12 volt transformer.

0033Sensor cable <b>30</b> is housed within the downwardly extending sides of arm <b>34</b> and is connected to sensor <b>36</b>. The position of sensor module <b>36</b> could be adjusted to its intended location with respect to the front edge <b>16</b> of tub <b>12</b>. This assures that the module will detect the presence or absence of the user standing in front of and at or juxtaposed to front edge <b>16</b> of tub <b>12</b>. Accordingly, it is possible to use a short focus sensor having an effective focal distance of about 2-6 inches and still reliably sense the presence or absence of a surgeon standing at sink <b>10</b>. The elevation of sensor <b>36</b> above the floor would be selected to correspond to the elevation of the surgeon's legs, such as in the knee area. Other locations of the surgeon's legs could also be used as the detecting target. Thus, sensor module <b>36</b> could be elevated above the floor any suitable distance of, for example, six inches to thirty inches.

0034The invention would thus be practiced by suitably positioning sensor module <b>36</b> at the desired location, generally at the front edge <b>16</b> of tub <b>12</b>. Sensor module <b>36</b> would project a beam which operates to detect the presence or absence of an object in the range of the beam. Because sensor module <b>36</b> preferably operates with a focus, the presence of an object would be detected only when the object is in the immediate vicinity of front edge <b>16</b> at the elevation of sensor module <b>36</b>. Thus, under ordinary conditions, no object would be detected. This detection of the absence of an object would permit the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> to remain in its off condition and the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> would remain off. When, however, a surgeon steps to sink <b>10</b> in order to perform a scrubbing operation by standing at the front edge <b>16</b> of sink <b>10</b>, sensor module <b>36</b> would detect the presence of an object, namely the surgeon's legs and the sensing would be transmitted to on/off mechanism <b>22</b> and permit the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> to be activated. The wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> would remain on as long as the surgeon remained at the front of tub <b>12</b>. Once the scrubbing operation has been completed, the surgeon would step away from tub <b>12</b>. Sensor <b>36</b> would then detect the absence of the surgeon and corresponding signal would be sent to the on/off mechanism <b>22</b>. The wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> would then shut off. The monitor <b>102</b> could be controlled by the apparatus <b>404</b> described above for individuals with limited or no manual dexterity. In this case, the surgeon cannot use his/her hands because of the need for a sterile environment.

0035An optional manual override switch is also provided to facilitate continued operation of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> should there be an interruption in power to the mechanism <b>22</b>. This override switch is linked to a backup battery power pack to maintain actuation of the on/off mechanism <b>22</b>, and resultant operation of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> in case of a power failure.

0036The invention thus provides a way of automatically controlling the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> during scrubbing which permits full movement of the surgeon's arms and hands during the scrubbing without affecting the operation of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. The wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> shuts off once the video is completed and the surgeon is no longer present at sink <b>10</b>.

0037The wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> of the present invention receives a video image provided by a video-output device <b>104</b> of a wireless communications device, and as a result enables a surgeon of the wireless communications device to receive information in the form of video and audio and to provide feedback to the video-output device <b>104</b> in order to instruct the video-output device <b>104</b> which information that the surgeon would like to see and hear. The feedback would allow the surgeon to take appropriate action to maintain or adjust the content of the video image. The present invention may be readily implemented in any wireless communication device. The principles of the present invention are applicable to any wireless communication device, including, but not limited to, analog and digital cellular telephones, personal communications system (PCS) devices, and the like.

0038The wireless cellular phone <b>702</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> of the present invention receives a video image provided by a video-output device <b>104</b> of a wireless communications device, and as a result enables a surgeon of the wireless communications device to receive information in the form of video and audio through the display <b>704</b> and the speaker <b>708</b> and to provide feedback by the buttons <b>706</b> to the video-output device <b>104</b> in order to instruct the video-output device <b>104</b> which information that the surgeon would like to see and hear. The feedback would allow the surgeon to take appropriate action to maintain or adjust the content of the video image. The present invention may be readily implemented in any wireless communication device.

0039The present invention is embodied in a system <b>100</b> illustrated in the functional block of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>. The system <b>100</b> includes a central processing unit (CPU) <b>103</b>, which controls operation of the system. A memory <b>105</b>, which may include both read-only memory (ROM) and random-access memories (RAM), provides instructions and data to the CPU <b>103</b>. A portion of the memory <b>105</b> may also include non-volatile random-access memory. The display <b>109</b> provides a screen for CPU <b>103</b>.

0040The system <b>100</b>, which is typically embodied in a wireless communication device, also includes a housing <b>107</b> that contains a transmitter <b>108</b> and a receiver <b>110</b> to allow transmission and reception of data, such as audio and video communications and programming data, between the system <b>100</b> and a remote location, such as the monitor <b>102</b> or the like. The transmitter <b>108</b> and the receiver <b>110</b> may be combined into a transceiver <b>112</b>. The transmitter <b>108</b> and receiver <b>110</b> may be connected to transmit and receive wireless Internet. An antenna <b>114</b> is attached to the housing <b>107</b> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <b>112</b>. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates the antenna <b>114</b> as extending from the housing <b>107</b>, some designs may include an internal antenna that is contained completely within the housing. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates a tower <b>150</b> which may be located at the hospital or some other convenient location to connect the wireless signal to the video output device <b>104</b>. The wireless signal may be a wireless Internet signal.

0000A user-input device <b>116</b> includes a video-input device <b>118</b>, is communicatively linked to the system <b>100</b> for operation by the user in a conventional manner. The user-input device <b>116</b> provides a convenient way which audio, commands, video images, voice data and other data may be entered by the user. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> illustrates the user-input device <b>116</b> as including a video-input device <b>118</b> to input video for example from the medical companies to be ultimately displayed on the monitor <b>102</b>, a microphone <b>120</b>, a keypad <b>122</b>, and a data-input jack <b>124</b> for example to connect to the Internet so that video and other data can be obtained and contained within the housing <b>107</b>, other user input devices may be used, such as the receiver, and the like, and in various combinations. In addition, while the video-input device <b>118</b> may be a camera, DVD, CD, or tape, video-input devices <b>118</b> may be used, including the data-input jack <b>124</b>, the receiver <b>110</b>, and the like, and in various combinations.

0041Electrical components of the system <b>100</b> receive power from a battery <b>134</b>, which is attached to and supported by the housing <b>107</b>. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery <b>134</b> is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the system <b>100</b> may include a connector (not shown) for the connection of an external power source, such as an automobile power adapter, AC power adapter, or the like.

0042The various components of the system <b>100</b> are coupled together by a bus system <b>136</b> which may include a power bus, control bus, and status signal bus in addition to a data bus. For the sake of clarity, however, the various buses are illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> as the bus system <b>136</b>.

0043<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> illustrates the operation of the system <b>100</b> to transmit the video image and audio to a remote location, such as the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. The video image and audio may be transmitted to a variety of remote locations, such as another system <b>100</b>, or the like. For the sake of brevity, the system <b>100</b> will be described using a limited number of examples.

0044In operation, the sensor <b>36</b> senses the presence of the surgeon at the surgical scrub sink <b>10</b> and activates the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> to its on condition. The content that is presented to the user on the monitor <b>102</b> may be customized. For example a first surgeon may desire to see only information relating to his specialty such as brain surgery. A second surgeon may specialize in plastic surgery and is only interested in information that relates to plastic surgery. The CPU <b>503</b> could recognize the earpiece <b>404</b> as being dedicated to a particular surgeon or the earpiece <b>404</b> could include a keyboard to input a unique identifier. Alternatively, a keypad <b>408</b> could be positioned near the monitor <b>102</b> to identify the user. The CPU <b>503</b> would direct appropriate video and/or audio to the monitor <b>102</b> based upon the user that is currently using the system. This sensor may be individualized for the surgeon so that the medical or surgical specialties of interest to him/her would be pre-programmed. The on/off mechanism <b>22</b> activates the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. Alternatively, the monitor <b>102</b> may go in and out of the suspended, sleep or hibernate mode. Initially, a first menu <b>140</b> and a second menu <b>142</b> appear on the screen <b>144</b> of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> which may be a screen for a computer monitor or a screen for a television set. The surgeon may start the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> by a voice command using the speech recognition technology <b>152</b>. The surgeon chooses either the first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> by either physically activating the screen of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> at the appropriate first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> or using speech recognition technology <b>152</b> of the monitor <b>102</b>, the surgeon speaks his choice for the first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> which is received by the voice-recognition technology <b>152</b> to activate the first menu <b>140</b> choice or the second menu <b>142</b> choice. Either the first menu <b>140</b> choice or the second menu <b>142</b> choice is wirelessly sent to the video-output device <b>104</b> as feedback. The feedback is received by the antenna <b>114</b> and transmitted to the receiver <b>110</b> which transmits the feedback to the CPU <b>103</b>. The CPU <b>103</b> uses the feedback to select audio and video, only audio or only video from the memory <b>105</b>. Using audio and video as an example, the CPU <b>103</b> directs the audio and video to the transmitter <b>108</b>, and the transmitter <b>108</b> transmits the audio and video to the antenna <b>114</b> which in turn is wirelessly transmitted to the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> to be received and played on the screen of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. This continues until the audio or video transmitted from the transmitter <b>108</b> ends or the surgeon walks away from the surgical scrub sink <b>10</b> at which point the sensor <b>36</b> fails to detect the surgeon standing in front of the surgical scrub sink <b>10</b>. The sensor <b>36</b> directs the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> to turn off the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>, and the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> turns off the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. A voice command could be used to turn off the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> by utilizing the speech recognition technology <b>152</b>.

0045Alternatively, instead of watching the video over the Internet, the videos may be downloaded from the Internet or directly input into a user input <b>516</b> and saved in a memory <b>505</b>. Consequently, when a new video is made available by the pharmaceutical company, the new video can be instantly downloaded into the memory <b>505</b>. The monitor <b>102</b> may include additional processing circuitry <b>500</b> including a central processing unit (CPU) <b>503</b>, which controls operation of the processing circuitry <b>500</b>, a memory <b>505</b>, which may include both read-only memory (ROM) and random-access memories (RAM), provides instructions and data to the CPU <b>503</b> and may provide for the storage of video which has been downloaded from the Internet or input through the user input device <b>516</b>. A portion of the memory <b>505</b> may also include non-volatile random-access memory. The monitor <b>102</b> provides a screen for CPU <b>503</b>.

0046The system <b>100</b>, which is typically embodied in a wireless communication device, also includes a housing <b>507</b> that contains a transmitter <b>508</b> and a receiver <b>510</b> to allow transmission and reception of data, such as audio and video communications and programming data, between the video output device <b>104</b> and the monitor <b>102</b> or the like. The transmitter <b>508</b> and the receiver <b>510</b> may be combined into a transceiver <b>512</b>. The transmitter <b>508</b> and receiver <b>510</b> may be connected to transmit and receive wireless Internet. An antenna <b>514</b> is attached to the housing <b>507</b> and electrically coupled to the transceiver <b>512</b>. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates the antenna <b>514</b> as extending from the housing <b>507</b>, some designs may include an internal antenna that is contained completely within the housing <b>507</b>.

0000A user-input device <b>516</b>, comprising at least a video-input device <b>518</b>, is communicatively linked to the CPU <b>503</b> for operation by the user in a conventional manner. The user-input device <b>516</b> provides a convenient way which audio, commands, video images, voice data and other data may be entered by the user of the monitor <b>102</b>. Although <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> illustrates the user-input device <b>516</b> as comprising a video-input device <b>518</b> to input video for example from the medical companies to be stored in memory <b>505</b> and ultimately displayed on the monitor <b>102</b>, a microphone <b>520</b>, a keypad <b>522</b>, and a data-input jack <b>524</b> for example to connect to the Internet so that video and other data can be obtained and contained within the housing <b>507</b>, other user input devices may be used, such as the receiver, and the like, and in various combinations. In addition, while the video-input device <b>518</b> may be a camera or tape, video-input devices <b>518</b> may be used, including the data-input jack <b>524</b>, the receiver <b>510</b>, and the like, and in various combinations.

0047Electrical components of the monitor <b>102</b> receive power from a battery <b>534</b>, which is attached to and supported by the housing <b>507</b>. In an exemplary embodiment, the battery <b>534</b> is a rechargeable battery. In other embodiments, the system <b>100</b> may include a connector (not shown) for the connection of an external power source, such as an automobile power adapter, AC power adapter, or the like.

0048The various components of the monitor <b>102</b> are coupled together by a bus system <b>536</b> which may include a power bus, control bus, and status signal bus in addition to a data bus. For the sake of clarity, however, the various buses are illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5</figref> as the bus system <b>536</b>.

0049In operation, the sensor <b>36</b> senses the presence of the surgeon at the surgical scrub sink <b>10</b> and activates the on/off mechanism <b>22</b> to its on condition. The on/off mechanism <b>22</b> activates the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b>. Initially, the first menu <b>140</b> and the second menu <b>142</b> appear on the screen <b>144</b> of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> which may be a screen for a computer monitor or a screen for a television set. The surgeon may start the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> by a voice command using the speech recognition technology <b>152</b>. The surgeon chooses either the first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> by either touching the screen of the wireless interactive monitor <b>102</b> at the appropriate first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> or using speech recognition technology <b>152</b> of the monitor <b>102</b>, the surgeon speaks his choice for the first menu <b>140</b> or the second menu <b>142</b> which is received by the voice-recognition technology <b>152</b> to activate the first menu <b>140</b> choice or the second menu <b>142</b> choice. Either the first menu <b>140</b> choice or the second menu <b>142</b> choice is wirelessly sent to the CPU <b>503</b> as feedback. The CPU <b>503</b> directs the memory <b>505</b> began playing the video to be displayed on the monitor <b>102</b>. This will facilitate high quality, full resolution, and continuous video.

0050The monitor <b>102</b> could be placed in the waiting room to provide waiting room educational television. Additionally, the monitor <b>102</b> could be portable such that the monitor <b>102</b> could travel with the patient as the patient goes to the lab or x-ray. Alternatively the monitor <b>102</b> could be placed in the operating room OR so that the surgeon can obtain additional information relating to the medical problem he is currently addressing such as a solution for an unexpected problem with the patient which could replace a medical implant/instrument employee.

0051<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> illustrates a 3-D system <b>600</b> which includes a first video camera <b>602</b> and a second video camera <b>604</b> to be placed under the skin of the patient to view of the operation. In addition, the cameras provide a 3-D video to the display <b>606</b> and in close proximity to display <b>606</b> is the monitor <b>102</b> which is reduced in size so that the surgeon can view video from the medical companies in conjunction with the videos from the actual surgery. Implementation may involve leasing or purchasing the air space in and about the hospital and/or the operating room suite, specifically those areas of transmission; i.e. above and in front of the scrub sink, in the operating room, the instrument ready rooms, physicians and nurses' lounges. The present invention may be used in convention in hotel rooms. It can also be used in cars, planes, buses, trains etc. Bill Gates has indicated that advertising and TV as we know it today will be passé very soon. This invention furthers that notion.

0052While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed.