A general framework for data streaming in the digital operating room

The situation today in most operating theaters is characterized by a large number of highly specialized but isolated surgical-assist systems. Integration of these systems into a complete solution is the key to maximize their usefulness and cost-effectiveness through optimization of the data flow and reuse of existing hardware. Goal of the integration is the design of a distributed assist system by connecting multiple independent components using standard protocols for communication and data exchange. Required surgical functionalities are created by combining the appropriate components. Such a distributed assist system induces fundamental changes in the nature of the data flow among individual components. Today, components tend to exchange more-or-less independent and self-contained units of information which they process once the complete data set has arrived. However, with distributed functionalities and tighter integration necessary to complete a surgical process, increased continuous data transfer and processing will be required. To handle this type of data transmission, the system will have to support streaming of continuous data. We present a general framework for the integration of data streaming into the Digital Operating Room. The approach presented provides a two level system in which the management and supervision of the data producing and consuming devices is independent of the actual mechanisms used to transmit the data. This approach allows the use of infrastructure and transmission technologies specially adapted to the specific needs of the streamed data.