Telemedicine components, devices, applications and uses thereof
First Claim
1. A system for collecting and relaying medical information, the system comprising:
- a base station at a first location, the base station comprising a processor operatively connected to a base station communication module configured to communicate over a local area network using a first communication interface and over a wide area network using a second communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to securely relay commands received over the wide area network to the local area network and relay data received over the local area network to the wide area network;
a medical device proximate the first location comprising a microcontroller operatively connected to a power supply, a device communication module communicatively coupled to the base station via the local area network, and a sensor configured to collect medical information, wherein said microcontroller is configured to transmit the medical information to the base station communication module via the local area network using the device communication module and receive instructions from the base station via the local area network using the device communication module; and
a controller at a second location that is distinct from the first location, the controller comprising a controller communication module communicatively coupled to the base station via the wide area network, wherein the controller is configured to remotely control the medical device by transmitting commands to the base station and is configured to receive the medical information from the base station;
wherein the medical device comprises a stethoscope module, the sensor comprises a plurality of microphones, and the medical information comprises a sound recording, wherein the stethoscope module further comprises;
a body substantially enclosing the microcontroller, the power supply, and the device communication module, the body comprising;
a pair of earpiece connectors separated by a central portion and located at opposite ends of the body, each earpiece connector containing one of the plurality of microphones and configured to receive and support a respective stethoscope earpiece proximate to the respective stethoscope earpiece;
a third microphone attached to the central portion and configured so as to be placed proximate to a patient'"'"'s chest; and
an input device operatively connected to the microcontroller;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to selectively, based on a signal received from the input device, obtain the sound recording from the first microphone or the second microphone;
wherein the microcontroller is configured to selectively, based on the signal received from the input device, obtain the sound recording from the third microphone; and
wherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the sound recording to the base station using the device communication module.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to equipment including hardware, software, and methods of use thereof for enabling medical interactions between individuals in separate locations. More specifically, the present invention relates to telemedicine components, devices, applications, and uses thereof. Embodiments of the present invention enable video, audio, textual, and graphical information to be securely exchanged between doctors and patients, as well as data files. A doctor located remotely from a patient may receive information from and control one or more medical devices located proximate to the patient using software operating on a computing device.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for collecting and relaying medical information, the system comprising:
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a base station at a first location, the base station comprising a processor operatively connected to a base station communication module configured to communicate over a local area network using a first communication interface and over a wide area network using a second communication interface, wherein the processor is configured to securely relay commands received over the wide area network to the local area network and relay data received over the local area network to the wide area network; a medical device proximate the first location comprising a microcontroller operatively connected to a power supply, a device communication module communicatively coupled to the base station via the local area network, and a sensor configured to collect medical information, wherein said microcontroller is configured to transmit the medical information to the base station communication module via the local area network using the device communication module and receive instructions from the base station via the local area network using the device communication module; and a controller at a second location that is distinct from the first location, the controller comprising a controller communication module communicatively coupled to the base station via the wide area network, wherein the controller is configured to remotely control the medical device by transmitting commands to the base station and is configured to receive the medical information from the base station; wherein the medical device comprises a stethoscope module, the sensor comprises a plurality of microphones, and the medical information comprises a sound recording, wherein the stethoscope module further comprises; a body substantially enclosing the microcontroller, the power supply, and the device communication module, the body comprising; a pair of earpiece connectors separated by a central portion and located at opposite ends of the body, each earpiece connector containing one of the plurality of microphones and configured to receive and support a respective stethoscope earpiece proximate to the respective stethoscope earpiece; a third microphone attached to the central portion and configured so as to be placed proximate to a patient'"'"'s chest; and an input device operatively connected to the microcontroller; wherein the microcontroller is configured to selectively, based on a signal received from the input device, obtain the sound recording from the first microphone or the second microphone; wherein the microcontroller is configured to selectively, based on the signal received from the input device, obtain the sound recording from the third microphone; and wherein the microcontroller is configured to transmit the sound recording to the base station using the device communication module. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification