Telemedical method and system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A medical treatment method comprising:
- providing a surgical operating room containing an operating table;
physically moving said operating room from a first location to a second location;
at said second location, disposing a patient on said operating table;
after the disposing of said patient on said operating table, generating, at said second location, a video signal encoding an image of said patient disposed on said operating table;
transmitting said video signal as a first signal over a first communications path to a third location beyond a range of direct manual contact with the patient;
substantially simultaneously transmitting said video signal as a second signal to said third location over a second communications path different from said first communications path;
producing said image on an image reproduction device at said third location from at least one of said first signal and said second signal;
in response to said image production, generating a control signal at said third location;
transmitting said control signal as a third signal over a third communications path to said second location;
substantially simultaneously with the transmitting of said third signal, transmitting said control signal as a fourth signal to said second location over a fourth communications path different from said third communications path; and
in response to at least one of said third signal and said fourth signal, automatically operating at least one robotic surgical mechanism in said operating room to perform a surgical procedure on said patient disposed on said operating table.
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Abstract
Using a mobile medical facility such as a surgical operating room, a physician may perform various diagnostic and surgical instruments on a patient located at a distance from the physician. The mobile medical facility is carried on a vehicle such as a truck, a ship or and aircraft. Generally, it is contemplated that the vehicle is stationary during the performance of a medical procedure. However, it is possible to conduct an examination or treatment even when the medical facility is in motion. Control signals and feedback signals are transmitted redundantly, over multiple communications pathways.
226 Citations
37 Claims
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1. A medical treatment method comprising:
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providing a surgical operating room containing an operating table;
physically moving said operating room from a first location to a second location;
at said second location, disposing a patient on said operating table;
after the disposing of said patient on said operating table, generating, at said second location, a video signal encoding an image of said patient disposed on said operating table;
transmitting said video signal as a first signal over a first communications path to a third location beyond a range of direct manual contact with the patient;
substantially simultaneously transmitting said video signal as a second signal to said third location over a second communications path different from said first communications path;
producing said image on an image reproduction device at said third location from at least one of said first signal and said second signal;
in response to said image production, generating a control signal at said third location;
transmitting said control signal as a third signal over a third communications path to said second location;
substantially simultaneously with the transmitting of said third signal, transmitting said control signal as a fourth signal to said second location over a fourth communications path different from said third communications path; and
in response to at least one of said third signal and said fourth signal, automatically operating at least one robotic surgical mechanism in said operating room to perform a surgical procedure on said patient disposed on said operating table. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A medical treatment system comprising:
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a self-propelled vehicle having a cargo compartment;
an operating table disposed in said cargo compartment for supporting a patient;
at least one robotic surgical mechanism disposed in said cargo compartment for surgically operating on the patient supported by said table; and
a signal receiver disposed on said vehicle, said signal receiver being operatively connected to said robotic surgical mechanism for inducing an automatic actuation thereof in response to control signals received from a remote location via said signal receiver, said signal receiver being connected to at least two communications pathways for receiving redundant copies of said control signals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A medical treatment method comprising:
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providing a surgical operating room containing an operating table;
physically moving said operating room from a first location to a second location;
at said second location, disposing a patient on said operating table;
after the disposing of said patient on said operating table, receiving a signal from a remote location; and
in response to control information in said signal, automatically operating at least one robotic surgical mechanism in said operating room to perform a surgical procedure on said patient disposed on said operating table. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medical treatment system comprising:
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a self-propelled vehicle having a cargo compartment;
an operating table disposed in said cargo compartment for supporting a patient;
at least one robotic surgical mechanism disposed in said cargo compartment for surgically operating on the patient supported by said table; and
a signal receiver disposed on said vehicle, said signal receiver being operatively connected to said robotic surgical mechanism for inducing an automatic actuation thereof in response to control signals received from a remote location via said signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A medical system comprising:
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a self-propelled vehicle having a cargo compartment;
a sensor device disposed in said cargo compartment for collecting information on a patient in said cargo compartment;
at least one control device disposed in said cargo compartment for operating a medical instrument relative to the patient; and
communications components including a signal receiver and a transmitter disposed on said vehicle, said transmitter being operatively connected to said sensor device for transmitting data from said sensor device to a remote location, said receiver being operatively connected to said control device for inducing an automatic actuation thereof in response to control signals received from said remote location via said signal receiver. - View Dependent Claims (35)
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36. A medical method comprising:
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providing a medical facility including an enclosed space;
physically moving said medical facility from a first location to a second location;
introducing a patient into said enclosed space at said second location;
after the introducing of said patient into said enclosed space, receiving a signal from a remote location; and
in response to control information in said signal, automatically operating at least one medical device in said enclosed space to perform a medical procedure on said patient disposed in said enclosed space. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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Specification