Home-based remote medical assistance

• US 20030179292A1
• Filed: 01/27/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Original Assignee: Orange S.A.
• Inventors: Berenguer, Marc, Provost, Herve
• Granted Patent: US 7,283,153 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system for providing a patient with remote medical assistance at home. According to the invention, said system comprises:

a patient station (100) comprising at least a remotely controllable patient video camera (101) and a patient computer (110) provided with means (111) for acquiring data from medical assistance appliances (11, 12), with relay means (112) for forwarding commands to said appliances, and with means (113) for connection to a telecommunications network (3); and

a carer station (200) comprising at least a display screen (202) suitable for receiving images from said patient video camera (101), and a carer computer (200) provided with means (213) for connection to said telecommunications network (3) in order to set up a call with the patient station (100), means (211) for remotely controlling the patient station, suitable for remotely controlling the patient video camera (101) and for sending said commands to the patient computer (110), and means (212) for use after remote control for monitoring and feedback purposes by displaying on said display screen (202) images supplied by the patient camera (101) and by transferring to the carer computer (210) data that has been transmitted from the acquisition means (111) of the patient computer via the telecommunications network (3).

The system is applicable to enabling patients to be cared for at home.

Claims

1. / A system for remote medical assistance of a patient at home, the system being characterized in that it comprises:

a patient station (100) comprising at least a remotely controllable patient video camera (101) and a patient computer (110) provided with means (111) for acquiring data from medical assistance appliances (11, 12), with relay means (112) for forwarding commands to said appliances, and with means (113) for connection to a telecommunications network (3); and

a carer station (200) comprising at least a display screen (202) suitable for receiving images from said patient video camera (101), and a carer computer (200) provided with means (213) for connection to said telecommunications network (3) in order to set up a call with the patient station (100), means (211) for remotely controlling the patient station, suitable for remotely controlling the patient video camera (101) and for sending said commands to the patient computer (110), and means (212) for use after remote control for monitoring and feedback purposes by displaying on said display screen (202) images supplied by the patient camera (101) and by transferring to the carer computer (210) data that has been transmitted from the acquisition means (111) of the patient computer via the telecommunications network (3).

2. / A remote assistance system according to claim 1, characterized in that the patient station (100) also has a display screen (201) suitable for receiving images from a carer video camera (201) situated at the carer station (200).

3. / A remote assistance system according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the patient station (100) and the carer station (200) include means (103, 104;

203;

204) for sound communication.

4. / A remote assistance system according to claim 3, characterized in that the sound communication means of the patient station (100) comprise a microphone (103) remotely controlled by the remote control means (211) of the carer station (200).

5. / A remote assistance system according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the sound communication means of the patient station (100) include a wireless audio headset (104).

6. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that said system further comprises a relay center (6) suitable for entering into sound communication with a voice generator at the patient'"'"'s home (1).

7. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the carer station (200) is connected to means for inputting data for local use or for transmission to the patient station (100) from the carer computer (210) via the telecommunications network (3).

8. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that the carer station (200) is connected to auxiliary telephone equipment (5) for receiving sound calls from the patient station (100).

9. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the patient station (100) can be activated by a remote control unit (106).

10. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the patient computer (110) is provided with a wired keyboard, a virtual keyboard on the display screen (102), a graphics tablet, or with a wireless keyboard (105).

11. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a call with the carer station (200) can be set up voluntarily by the patient.

12. / A remote assistance system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a call with the carer station (200) can be triggered by an alarm in the event of operation departing from expected operation, in the event of a breakdown, or in the event of a warning from one of said medical assistance appliances (11, 12).