Healthcare system with coordinated operation of sub-systems

• US 20040040086A1
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Discovery Ventures Inc.
• Original Assignee: Discovery Ventures Inc.
• Inventors: Eisenberg, David, Verhaert, Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/232,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20040040086A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/81.1R
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 10/00 Treatment rooms or enclosures for medical purposes baby incubators, couveuses A61G11/00; devices for gas baths with ozone, hydrogen or the like A61H33/14 ; for isolating individuals from external stimuli A61M21/0094 ; containers or portable cabins for affording breathing protection in general A62B31/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 12/00 Accommodation for nursing, e.g. in hospitals, not covered by groups A61G1/00 - A61G11/00, e.g. trolleys for transport of medicaments or food service or tea-tables, trolleys or wagons A47B31/00; Prescription lists
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A healthcare system comprising a patient transporter adapted to move a patient, a patient assist device adapted to perform an assistive action for a physically challenged patient, and a controller in communication with the patient transporter and the patient assist device, adapted to coordinate interaction of the patient transporter with the patient assist device.

Claims

1. A healthcare system comprising:

a patient transporter adapted to move a patient;

a patient assist device adapted to perform an assistive action for a physically challenged patient; and

a controller in communication with said patient transporter and said patient assist device, adapted to coordinate interaction of said patient transporter with said patient assist device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said patient assist device comprises personal hygienic apparatus adapted to perform an action related to patient hygiene, comprising at least one of dressing a patient, undressing a patient, cleaning at least a portion of a patient, and taking care of patient personal items.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said patient assist device comprises a movable sink.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said sink is movable vertically and horizontally.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said sink comprises a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient relative to said sink.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said patient assist device comprises a movable toilet.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein said toilet is movable vertically and horizontally.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein said toilet comprises a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient relative to said toilet.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said patient assist device comprises a support member adapted to support a load force of a patient.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a sensor adapted to sense the load force on said support member.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said controller comprises an adjustment mode wherein said controller instructs said patient assist device to adjust the support to the patient in accordance with the sensed load force.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said patient assist device, said patient transporter and said controller is operable by a patient command.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said patient command comprises a physically activated command.

14. The system according to claim 12, wherein said patient command comprises a voice activated command.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a learning mode wherein said controller learns descriptors of a situation, stores the descriptors in memory, and is programmable to perform an action in response to the situation.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises an interactive mode wherein said controller requires a user to consult with said healthcare system before execution of a command.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises an override mode wherein said controller overrides a patient command.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a call-for-assistance mode, wherein said controller signals if a patient is too frail to do an action without further human assistance.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein said controller comprises a database of medical and personal behavior information of users of said system.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein said controller comprises an automatic pilot mode wherein said controller initiates actions without a patient command, based upon information in said database.

21. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an identification card of a user, and a card reader adapted to read said identification card and coupled to said controller.

22. The system according to claim 1, wherein said patient assist device comprises a door actuator operative to open or close a door.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein said controller comprises a privacy mode wherein said controller locks a door to a room after a patient enters therein.

24. The system according to claim 23, wherein said controller comprises an emergency mode wherein said controller unlocks the door upon sensing an emergency situation.

25. The system according to claim 23, wherein said controller comprises a sanitary mode wherein said controller washes and disinfects items in the room after use thereof by the patient.

26. An article comprising:

a storage medium for storing instructions that enable a controller to coordinate interaction of a patient transporter with a patient assist device, said patient transporter being adapted to move a patient, and said patient assist device being adapted to perform an assistive action for a physically challenged patient.

27. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions to perform an action related to patient hygiene, comprising at least one of dressing a patient, undressing a patient, cleaning at least a portion of a patient, maintaining bedding articles and maintaining toiletry articles.

28. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions to move a movable sink with respect to a position of a patient.

29. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions to move a movable toilet with respect to a position of a patient.

30. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions to adjust an amount of support being provided to support a load force of a patient.

31. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions executable by a patient command.

32. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions executable by a physically activated command.

33. The article according to claim 26, wherein said instructions comprise instructions executable by a voice activated command.

34. A rest room assembly comprising:

a patient transporter adapted to move a patient;

a movable sanitary fixture; and

a controller in communication with said patient transporter and said movable sanitary fixture, adapted to coordinate interaction of said patient transporter with said movable sanitary fixture.

35. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said movable sanitary fixture comprises a movable sink.

36. The assembly according to claim 35, wherein said sink is movable vertically and horizontally.

37. The assembly according to claim 35, wherein said sink comprises a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient relative to said sink.

38. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said movable sanitary fixture comprises a movable toilet.

39. The assembly according to claim 38, wherein said toilet is movable vertically and horizontally.

40. The assembly according to claim 38, wherein said toilet comprises a sensor adapted to sense a position of a patient relative to said toilet.

41. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said movable sanitary fixture comprises a support member adapted to support a load force of a patient.

42. The assembly according to claim 41, further comprising a sensor adapted to sense the load force on said support member.

43. The assembly according to claim 42, wherein said controller comprises an adjustment mode wherein said controller instructs said movable sanitary fixture to adjust the support to the patient in accordance with the sensed load force.

44. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein at least one of said movable sanitary fixture and said controller is operable by a patient command.

45. The assembly according to claim 44, wherein said patient command comprises a physically activated command.

46. The assembly according to claim 44, wherein said patient command comprises a voice activated command.

47. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises a learning mode wherein said controller learns descriptors of a situation, stores the descriptors in memory, and is programmable to perform an action in response to the situation.

48. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises an interactive mode wherein said controller requires a user to consult with said healthcare system before execution of a command.

49. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises an override mode wherein said controller overrides a patient command.

50. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises a call-for-assistance mode, wherein said controller signals if a patient is too frail to do an action without further human assistance.

51. The assembly according to claim 34, wherein said controller comprises a database of medical and personal behavior information of users of said system.

52. The assembly according to claim 51, wherein said controller comprises an automatic pilot mode wherein said controller initiates actions without a patient command, based upon information in said database.

53. The assembly according to claim 34, further comprising an identification card of a user, and a card reader adapted to read said identification card and coupled to said controller.

54. The assembly according to claim 34, further comprising a door actuator operative to open or close a door of a room in which said movable sanitary fixture is located.

55. The assembly according to claim 54, wherein said controller comprises a privacy mode wherein said controller locks a door to a room after a patient enters therein.

56. The assembly according to claim 55, wherein said controller comprises an emergency mode wherein said controller unlocks the door upon sensing an emergency situation.

57. The assembly according to claim 55, wherein said controller comprises a sanitary mode wherein said controller washes and disinfects items in the room after use thereof by the patient.