System and method for automatically adjusting medical displays

• US 20070180129A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Tolmie, Craig, Koch, Robert, Ward, Russell, Meyers, Susan
• Granted Patent: US 9,092,834 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/230
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A system and method for automatically adjusting medical displays is arranged to communicate medical information to a caregiver. The system includes at least one display for displaying medical information, a wireless communication device associated with the display and a wireless communication device associated with the caregiver. The wireless communication device associated with the display is arranged to realize if the wireless communication device associated with the caregiver, and thus the caregiver, is present in a predetermined area near the display. A controller associated with the display is arranged to automatically adjust at least one characteristic of the display based upon the realized presence of the caregiver. According to the method, the presence of the caregiver is detected when the caregiver enters the predetermined area near the display. At lease one characteristic of the display is thus adjusted automatically based upon the detected presence of the caregiver in the predetermined area.

Claims

1. A system for communicating medical information to a caregiver, the system comprising:

a display for displaying the medical information,

a first wireless communication device associated with the display;

a second wireless communication device associated with the caregiver;

wherein the first communication device is arranged to realize if the second communication device, and thus the caregiver, is present in a predetermined area near the display; and

a controller associated with the display, the controller arranged to automatically adjust at least one characteristic of the display based upon the realized presence of the caregiver.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises the orientation of the display at a targeted viewing area.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising means for locating the position of the caregiver within the predetermined area, and wherein the controller is arranged to control the orientation of the display based upon the position of the caregiver to provide enhanced viewing of the display by the caregiver.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising means for changing the orientation of the display, wherein the means for changing the orientation of the display is controlled by the controller.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the means for changing the orientation of the display comprise a motor.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the means for locating the position of the caregiver comprises means for triangulating the position of the caregiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the second communication device is programmable to identify a characteristic of the caregiver.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the at least one characteristic comprises the medical information on the display.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is arranged to automatically adjust the medical information according to the characteristic of the caregiver programmed on and communicated by the second communication device.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising a third communication device associated with another caregiver,

wherein the first communication device is arranged to realize if the third communication device, and thus the another caregiver, is present in the predetermined area near the display, and

wherein the controller is arranged to adjust the at least one characteristic of the display based upon a predetermined priority between the second and third communication devices.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of displays, wherein the controller is arranged to automatically adjust the at least one characteristic of the plurality of displays based upon the realized presence of the caregiver.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising means for overriding the automatic control of the controller.

13. A method of communicating medical information to a caregiver, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying the medical information on a display;

detecting the presence of the caregiver when the caregiver enters a predetermined area near the display; and

automatically adjusting at least one characteristic of the display based upon the detected presence of the caregiver in the predetermined area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic of the display comprises the orientation of the display.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one characteristic of the display comprises the medical information on the display.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of detecting the presence of a plurality of caregivers in the predetermined area, prioritizing the plurality of caregivers and adjusting the at least one characteristic of the display based upon the detected presence of a highest priority caregiver in the predetermined area.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein when the plurality of caregivers have equal priority, highest priority is given to the first caregiver to enter the predetermined area.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of overriding the automatic adjustment of the at least one characteristic of the display.

19. A system for communicating medical information to a caregiver, the system comprising:

a display for displaying the medical information;

a first wireless communication device associated with the display;

a second wireless communication device associated with the caregiver, the second wireless communication device being programmable with at least one characteristic of the caregiver;

wherein the first communication device is arranged to detect the location of the second communication device, and thus the caregiver, in a predetermined area near the display; and

a controller arranged to automatically adjust the orientation of the display based upon the detected location of the caregiver and to adjust the medical information based upon the characteristic of the caregiver.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the display comprises opposing display screens.