MEDICAL VIDEO COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20130148942A1
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Published: 06/13/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: RYAN, John C., UZZAMAN, Ashik
• Granted Patent: US 9,264,649 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/234
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

A medical communication system includes a plurality of end-user audio/video recording and playback devices (40) disposed with recipients of medical assistance, and a medical server (10) configured to receive audio/video messages (90′) generated by the end-user audio/video devices and to generate and transmit audio/video responses (94) to targeted end-user audio/video devices. The medical server includes an audio/video recording and playback device (12) configured to playback received audio/video messages and to record audio/video responses, and the end user audio/video recording and playback devices are configured to playback audio/video responses (94′) received from the server. In some embodiments, each end-user audio/video device includes: a video recording lens (62); a microphone (64); and an automatic lens cover (63) arranged to physically block the video recording lens except during recording of audio/video content. In some embodiments, each end-user audio/video device includes a consumer entertainment device (50, 52).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a handheld remote controller (60) for controlling a television (50), DVD (52), set-top box (56), or other electronic device, the handheld remote controller (60) including tactile controls (168) for entering control commands;

a built-in microphone (164) built into the handheld remote controller (60); and

a transmitter (166) for transmitting audio picked up by the built-in microphone (164) from the handheld remote controller.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitter (166) for transmitting audio picked up by the built-in microphone (164) is not used to transmit control commands entered using the tactile controls (168).

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including:

a medical server (10) configured to cause a patient audio/video recording and playback device (40) controlled by the handheld remote controller (60) to play back pre-recorded medically related content, the microphone being configured to convey audio from the patient to the patient audio/video recording and playback device (40).

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the medical server (10) contains storage for storing a voice message recorded by the patient using the built-in microphone (164) for later playback by medical personnel.