SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING PATIENTS WITH REAL-TIME VIDEO

• US 20130267873A1
• Filed: 04/10/2012
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics Co., Ltd. (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Mindray DS USA Incorporated (Excelsior Union Ltd.)
• Inventors: Fuchs, Kenneth J.
• Application Number:
  US13/443,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20130267873A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring remotely located patients that includes real-time video of the remotely located patients. The method and system may be implemented as part of a central nursing station, a remote ICU, or a remote patient monitor. The method and system may also allow for real-time audio communication with the remotely located patients. The real-time video and real-time audio may permit improved response to alarms by allowing medical practitioners to reduce the rate of false-positive and false-negative alarms. Further, the real-time video and real-time audio may be used to generate additional alarm criteria. A camera for generating the real-time video may be part of a patient monitor or may be a separate system. Settings for the camera may be controlled from remotely.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a plurality of patients, comprising:

receiving, at a computer system, medical parameter data for each patient;

receiving, at the computer system, real-time video signals depicting each patient; and

simultaneously displaying the medical parameter data and the real-time video signals for each patient in a graphical user interface of a display screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time video signals comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation at visible frequencies.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the real-time video signals comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation at infrared frequencies.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of patients; and

displaying an enlarged view of the real-time video signals of the selected patient in the graphical user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

displaying additional medical parameter data for the selected patient in the graphical user interface.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

remotely controlling a camera used to capture the real-time video signals of the selected patient in response to a user command.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein remotely controlling comprises at least one of adjusting a zoom level, panning, and tilting the camera.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the enlarged view comprises covering at least a portion of the medical parameter data and/or real-time video signals for one or more other patients, the method further comprising:

determining that a predetermined amount of time has passed; and

restoring the enlarged view of the real-time video signals of the selected patient to an original size.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the enlarged view comprises displaying the medical parameter data and real-time video signals for one or more other patients in at least one of a new location and a new size.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein displaying the enlarged view comprises displaying a portion of the medical parameter data and/or real-time video signals for one or more other patients in at least one of a new location and a new size.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically determining from the real-time video signals that a patient is experiencing a possible medical condition; and

generating an audible or visual alert via the computer system to alert a medical professional concerning the possible medical condition.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein automatically determining comprises determining that the patient has changed color.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein automatically determining comprises determining that the patient has stopped moving.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein automatically determining comprises determining that the patient has fallen.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein automatically determining comprises detecting a patient gesture.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a selection of one of the plurality of patients;

establishing two-way audio communication with the selected patient.

17. A patient monitoring apparatus comprising:

a networking unit configured to receive medical parameter data and real-time video signals for each of a plurality of patients; and

a display system configured to simultaneously display the medical parameter data and the real-time video signals for each patient.

18. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 17, wherein the real-time video signals for each patient comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation at visible frequencies.

19. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 17, wherein the real-time video signals for each patient comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation at infrared frequencies.

20. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 17, wherein the display system is further configured to:

receive a selection of one of the plurality of patients; and

display an enlarged view of the real-time video signals of the selected patient.

21. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display system is further configured to display additional medical parameter data for the selected patient.

22. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 20, wherein the networking unit is further configured to remotely control a camera used to capture the real-time video signals of the selected patient in response to a user command.

23. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 22, wherein the networking unit is further configured to remotely control the camera by at least one of adjusting a zoom level, panning, and tilting the camera.

24. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 20, wherein the enlarged view covers at least a portion of the medical parameter data and/or real-time video signals for one or more other patients, the display system is further configured to:

determine that a predetermined amount of time has passed; and

restore the enlarged view of the real-time video signals of the selected patient to an original size.

25. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display system is further configured to display the enlarged view by displaying the medical parameter data and real-time video signals for one or more other patients in at least one of a new location and a new size.

26. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 20, wherein the display system is further configured to display the enlarged view by displaying a portion of the medical parameter data and/or real-time video signals for one or more other patients in at least one of a new location and a new size.

27. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine automatically from the real-time video signals that a patient is experiencing a possible medical condition and at least one of the display system and an audio system is configured to generate an alert to a medical professional.

28. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has changed color.

29. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has stopped moving.

30. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has fallen.

31. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 24, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a patient gesture.

32. The patient monitoring apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a microphone; and

a speaker, wherein the networking unit is configured to establish two-way audio communication with a selected patient.

33. A patient monitor, comprising:

a parameter acquisition unit configured to acquire local medical parameter data of a local patient;

a networking unit configured to receive medical parameter data and real-time video signals for each of a plurality of patients other than the local patient; and

a display system configured to display the local medical parameter data.

34. The patient monitor of claim 33, wherein the real-time video signals for each patient comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum.

35. The patient monitor of claim 33, wherein the real-time video signals for each patient comprise measurements of electromagnetic radiation in the infrared spectrum.

36. The patient monitor of claim 33, wherein the display system is further configured to:

receive a selection of one of the plurality of patients; and

display the real-time video signals of the selected patient.

37. The patient monitor of claim 36, wherein the display system is further configured to display additional medical parameter data for the selected patient.

38. The patient monitor of claim 36, wherein the networking unit is configured to remotely control a camera used to capture the real-time video signals of the selected patient in response to a user command.

39. The patient monitor of claim 38, wherein the networking unit is further configured to remotely control the camera by at least one of adjusting a zoom level, panning, and tilting the camera.

40. The patient monitor of claim 36, wherein the enlarged view covers at least a portion of the local medical parameter data, the display system is further configured to:

determine that a predetermined amount of time has passed; and

restore display of the local medical parameter data.

41. The patient monitor of claim 36, wherein the display system is further configured to display the enlarged view by displaying the local medical parameter data in at least one of a new location and a new size.

42. The patient monitor of claim 36, wherein the display system is further configured to display the enlarged view by displaying a portion of the local medical parameter data in at least one of a new location and a new size.

43. The patient monitor of claim 33, further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine automatically from the real-time video signals that a patient is experiencing a possible medical condition and at least one of the display system and an audio system is configured to generate an alert to a medical professional.

44. The patient monitor of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has changed color.

45. The patient monitor of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has stopped moving.

46. The patient monitor of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the patient has fallen.

47. The patient monitor of claim 43, wherein the processor is further configured to detect a patient gesture.

48. The patient monitor of claim 33, further comprising:

a camera configured to convert electromagnetic radiation measurements to local real-time video signals.

49. The patient monitor of claim 33, further comprising:

a microphone; and

a speaker;

wherein the microphone and the speaker are communicatively coupled with the networking unit.

50. A patient monitor, comprising:

a parameter acquisition unit configured to acquire local medical parameter data of a local patient;

an electromagnetic radiation measurement unit configured to convert electromagnetic radiation measurements to local real-time video signals;

a networking unit configured to transmit local medical parameter data and local real-time video signals; and

a display system configured to display the local medical parameter data.