REMOTE ULTRASOUND ASSESSMENT AND INTERVENTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A remote assessment system comprisinga radio transceiver with a communications interface to satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at a hospital, the radio transceiver having a unique identification code;
- a controller, coupled to the radio transceiver, for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device,the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having x, y, rotation, tilt and depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of an ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having variable frequency for achieving varying resolution and for selectively providing therapeutic ultrasound frequencies, the device adapted to be located on the surface of a human body and fixed to the body for remote movement over the surface of the body in at least the x and y directions,the controller further coupled to external medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter;
the radio transceiver for receiving command data for remotely manipulating the location of the device on the surface of the human body and the direction and resolution of imaging of the ultrasound image device such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the human body for remote medical assessment purposes.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A remote ultrasound assessment and intervention system comprises a console having a controller for an ultrasound imaging device attachable to a human skin surface or implantable in a human body cavity. Commands from a remote work station located, for example, at a hospital may remotely control a transducer of the device to move in x, y, z, rotate and tilt directions to remotely assess an injury to a victim, for example, of a war zone injury or terrorist attack. A first responder, who need not be medically trained, may be instructed via a communications link or via a predetermined controller program stored in computer memory to move the imaging device from one location to another on the human skin surface or in a human body cavity. Intervention is also remotely controlled, once an injury is assessed and diagnosed from the hospital work station via an image guided catheter manipulated by the first responder via commands received from the hospital work station.
29 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A remote assessment system comprising
a radio transceiver with a communications interface to satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at a hospital, the radio transceiver having a unique identification code; -
a controller, coupled to the radio transceiver, for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device, the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having x, y, rotation, tilt and depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of an ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having variable frequency for achieving varying resolution and for selectively providing therapeutic ultrasound frequencies, the device adapted to be located on the surface of a human body and fixed to the body for remote movement over the surface of the body in at least the x and y directions, the controller further coupled to external medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter; the radio transceiver for receiving command data for remotely manipulating the location of the device on the surface of the human body and the direction and resolution of imaging of the ultrasound image device such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the human body for remote medical assessment purposes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A remote assessment and diagnostic system comprising
a communications interface to one of satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at a hospital, the communications interface having a unique identification code; -
a controller, coupled to the communications device, for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device adapted for attachment or implant to an emergency patient at a remote location, the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having rotation, tilt and z axis depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of the ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having a cylindrical housing and a circular transducer plate for movement towards and away from an end surface adapted to be coupled to the emergency patient, the controller further coupled to external medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter; the communications device for receiving command data from the remote hospital work station for remotely manipulating the location of the device towards or away from a surface of the emergency patient such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the human body for remote medical assessment purposes, the controller further coupled to a fingerprint sensor and a camera for determining the identity of the emergency patient, the controller for outputting an assessment of the emergency patient and a diagnosis. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A remote assessment and diagnostic system comprising
a communications interface to one of satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at an emergency site, the communications interface having a unique identification code; -
a controller of a remote hospital work station coupled to the communications device, the controller for receiving command information input by medically trained personnel, the command information for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device adapted for attachment or implant to an emergency patient at a remote location, the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having rotation, tilt and z axis depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of the ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having a cylindrical housing and a circular transducer plate for movement towards and away from an end surface adapted to be coupled to the emergency patient, the controller of the remote hospital work station further coupled via the communications interface to medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter; the communications device for transmitting command data from the remote hospital work station for remotely manipulating the location of the remotely controlled ultrasound device device towards or away from a surface of the emergency patient such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the emergency patient for remote medical assessment purposes, the controller further coupled to a remote fingerprint sensor and a camera via the communications interface for determining the identity of the emergency patient, the controller for outputting an assessment of the emergency patient and a diagnosis. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification