Emergency facility video-conferencing system
First Claim
1. A method for diagnosing and treating a medical condition utilizing a video-conferencing system having a central video-teleconferencing station and one or more remote video-teleconferencing stations, the central video-teleconferencing station having a plurality of video-teleconferencing units are located therein, one for each of the remote video-conferencing stations, and each having an integrated video-teleconferencing control unit for selective actuation by an infra-red radiation beam generating control device, the central video-teleconferencing station having at least one central video monitor, audio transmitter and speaker and a controller unit in controllably telemetry connected relation, a communications link establishing communication with said central video-teleconferencing station and at least one of said remote video-teleconferencing stations, each of said remote video-teleconferencing stations having a mobile emergency center cart having a video-conferencing unit having a remote video monitor, audio speaker and transmitter and a video-conferencing camera being in electronic connection with the communications link and capable of responding to said controller unit for panning and zoom movement, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) locating a patient and medical personnel within a remote video-conferencing station;
(b) locating said mobile emergency center cart within the remote video-conferencing station and in desired relation with the patient and medical personnel;
(c) transmitting infra-red radiation beam transmission control signals from the control device operated by the medical practitioner to a selected integrated video-teleconferencing control unit for medical practitioner controlled video-teleconferencing with the video-teleconferencing unit of the selected remote video-teleconferencing station;
(d) shielding the infra-red radiation beam signal transmission from the control device to define an infra-red radiation beam of sufficiently narrow width so as to prevent simultaneous control of an unintended integrated video-teleconferencing unit by the infra-red radiation beam to ensure that only the selected integrated video-teleconferencing control unit of the central video-teleconferencing station is selected;
(e) actuating said controller unit and via said communications link for selecting a remote video-conferencing station for patient diagnosis and treatment video-conferencing;
(f) actuating said controller unit for selective panning and zoom control of said video-conferencing camera of the selected remote video-conferencing station to present a desired video image of the patient and/or medical personnel on the video monitor of the central video-conferencing station; and
(g) directing the medical personnel via the video-telecommunications link to perform medical treatment on the patient, with such medical treatment being visible on the central video-teleconferencing monitor.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system, having a central video-conferencing station and one or more remote video-conferencing stations and a communications link establishing video-conferencing communication therebetween. A central video monitor and audio system is located at the central video-conferencing station, and a controller unit is coupled with the communications link. The remote video-conferencing stations each have a mobile emergency center cart including a remote video monitor and audio system and a video-conferencing camera controlled by the controller unit via the communications link and capable of responding to control signals of the controller unit for panning and zoom movement of said video-conferencing camera by a medical practitioner located at the central video-conferencing station. The arrangement enables the medical practitioner to observe and to diagnose the condition of the patient and direct the medical personnel of the selected video-conferencing station to provide treatment of the patient.
255 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for diagnosing and treating a medical condition utilizing a video-conferencing system having a central video-teleconferencing station and one or more remote video-teleconferencing stations, the central video-teleconferencing station having a plurality of video-teleconferencing units are located therein, one for each of the remote video-conferencing stations, and each having an integrated video-teleconferencing control unit for selective actuation by an infra-red radiation beam generating control device, the central video-teleconferencing station having at least one central video monitor, audio transmitter and speaker and a controller unit in controllably telemetry connected relation, a communications link establishing communication with said central video-teleconferencing station and at least one of said remote video-teleconferencing stations, each of said remote video-teleconferencing stations having a mobile emergency center cart having a video-conferencing unit having a remote video monitor, audio speaker and transmitter and a video-conferencing camera being in electronic connection with the communications link and capable of responding to said controller unit for panning and zoom movement, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) locating a patient and medical personnel within a remote video-conferencing station;
(b) locating said mobile emergency center cart within the remote video-conferencing station and in desired relation with the patient and medical personnel;
(c) transmitting infra-red radiation beam transmission control signals from the control device operated by the medical practitioner to a selected integrated video-teleconferencing control unit for medical practitioner controlled video-teleconferencing with the video-teleconferencing unit of the selected remote video-teleconferencing station;
(d) shielding the infra-red radiation beam signal transmission from the control device to define an infra-red radiation beam of sufficiently narrow width so as to prevent simultaneous control of an unintended integrated video-teleconferencing unit by the infra-red radiation beam to ensure that only the selected integrated video-teleconferencing control unit of the central video-teleconferencing station is selected;
(e) actuating said controller unit and via said communications link for selecting a remote video-conferencing station for patient diagnosis and treatment video-conferencing;
(f) actuating said controller unit for selective panning and zoom control of said video-conferencing camera of the selected remote video-conferencing station to present a desired video image of the patient and/or medical personnel on the video monitor of the central video-conferencing station; and
(g) directing the medical personnel via the video-telecommunications link to perform medical treatment on the patient, with such medical treatment being visible on the central video-teleconferencing monitor.
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2. A medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system, comprising:
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(a) a central video-conferencing station and a plurality of remote video-conferencing stations and a communications link establishing video-conferencing communication between said central video-conferencing station and said remote video-conferencing stations;
(b) a central video monitor and audio system being located at said video-conferencing station;
(c) an infrared signal transmitting controller unit having a shield confining infra-red signal transmission at said central video-conferencing station being in selectively controlling relation with said communications link for selecting one of said plurality of remote video-conferencing stations for interactive video-telecommunication;
(d) said remote video-conferencing stations each having a mobile emergency center cart having a remote video monitor and audio system and a video-conferencing camera being in selectively controlled relation with the controller unit via said communications link and capable of responding to control signals of said controller unit for panning and zoom movement of said video-conferencing camera by a medical practitioner located at said central video-conferencing station, said mobile emergency center cart having a cart frame having a monitor support shelf and having wheels to enable manual positioning there of within a room;
(e) said remote video monitor being supported and positioned by said monitor support shelf for ease of viewing by a person standing in the room; and
(f) said video-conferencing camera having a lens being supported by said remote video monitor and having the capability for panning movement and zoom movement and having controlled electronic interconnection with said communications link for controlling panning and zoom movement thereof by said controller unit via said communications link. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
(a) said cart frame is of a generally rectangular configuration having four upright structural elements located at respective corners thereof; (b) said wheels supporting said upright structural elements; and
(c) said monitor support shelf is adjustably supported by said upright structural elements for selective positioning of said video monitor and said video camera at a desired elevation.
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4. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 3, wherein,
said upright structural elements are of sufficient height to extend substantially to the upper level of said video monitor and protecting the corners of said monitor from impact with other objects, said upright structural elements being of sufficient structural integrity for application of manual forces for pushing and pulling said mobile emergency center cart. -
5. The video monitor video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 2, wherein,
(a) said cart frame is of generally rectangular configuration having four upright structural elements located at respective corners thereof; -
(b) said wheels support said upright structural elements; and
(c) resilient bumper elements are supported by each of said upright structural elements and are located immediately above said wheels, said resilient bumper elements protecting said cart frame from impact with other objects.
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6. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 2, further comprising:
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(a) a document viewing shelf located on said mobile emergency center cart;
(b) a document supporting and lighting device positioned on said document viewing shelf for illumination of documents supported thereon; and
(c) a document video camera supported by said mobile emergency center cart and positioned for viewing an illuminated document present on said document supporting and lighting device, said document video camera being electronically connected to said communications link and operated by said controller unit via said communications link.
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7. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 6, wherein,
(a) said document supporting and lighting device has a housing and a translucent support plate defining a document support surface; -
(b) a back-lighting system is provided within said housing and has illumination for viewing x-ray film;
(c) an external lighting system is supported by said housing for illuminating documents lying on said document support surface; and
(d) said document video camera is supported above said document support surface for viewing of a document when placed thereon and which is electronically connected with said communications link for energization, focusing and zooming responsive to signals from said controller unit.
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8. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 6, wherein,
said document viewing shelf is vertically adjustable relative to said mobile emergency enter cart for positioning a document supported thereby in desired relation with said document video camera. -
9. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 6, wherein,
(a) said document video camera has an adjustable lens for focusing thereof and zooming thereof to facilitate selective viewing of a document viewing shelf; - and
(b) said document video camera is electronically connected with said communications link for energization, focusing and zooming thereof responsive to signals from said controller unit.
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10. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 2, further comprising:
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(a) a communication electronics shelf defined by said mobile emergency center cart;
(b) a video and audio communications device supported by said communications electronics shelf and having controlling connection with said video monitor and said video camera;
(c) an electronic umbilical cable electronically connected with said video and audio communications device and being of sufficient length to enable selective positioning of said mobile emergency center cart within the room; and
(d) an electronic connection jack fixed to a wall of said room and having electronic connection with said communications link, said electronic connection jack receiving said electronic umbilical cable.
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11. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 2, wherein,
(a) said mobile emergency center cart has an upper shelf, an intermediate shelf and a lower shelf; -
(b) a video monitor is supported by said upper shelf and positioned for efficient viewing by a person standing in the room;
(c) a document supporting and lighting device positioned on said document viewing shelf for illumination of documents supported thereon;
(d) a document video camera supported by said mobile emergency center cart and positioned for viewing an illuminated document present on said document supporting and lighting device, said document video camera electronically connected to said communications link and operated by said controller unit via said communications link;
(e) a video and audio communications device supported by said communications electronics shelf and has controlling connection with said video monitor and said video camera;
(f) an electronic umbilical cable electronically connected with said video and audio communications device and of sufficient length to enable selective positioning of said mobile emergency center cart within the room; and
(g) an electronic connection jack fixed to a wall of said room and having electronic connection with said communications link, said electronic connection jack receiving said electronic umbilical cable.
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12. The medical video-teleconferencing system of claim 2, further comprising:
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(a) an overhead guide track located within each of said remote video-teleconferencing stations;
(b) a plurality of hangers movably supported for movement along said overhead guide track;
(c) an umbilical cable being supported well above the floor of the remote video-teleconferencing stations by said plurality of hangers and permitting selective positioning of said mobile emergency center cart while supporting said umbilical cable out of the way of personnel moving near the mobile emergency center cart.
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13. The medical video-teleconferencing system of claim 12, wherein,
said mobile emergency center cart has a guide post receiving an end section of said umbilical cable, said guide post of sufficient height to elevate said end section of said umbilical cable and minimize the potential for personnel contact therewith. -
14. The medical video-teleconferencing system of claim 12, wherein,
at least one elastic element engages said umbilical cable and restrains said umbilical cable to define a plurality of umbilical cable loops.
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15. A medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system, comprising:
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(a) a central video-conferencing station and a plurality of remote video-conferencing stations and a communications link establishing video-conferencing communication between said central video-conferencing station and said remote video-conferencing stations;
(b) a central video monitor and audio system located at said central video-conferencing station;
(c) a controller unit in controlling relation with said communications link and having an infra-red signal transmitter for transmitting control signals to said communications link, said infra-red controller having a shield confining an infra-red signal transmission thereof to a concentrated beam; and
(d) said remote video-conferencing stations each having a mobile emergency center cart having a remote video monitor and audio system, a video-conferencing camera and a document viewing video camera in a controlled relation with the controller unit via said communications link and capable of responding to infra-red control signals of said controller unit for selective video-conferencing communication with said central video-conferencing station and for controlling selective panning, zoom and focusing movement of said video-conferencing camera by a person located at said central video-conferencing station and manipulating said controller unit;
(e) said mobile emergency center cart having a cart frame which has a monitor support shelf and has wheels to enable manual positioning thereof within a room;
(f) a video monitor supported and positioned by said monitor support shelf for ease of viewing by a person standing in the room; and
(g) said video-conferencing camera has a lens being supported by said video monitor and having the capability for panning movement and zoom movement and having controlled electronic interconnection with said communications link for controlling panning and zoom movement thereof by said controller unit via said communications link. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
(a) a document viewing shelf located on said mobile emergency center cart;
(b) a document supporting and lighting device positioned on said document viewing shelf for illumination of documents supported thereon; and
(c) a document video camera supported by said mobile emergency center cart and positioned for viewing an illuminated document present on said document supporting and lighting device, said document video camera being electronically connected to said communications link and operated by said controller unit via said communications link.
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17. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 16, wherein,
(a) said document supporting and lighting device has a housing and a translucent support plate defining a document support surface; -
(b) a back-lighting system disposed within said housing and illuminated for viewing x-ray film;
(c) an external lighting system supported by said housing which is arranged and designed for illuminating documents lying on said document support surface; and
(d) said document video camera is supported above said document support surface for viewing of a document thereon and is electronically connected with said communications link for energization, focusing and zooming responsive to signals from said controller unit.
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18. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 16, wherein,
said document viewing shelf is vertically adjustable relative to said mobile emergency center cart for positioning a document supported thereby in desired relation with said document video camera. -
19. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 16, wherein,
(a) said document video camera has an adjustable lens for focusing thereof and zooming thereof to facilitate selective viewing of a document viewing shelf; - and
(b) said document video camera is electronically connected with said communications link for energization, focusing and zooming thereof responsive to signals from said controller unit.
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20. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 15, further comprising:
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(a) an overhead guide track located within each of said remote video-teleconferencing stations;
(b) a plurality of hangers movably supported for movement along said overhead guide track;
(c) said umbilical cable supported well above the floor of the remote video-teleconferencing stations by said plurality of hangers and permitting selective positioning of said mobile emergency center cart while supporting said umbilical cable out of the way of personnel moving near the mobile emergency center cart.
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21. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 20, wherein,
said mobile emergency center cart has a guide post receiving an end section of said umbilical cable, said guide post of sufficient height to elevate said end section of said umbilical cable and minimize the potential for personnel contact therewith. -
22. The medical video-teleconferencing and treatment system of claim 20, wherein,
at least one elastic element engaging said umbilical cable and restraining said supported umbilical cable to define a plurality of umbilical cable loops.
Specification