Diagnostic apparatus

• US 6,409,661 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Remote Diagnostic Technologies, L.C.
• Original Assignee: Remote Diagnostic Technologies Ltd. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Murphy, Graham Francis
• Primary Examiner(s): Lacyk, John P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SZMAL, BRIAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US09/380,724
• Time in Patent Office: 917 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 607/5, 395/839, 361/704, 379/106.02, 128/898, 128/696, 128/204.23
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• 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

Abstract

Medical sensors (1 to 4) are connected to a processor (6) comprising a PC and modems (14 and 16). The modems are connected to respective low power transmitter/receivers (18 and 20) The transmitter/receivers (18, 20) communicate with corresponding receiver/transmitters (18′, 20′) connected to a long range transmitter/receiver such as a satellite communications link (22, 23, 24). An operator of the apparatus has a hands free headset comprising a microphone (7) and earpieces (8), and has a head-up display (10). An electronic camera may also be provided. Medical data from the sensors (1-4) and images from the camera (9) and voice signals from the microphone (7) are processed by the processor (6), and transmitted to a remote location (B), for use by a doctor having a corresponding processor and display to diagnose the condition of a patient. The doctor can talk to the operator to advise on the condition and treatment of the patient.

Claims

1. Diagnostic Apparatus comprising:

a plurality of sensing means (1-4) for sensing data of a body;

means (7,8) for producing and reproducing voice signals, the producing and reproducing means being arranged to be used by an operator hands-free;

a first communications means (14,20) coupled to the producing and reproducing means, and a second communications means (16,18);

display means (11); and

processing means (6) arranged to

i) process the data, ii) display the processed data on the display means (11), iii) control the first and second communications means to automatically establish respective links to a remote location, and iv) supply the processed data to the second communications means;

the apparatus being arranged so that in use two-way voice communication is established between the said operator and an expert at the remote location and the sensed data is transferred to the remote location via the second communications link to allow the said expert to diagnose a condition of the body and to communicate the diagnosis to the said operator.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processor encodes the sensed data according to TCP/IP for transmission.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, which is medical diagnostic apparatus, wherein the said sensing means are medical sensing means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include an ECG array.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the ECG array is a twelve lead array.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the processor organizes the ECG data into a file and transfers the file using File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include a capnometer.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include a temperature sensor.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is an infra red ear thermometer.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include a blood pressure sensor.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include a pulse oximeter.

12. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the medical sensing means include a combined blood pressure sensor and pulse oximeter.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the voice signal producing and reproducing means comprises a head-set including a microphone and at least one ear-piece.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the first and second communications means each include a low power wireless transmission and reception means.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein each low power wireless transmission and reception means comprises a CT2 or DECT device or a spread spectrum device such as a CDMA device.

16. Apparatus according to claim 14, comprising interface means (14,171, 16,172) for supplying the processed data to the low power transmission and reception means.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the interface means (14,16, 171,172) each further include autodialling means controlled by the said processor for establishing the said links to the remote location via the PSTN.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the interface means comprises modem means for supplying the processed data to the low power wireless transmission and reception means.

19. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the interface means each include cords (601,602) for connection to respective wired communications channels (30).

20. Apparatus according to claim 19 wherein the interface means further includes means (171,172) for sensing which one of the corded connection to the wired communications channels and the said wireless transmission and reception means is operative and for supplying the voice signals and the processed data to the operative one.

21. Apparatus according to claim 14, in combination with a long range transmission/reception apparatus coupled to the said low-power receiver/transmitter means for re-transmitting at least the sensed data and the voice signals to the remote location and for receiving at least the voice signals from the remote location.

22. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said display means comprises a head-up display.

23. Apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the said display means comprises a further display (11).

24. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a camera for producing image signals representing the said body, the processing means being arranged to process the image signals and to supply the processed signals to the said second communications means.

25. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the camera is an electronic camera.

26. Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the processor encodes the image data according to TCP/IP for transmission.

27. Apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the processor organizes the image data into a file and transfers the file using the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).

28. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a key-pad for controlling the apparatus.

29. Apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the key-pad is arranged to be mounted on the wrist of the said operator.

30. Apparatus according to claim 1, housed in a container the container comprising at least one compartment containing the processor and the first and second communications means and at least one other compartment containing at least the sensing means, and the producing and reproducing means.

31. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the said at least one other compartment also contains a head-up display.

32. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the container has a lid and the said splay means is housed in the lid.

33. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the said at least one compartment is RF screened.

34. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the base of the container is heat sink which provides the floor of the said at least one compartment, the processor being thermally coupled to the heat sink.

35. Apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the first and second communication means have antennae and are contained in at least one further RF screened compartment and the antennae thereof extend outside the said RF screened compartment.

36. Apparatus according to claim 30 which is battery powered.

37. Apparatus according to claim 36, comprising rechargeable and non-rechargeable batteries for powering the apparatus.

38. Apparatus according to claim 36, wherein the batteries are contained in yet further compartments in the container.

39. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for monitoring the condition of the apparatus, the wireless transmission/reception means being arranged to transmit to the remote location date relating tot he condition of the apparatus.

40. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the sensing means are configurable and/or actuable via the wireless transmission/reception means from the remote location.

41. Apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a power switch, the processor being arranged to assume its operating condition automatically in response to switching-on the apparatus at the power switch.

42. A portable diagnostic apparatus comprising a container containing:

a) a plurality of sensing means (1-4) for sensing data of a body

b) means (7, 8) for producing and reproducing voice signals, the producing and reproducing means being arranged to be used by an operator hands-free,

c) display means (11);

d) first communication means (14, 20) coupled to the voice signal producing and reproducing means;

e) second communication means (16, 18);

f) processing means (6) to which the said sensing means, voice signal producing and reproducing means, display means and first and second communication means are connected to form an integrated system, the processing means being arranged to

i) control the sensing means

ii) process the said sensed data,

iii) display the processed data on the display means

iv) control the first and second communication means to automatically establish respective first and second communication channels to a remote location, and

v) display context-sensitive operating instructions on the display means;

the first channel coupling the voice signals to the remote location and the sensed data being coupled to the remote location via the second channel;

wherein the container has at least one compartment, at least one other compartment, and a lid, the processing means and the first and second communication means (14, 20;

16, 18) are contained in the said at least one compartment of the container, the said at least one other compartment contains at least the sensing means and the producing and reproducing means, and

the said display means is housed in the lid, the lid being separable from the container.