Remote control and tactile feedback system for medical apparatus

• US 6,834,647 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2001
• Issued: 12/28/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Datex-Ohmeda Incorporated (GE Healthcare Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tham, Robert Q., Mashak, James N., Tobia, Ronald L., Rick, Norman A., Braatz, Robert E., Blair, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Application Number:
  US09/924,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20030029451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 128/200.14, 128/200.24, 128/203.12, 128/203.14, 128/204.18, 128/205.24, 128/207-4-2, 128/204-1-2, 128/204.29, 128/903, 128/904, 128/905, 128/920, 606/1
• US Class Current: 128/204.18
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 16/024 including calculation means, e.g. using a processor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3561 local, e.g. within room or hospital
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3576 with non implanted data transmission devices, e.g. using external transmitter or receiver
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/505 Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/01 Remote controllers for specific apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A remote control and tactile feedback system for a medical apparatus, such as a patient ventilator. The ventilator provides a signal having a property indicative of a desired parameter, such as airway pressure or tidal volume. The system has a member suitable for being received in the hand of a user, such as a clinician. A movable trigger is suitable for being engaged by the fingers of the user. An electrical-mechanical, pneumatic, or hydraulic force applying element is coupled to the trigger for applying a force to the fingers of the user responsive to the parameter signal. A tactile sensation of the desired parameter is thus provided to the user. The trigger is coupled to a signal generator for providing a control signal to the ventilator.

Claims

1. A remote controller for a respiratory ventilator providing breathing gases to a patient, said controller allowing an operator to move about the ventilator and patient while controlling the ventilator, said controller comprising:

a control member actuatable by an operator to provide a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator;

communication means placing the control member in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move with respect to the ventilator and patient and to be at a distance from the ventilator, said communication means communicating said signal to the ventilator to control the ventilator; and

means for adjusting the sensitivity between the signal provided by said control member and the resulting control action in the ventilator.

2. A remote controller of claim 1 wherein said control member provides a signal having a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

3. A remote controller for a respiratory ventilator providing breathing gases to a patient, said controller allowing an operator to move about the ventilator and patient while controlling the ventilator, said controller comprising:

a control member actuatable by an operator to provide a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator;

communication means placing the control member in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move with respect to the ventilator and patient and to be at a distance from the ventilator, said communication means communicating said signal to the ventilator to control the ventilator; and

means in said ventilator and in communication with said communication means for adjusting the sensitivity between the signal provided by said control member and the resulting control action in the ventilator.

4. A remote controller of claim 3 wherein said control member provides a signal having a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

5. A remote controller for a respiratory ventilator providing breathing gases to a patient, said controller allowing an operator to move about the ventilator and patient while controlling the ventilator, said controller comprising:

a control member actuatable by an operator to provide a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator;

communication means placing the control member in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move with respect to the ventilator and patient and to be at a distance from the ventilator, said communication means communicating said signal to the ventilator to control the ventilator; and

means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the signal provided by said control member and the resulting control action in the ventilator.

6. A remote controller of claim 5 wherein said control member provides a signal having a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signals.

7. A remote controller for a respiratory ventilator providing breathing gases to a patient, said controller allowing an operator to move about the ventilator and patient while controlling the ventilator, said controller comprising:

a control member actuatable by an operator to provide a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator;

communication means placing the control member in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move with respect to the ventilator and patient and to be at a distance from the ventilator, said communication means communicating said signal to the ventilator to control the ventilator; and

means in said ventilator and in communication with said communications means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the signal provided by said control member and the resulting control action in the ventilator.

8. A remote controller of claim 7 wherein said control member provides a signal having a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signal.

9. A remote controller for a respiratory ventilator providing breathing gases to a patient, said controller allowing an operator to move about the ventilator and patient while controlling the ventilator, said controller comprising:

a control member actuatable by an operator to provide a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator; and

communication means placing the control member in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move with respect to the ventilator and patient and to be at a distance from the ventilator, said communication means communicating said signal to the ventilator to control the ventilator;

wherein said control member includes a displaceable, signal generating element for providing the signal; and

wherein said element comprises variable resistance means.

10. A system suitable for use with medical apparatus, the system employing a signal indicative of a parameter relating to the apparatus or to a patient associated with the apparatus, the system providing a tactile feedback of the parameter to a user remote from the apparatus, said system comprising:

feedback means suitable for being placed in contact with a selected body portion of the user for generating a tactile sensation that can be experienced by the user; and

communication means placing the feedback means in communication with the medical apparatus in a manner that allows the user, when in contact with said feedback means, to be distant from the medical apparatus and to move about the apparatus and patient to a desired location, said communication means communicating the signal indicative of the parameter to said feedback means,

said feedback means employing said parameter signal to generate a tactile sensation to the body of the user corresponding to the parameter.

11. A system of claim 10 wherein said feedback means includes actuator means for generating a force on the selected body portion of the user.

12. A system of claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises an electrical actuator means.

13. A system of claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises a fluid operated actuator means.

14. A system of claim 13 wherein said fluid actuated means comprises a bladder.

15. A system of claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises a linear actuator means.

16. A system of claim 11 wherein said actuator means comprises rotary actuator means.

17. A system of claim 10 further including means for adjusting the sensitivity between the parameter signal from the apparatus and the resulting tactile sensation generation.

18. A system of claim 17 wherein the apparatus provides a parameter signal having a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

19. A system of claim 10 including means in said medical apparatus and in communication with said communication means for adjusting the sensitivity between the parameter signal from the apparatus and the resulting tactile sensation generation.

20. A system of claim 19 wherein the apparatus provides a parameter signal having a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

21. A system of claim 10 including means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the parameter signal from the apparatus and the resulting tactile sensation generation.

22. A system of claim 21 wherein the parameter signal has a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signal.

23. A system of claim 10 including means in said apparatus and in communication with said communication means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the parameter signal from the apparatus and the resulting tactile sensation generation.

24. A system of claim 23 wherein the parameter signal has a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signal.

25. A system of claim 10 wherein said feedback means is further defined as suitable for being placed in contact with the hand of the user.

26. A system of claim 25 wherein said feedback means includes a trigger for being placed in contact with the fingers of the user, said feedback means including an actuator for said trigger operable by said parameter signal.

27. A system of claim 26 further defined as a remote tactile feedback system for medical apparatus comprising a ventilator, the ventilator providing a signal relating to the ventilation of a patient and wherein said feedback means generates a tactile sensation to a user indicative of a respiration characteristic.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein said feedback means generates a tactile sensation of the patient airway pressure.

29. A system of claim 27 wherein said feedback means generates a tactile indication of the tidal volume of breathing gases delivered to the patient.

30. A system of claim 25 wherein said feedback means has a base for positioning the feedback means on a surface.

31. A system of claim 10 wherein said apparatus provides a plurality of signals indicative of parameters and wherein said system includes switch means for selecting the parameter to be monitored.

32. A system of claim 10 wherein said communication means communicates a plurality of signals indicative of parameters to said feedback means and wherein said feedback means generates tactile sensations to the body of the user incorporating a plurality of parameter signals.

33. A system of claim 10 further including second feedback means suitable for being placed in contact with a selected body portion of a further user for generating a tactile sensation that can be experienced by the further user;

said second feedback means being in communication with one of said feedback means or the medical apparatus to provide a tactile sensation to the further user corresponding to the tactile sensation generated by said feedback means.

34. A system of claim 10 further defined as a remote tactile feedback system for medical apparatus comprising a ventilator, the ventilator providing a signal relating to the ventilation of a patient, and wherein said feedback means generates a tactile sensation to the user indicative of a respiration characteristic.

35. A system of claim 34 wherein said feedback means generates a tactile sensation of the patient airway pressure.

36. A system of claim 34 wherein the feedback means generates a tactile sensation of the tidal volume of breathing gases delivered to the patient.

37. A system of claim 10 including display means for displaying information for a user.

38. A system of claim 10 wherein said system provides a tactile feedback of a parameter comprising at least one of patient airway pressure, patient breathing gas flow, patient tidal volume, patient pulse rate, patient blood pressure, and patient arterial blood oxygen saturation.

39. A remote control and tactile feedback system for medical apparatus, the system allowing an operator to move about the medical apparatus or patient while controlling the apparatus and receiving a tactile feedback of a parameter, the system employing a signal indicative of a parameter relating to the apparatus or to a patient associated with the apparatus, said system comprising:

control means actuatable by an operator to provide a control signal for carrying out a control action in the medical apparatus;

feedback means suitable for being placed in contact with a selected body portion of the user for generating a tactile sensation that can be experienced by the user; and

communication means placing the control means and feedback means in communication with the medical apparatus in a manner that allows the operator to move about the apparatus and patient and to be at a distance from the apparatus, said communication means communicating the control signal to the medical apparatus to control the apparatus, said communication means communicating the signal indicative of the parameter to said feedback means,

said feedback means employing said parameter signal to generate a tactile sensation to the body of the user corresponding to the parameter.

40. A system of claim 39 wherein said feedback means includes actuator means for generating a force on the selected body portion of the user.

41. A system of claim 40 wherein said actuator means comprises an electrical actuator means.

42. A system of claim 40 wherein said actuator means comprises a fluid operated actuator means.

43. A system of claim 40 wherein said actuator means comprises a linear actuator means.

44. A system of claim 40 wherein said actuator means comprises rotary actuator means.

45. A system of claim 39 wherein said control member is actuatable to establish the presence or absence of a signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator.

46. A system of claim 39 wherein said control member is actuatable to provide a variable magnitude signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator.

47. A system of claim 46 for controlling the flow of breathing gases to a patient wherein said controller is further defined as including means for controlling the magnitude of the breathing gas flow to the patient in accordance with the magnitude of the control member signal.

48. A system of claim 47 for controlling the flow of breathing gases to a patient wherein said controller is further defined as including means to carry out a control action of providing a breathing gas flow magnitude to the patient that is proportional to the rate of change of the variable magnitude control member signal.

49. A system of claim 39 wherein said control member includes a displaceable, signal generating element for providing the signal.

50. A system of claim 49 wherein said element is a switch.

51. A system of claim 49 wherein said element comprises variable resistance means.

52. A system of claim 39 wherein said control means and feedback means comprise a common element.

53. A system of claim 52 wherein said common element is further defined as suitable for being placed in contact with the hand of the user.

54. A system of claim 53 wherein said common element includes a trigger for being placed in contact with the fingers of the user, said feedback means including an actuator for said trigger operable by said parameter signal.

55. A system of claim 39 further including a display for providing information to the operator.

56. A system of claim 39 including means for adjusting the sensitivity between the control or parameter signal and the respective resulting control action in the ventilator or tactile sensation generation.

57. A system of claim 56 wherein at least one of said signals has a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

58. A system of claim 39 including means in said ventilator and in communication with said communication means for adjusting the sensitivity between the control or parameter signal and the respective resulting control action in the ventilator or tactile signal generation.

59. A system of claim 58 wherein at least one of said signals has a magnitude range and wherein said adjusting means alters the sensitivity over the magnitude range of the signal.

60. A system of claim 39 including means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the control or parameter and the respective resulting control action in the ventilator or tactile sensation generation.

61. A system of claim 60 wherein at least one of said signals has a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signals.

62. A system of claim 39 including means in said ventilator and in communication with said communications means for establishing desired properties of linearity-non linearity between the control or parameter signal and the respective resulting control action in the ventilator or tactile sensation generation.

63. A system of claim 62 wherein at least one of said a signals has a magnitude range and wherein said linearity-non linearity establishing means alters the linearity-non linearity properties over the magnitude range of the signal.

64. A system of claim 39 wherein one of said control member or feedback means employs an electric signal.

65. A system of claim 39 wherein one of said control member or feedback means employs a fluidic signal.

66. A system of claim 39 wherein one of said control member or feedback means employs an analog signal.

67. A system of claim 39 wherein one of said control member or feedback means employs a digital signal.

68. A system of claim 39 wherein said communication means comprises a cable.

69. A system of claim 68 wherein said communication means comprises electrical means and wherein said cable contains electrical conductors.

70. A system of claim 68 wherein said communication means comprises optical means and said cable contains optical fiber means.

71. A system of claim 39 wherein said communication means comprises a telemetry link.

72. A system of claim 71 wherein said telemetry link employs invisible light.

73. A system of claim 71 wherein said telemetry link employs infrared radiation.

74. A system of claim 71 wherein said telemetry link is a radio telemetry link.

75. A system of claim 39 for controlling the flow of breathing gases to a patient and wherein said control means is further defined as providing a breathing gas flow control signal.

76. A system of claim 39 for controlling breathing gas pressures and wherein said control means is further defined as providing a breathing gas pressure control signal.

77. A system of claim 39 wherein said system generates a tactile sensation of a parameter comprising one of patient airway pressure, patient breathing gas flow, patient tidal volume, patient pulse rate, patient blood pressure, and patient arterial blood oxygen saturation.

78. A system of claim 77 wherein said feedback means generates a tactile sensation of the patient airway pressure.

79. A system of claim 77 wherein the feedback means generates a tactile sensation of the tidal volume of breathing gases delivered to the patient.

80. A system of claim 39 wherein said communication means communicates a plurality of signals indicative of parameters to said feedback means and wherein said feedback means generates tactile sensations to the body of the user incorporating a plurality of parameter signals.

81. A remote control and tactile feedback system for a respiratory ventilator, the system allowing an operator to move about the ventilator or patient while controlling the ventilator and receiving a tactile feedback of a parameter, the system employing a signal indicative of a parameter relating to the ventilator or to a patient associated with the apparatus, said system comprising:

a member suitable for being placed in the hand of the operator and having a trigger connected to a signal generator to provide a control signal for carrying out a control action in the ventilator, said member having actuator means for operating said trigger to generate a tactile sensation that can be experienced by the user; and

communication means placing the signal generator and actuator means in communication with the ventilator in a manner that allows the operator to move about the apparatus and patient and to be at a distance from the apparatus, said communication means communicating the control signal to the ventilator to control the apparatus, said communication means communicating the signal indicative of the parameter to said actuator means to generate a tactile sensation to the body of the user corresponding to the parameter.