Medical tele-robotic system

• US 7,142,945 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company), Jonata Sub Two, Inc. (Teladoc Health, Inc.), Teladoc Health, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Touch Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Laby, Keith Phillip, Southard, Jonathan, Wang, Yulun, Jordan, Charles S., Butner, Steven Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Marc, McDieunel
• Application Number:
  US10/913,650
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021187A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/248, 318/568.12, 340/573.1, 702/188
• US Class Current: 700/245
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0005 Manipulators having means for high-level communication with users, e.g. speech generator, face recognition means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/022 using lasers
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 19/023 including video camera means
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 5/007 mounted on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/0003 Home robots, i.e. small robots for domestic use
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1602 characterised by the control system, structure, architecture
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/162 Mobile manipulator, movable base with manipulator arm mounted on it
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/163 learning, adaptive, model based, rule based expert control
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1633 compliant, force, torque control, e.g. combined with position control
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1692 Calibration of manipulator
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0038 by providing the operator with simple or augmented images from one or more cameras located onboard the vehicle, e.g. tele-operation images analyzed by a computer and used for automatic navigation G05D1/0246
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0225 involving docking at a fixed facility, e.g. base station or loading bay parking aids B62D15/027
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/20 for handling medical images, e.g. DICOM, HL7 or PACS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A robotic system that includes a remote controlled robot. The robot may include a camera, a monitor and a holonomic platform all attached to a robot housing. The robot may be controlled by a remote control station that also has a camera and a monitor. The remote control station may be linked to a base station that is wirelessly coupled to the robot. The cameras and monitors allow a care giver at the remote location to monitor and care for a patient through the robot. The holonomic platform allows the robot to move about a home or facility to locate and/or follow a patient.

Claims

1. A method that allows a person to remotely visit a patient located in a healthcare facility, comprising:

accessing a robot from a remote station;

capturing video and audio of the patient by the robot;

transmitting the video and audio of the patient to the remote station;

displaying the video of the patient at the remote station;

generating the audio of the patient at the remote station;

capturing video and audio of the person at the remote station

transmitting the video and audio of the person to the robot;

displaying the video of the person on a monitor of the robot;

generating the audio of the person at the robot;

transmitting a command from the remote station to move the robot; and

,

moving the robot across a surface of the healthcare facility in response to the transmitted command.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the command, and the audio and video of the patient and the person are transmitted through a broadband network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the robot is located in a hospital.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the robot is located in a residential care facility.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging onto the remote station with a password.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the transmitted video and audio are encrypted.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a family priority assignment that is transmitted to the robot.