Multisensory control of a patient-lifting-device

• US 8,884,558 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2013
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Altorr Corporation
• Original Assignee: Altorr Corporation
• Inventors: Clough, Bradford A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ro, Bentsu
• Assistant Examiner(s): LUO, DAVID S
• Application Number:
  US13/931,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20130289761A1
• Time in Patent Office: 500 Days
• Field of Search: 318/266, 318/264, 318/265
• US Class Current: 318/266
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/12 Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2203/46 for temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/10 Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons, e.g. special adaptations of hoists thereto
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1005 mounted on, or in combination with, a swimming-pool
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1015 Cables, chains or cords
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1017 Pivoting arms, e.g. crane type mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1042 Rail systems walking aids with suspension devices A61H3/008
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1044 Stationary fixed means, e.g. fixed to a surface or bed
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1046 Mobile bases, e.g. having wheels
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1048 having auxiliary drive means
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1051 Flexible harnesses or slings
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1061 Yokes
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1065 with electronic monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/1073 Parts, details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/109 Lower body, e.g. pelvis, buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: B66D 3/20 with driving motor, e.g. electric motor, and drum or barrel contained in a common housing
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 2015/223 Execution procedure of a spoken command
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/0851 : for motors actuating a movable member between two end positions, e.g. detecting an end position or obstruction by overload signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/08 : Mouthpieces; Microphones; Attachments therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 : Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided through which in some multisensory implementations, a patient-lifting-device is controlled by voice recognition, keyboard text input, synaptic control and/or tongue tactile input commands.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a receiver of multisensory input from a plurality of input devices;

a command-extractor that is operable to extract from the multisensory input a command that is associated with a patient-movement-actuator, the command-extractor being operably coupled to the receiver of the multisensory input;

a lift-device-controller that is operable to receive the command from the command-extractor and that is operable to generate at least one electrical signal from the command, the lift-device-controller being electrically coupled to the command-extractor; and

a two dimensional patient-lifting-device that is electrically coupled to the lift-device-controller, the two dimensional patient-lifting-device having two-dimensional motion in four directions, the patient-movement-actuator including a double-pole-double-throw relay for each direction of motion, the patient-movement-actuator having four double-pole-double-throw relays.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the double-pole-double-throw relays further comprise:

a normally-open double-pole-double-throw relay.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the lift-device-controller being indirectly electrically coupled to the command-extractor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a filter of environment background noise from the multisensory input, the filter of the environment background noise being operably coupled to the receiver of the multisensory input and operably coupled to the command-extractor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a keypad controller; and

a microphone.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices is selected from the plurality of input devices consisting of a keypad controller and a microphone.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices is selected from the plurality of input devices consisting essentially of a keypad controller and a microphone.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a keyboard;

a microphone; and

a synaptic activity sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices is selected from the plurality of input devices consisting of a keyboard, a microphone, and a synaptic activity sensor.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a wireless connection to the receiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a wired connection to the receiver.

12. A method comprising:

receiving multisensory input from a plurality of input devices, the plurality of devices including a hand-held keypad controller and a microphone;

responsive to the receiving of multisensory input, filtering environment background noise from the multisensory input, yielding filtered multisensory input;

responsive to the filtering environment background noise from the multisensory input, extracting a command of a patient-lifting-device from the filtered multisensory input, the patient-lifting device having two-dimensional motion in four directions, the patient-lifting-device including a double-pole-double-throw relay for each direction of motion, the patient-lifting-device having four double-pole-double-throw relays; and

performing motion by the patient-lifting-device in accordance with the command of the patient-lifting-device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of input devices consists of:

the hand-held keypad controller and the microphone.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a wireless connection to the receiver.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a wired connection to the receiver.

16. A non-transitory computer-accessible medium having computer executable instructions to control a lift-device-controller, the computer executable instructions capable of directing a processor to perform:

receiving multisensory input from a plurality of input devices, wherein the multisensory input further comprises information in a plurality of communication mediums;

extracting a command that is operable by the lift-device-controller from the multisensory input, wherein the command that is operable by the lift-device-controller is selected from a group of commands comprising up, down, forward, backward and stop, each of the commands being associated with a double-pole-double-throw relay of four double-pole-double-throw relays;

transmitting an electrical control signal that is representative of the command to the lift-device-controller; and

performing the electrical control signal by the lift-device-controller.

17. The non-transitory computer-accessible medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a keyboard; and

a microphone.

18. The non-transitory computer-accessible medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of input devices is selected from a group of input devices consisting of a keyboard, a microphone, and a synaptic activity sensor.

19. The non-transitory computer-accessible medium of claim 16 wherein the plurality of input devices further comprises:

a wireless connection.

20. The non-transitory computer-accessible medium of claim 16 wherein performing the electrical control signal by the lift-device-controller further comprises:

controlling double-pole-double-throw relays in reference to the electrical control signal.