Universal handle

• US 9,295,378 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2009
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Amin Turocy & Watson LLP, University Hospitals of Cleveland (University Hospitals Health System Incorporated)
• Inventors: Nearman, Howard S., Voltz, Donald M., Aharon, Alon S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): JIAN, SHIRLEY XUEYING
• Application Number:
  US12/365,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20090198111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,611 Days
• Field of Search: 600/188, 606/10
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00066 Proximal part of endoscope body, e.g. handles A61B1/0052 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/04 combined with photographic or television appliances
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/267 for the respiratory tract, e.g. laryngoscopes, bronchoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0059 using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence A61B5/0093, A61B5/1455, A61B5/02416 and A61B5/0261 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2009/00844 Feedback systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 9/008 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 9/1689 Teleoperation
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides systems and/or methods that facilitate employing a universal handle that provides various functionality and communicates with various network(s), device(s), and the like. The universal handle can be a handheld device that is auto-configured to implement rich functionality. Further, the universal handle can support remote diagnostic, prognostic, and control capabilities. Moreover, the universal handle can mate with disparate device(s), network(s), instrument(s), node(s), universal handle(s), and so forth to communicate data there between. Applications of the universal handle can be medically related, industry related, military related, etc. The universal handle can collect data directly and/or by controlling managed external device(s); the collected data can thereafter be analyzed, aggregated, stored, transmitted, outputted, and so forth by the universal handle.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

a display;

a memory that stores computer executable components; and

a processor that executes at least the following computer executable components stored in the memory;

a link component configured to connect with a plurality of different medical devices via a wireless or wired connection to facilitate operation of the different medical devices and to transfer data between the device and the different medical devices;

a proximity recognition component configured to automatically identify a medical device of the different medical devices when the device comes within a wireless transmission range of the medical device;

a configuration component configured to automatically configure the device to facilitate operation of the medical device in response to identification thereof by the proximity recognition component;

an interaction component configured to generate a graphical user interface comprising a menu with various modes via which the device can facilitate the operation of the medical device, including a diagnostic mode and a prognostic mode;

an input component configured to receive user input selecting one of the various modes, wherein in response to selection of the one of the various modes, the device is configured to provide functionality corresponding to the one of the different modes; and

a control component configured to receive a command based on the one of the various modes and wirelessly provide the command to the medical device when the device is connected to the medical device to control operations of the medical device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the proximity recognition component is further configured to decipher operational characteristics of the medical device within the wireless transmission range of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a camera configured to capture a picture of a medical condition, and wherein the computer executable components further comprise;

a data analysis component configured to perform pattern recognition upon the picture, wherein the pattern recognition is a first round of evaluation based on a preliminary scan of the picture.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the link component is configured to receive data captured by the medical device in response to the command, and wherein the computer executable components further comprise:

a search component configured to initiate a search for additional information based on the data using one or more external databases.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the medical device includes a robotic arm, and wherein the control component is configured to apply the command to the robotic arm to effectuate movement of the robotic arm.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the interaction component is configured to select the various modes via which the device can facilitate the operation of the medical device based on a user profile.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to physically connect to at least one of the different medical devices, the device further comprising:

a motor configured to drive operation of the at least one of the different medical devices based on instruction provided by the control component.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the motor is a servomotor.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the at least one of the different medical devices includes a flexible scope comprising a transducer and wherein the servomotor is configured to control operation of the transducer.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the different medical devices includes a flexible scope configured to insert into a human body, wherein the flexible scope comprises a camera configured to capture image data of the human body when inserted therein and send the image data to the device for processing thereof, wherein the device further comprises:

an analysis component configured to identify a target based on analysis of the image data, and wherein the control component is configured to automatically control operation of the motor to guide the flexible scope to the target.

11. The device of claim 7, wherein the at least one of the different medical devices includes a laryngoscope with an articulating blade and a camera associated with the articulating blade, wherein the articulating blade and the camera are configured to move independently based on the instruction provided by the control component.

12. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions that, in response to execution, cause a computing device to perform operations using a processor, the operations comprising:

communicatively coupling the computing device to a medical device to enable operation of the medical device by the computing device, including transfer of data between the computing device and the medical device, based on a determination that the computing device is capable of enabling operation of the medical device;

generating a graphical user interface comprising a menu with various modes via which the computing device can facilitate operation of the medical device, including a diagnostic mode and a prognostic mode;

receiving user input selecting one of the various modes, wherein in response to selection of the one of the various modes, the computing device is configured to provide functionality corresponding to the one of the different modes;

receiving a command based on the user input associated with the one of the various modes; and

wirelessly providing the command to the medical device to control operations of the medical device.

13. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving medical data from the medical device in response to the command, wherein the medical data comprises image data of at least a portion of a human body;

evaluating the image data, including identifying a pattern in the image data and comparing the pattern to patterns corresponding to known medical conditions; and

determining a preliminary diagnosis of a medical condition based on the evaluating.

14. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

transmitting the medical data and information identifying the preliminary diagnosis through a wireless connection to a medical service provider;

receiving final diagnosis information through the wireless connection from the medical service provider based on the transmitting; and

rending the final diagnosis information via a display of the computing device.

15. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the operations further comprise:

generating a referral for a physician in response to a determination that the preliminary diagnosis of the medical condition warrants the referral.

16. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the generating the referral comprises selecting the physician based on the preliminary diagnosis, medical record data associated with the human body, and an insurance plan associated with the human body.

17. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the medical device comprises a home testing device configured to measure a medical parameter associated with at least a portion of a human body in response to the command, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving the medical parameter from the medical device in response to the command; and

analyzing the medical parameter to facilitate diagnosing a medical state or condition associated with the medical parameter.

18. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the communicatively coupling the computing device to the medical device is responsive to establishment of a physical or a wired connection between the computing device and the medical device.

19. The tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the connecting to the medical device further comprises:

detecting the medical device in response to the medical device being within a wireless transmission range of the computing device;

establishing a wireless connection between the computing device and the medical device; and

automatically configuring the computing device to facilitate operation of the medical device in response to the establishing the wireless connection.