Medical support system including medical equipment case
First Claim
1. A method of controlling a medical support system comprising:
- receiving at least one status signal indicative of an authorization status with a receiving means in a medical equipment case, the medical equipment case including a shell, a movable cover, and an electrically controllable lock configured to lock the medical equipment case in a closed configuration;
generating an electrical lock control signal with electrical control circuitry in the medical equipment case responsive to the at least one status signal;
unlocking the electrically controllable lock mechanism responsive to the electrical lock control signal to allow access to at least one article of medical equipment within the medical equipment case responsive to the electrical lock control signal by allowing movement of the cover of the medical equipment case from the closed configuration to an open configuration;
receiving a signal from the at least one article of medical equipment with the electrical control circuitry;
wirelessly communicating information between the electrical control circuitry and a remote location via communication circuitry in the medical equipment case; and
providing return information for return of the medical equipment case from a usage location to a return location via machine readable indicia, wherein the machine readable indicia are accessible from outside the medical equipment case when the medical equipment case is in a closed configuration.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A medical equipment case is provided for containing and transporting at least one article of medical equipment and a two-way audio-visual system. Such equipment may be used, for example, for telemedicine applications by a patient discharged from a hospital, or other subject in need of remote health care monitoring. The medical equipment case may include features that provide for security and facilitate return of the medical equipment case and medical equipment and audio-visual system contained therein, such as machine-readable indicia encoding information for return of the case from a usage location. The medical equipment case and contained medical equipment and two-way audio visual system together form a medical support system that can be used by a patient discharged from a hospital. Methods of controlling the medical support system are also described.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method of controlling a medical support system comprising:
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receiving at least one status signal indicative of an authorization status with a receiving means in a medical equipment case, the medical equipment case including a shell, a movable cover, and an electrically controllable lock configured to lock the medical equipment case in a closed configuration; generating an electrical lock control signal with electrical control circuitry in the medical equipment case responsive to the at least one status signal; unlocking the electrically controllable lock mechanism responsive to the electrical lock control signal to allow access to at least one article of medical equipment within the medical equipment case responsive to the electrical lock control signal by allowing movement of the cover of the medical equipment case from the closed configuration to an open configuration; receiving a signal from the at least one article of medical equipment with the electrical control circuitry; wirelessly communicating information between the electrical control circuitry and a remote location via communication circuitry in the medical equipment case; and providing return information for return of the medical equipment case from a usage location to a return location via machine readable indicia, wherein the machine readable indicia are accessible from outside the medical equipment case when the medical equipment case is in a closed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A system for controlling a medical support system, comprising:
electrical control circuitry for use in a medical equipment case, the medical equipment case including a shell, a movable cover, and an electrically controllable lock configured to lock the medical equipment case in a closed configuration, the electrical control circuitry including circuitry for receiving at least one status signal indicative of an authorization status; circuitry for receiving a signal from the at least one article of medical equipment; circuitry for receiving a signal from a sensor in the medical equipment case for sensing whether the at least one article of medical equipment is located within the medical equipment case; communication circuitry in the medical equipment case for wirelessly communicating information between the electrical control circuitry and a remote location; circuitry for generating an electrical lock control signal responsive to the at least one status signal, the electrical lock control signal configured to unlock the electrically controllable lock to allow access to at least one article of medical equipment by allowing movement of the cover of the medical equipment case from the closed configuration to an open configuration; and circuitry for controlling delivery of a notification to a user via a notification system in the medical equipment case. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A medical equipment case comprising:
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a shell; at least one receptacle within the shell sized and shaped to receive at least one article of medical equipment; a sensor in the at least one receptacle for detecting whether at least one article of medical equipment is located within the medical equipment case; at least one movable cover adapted to allow access to at least one article of medical equipment received within the at least one receptacle when in an open configuration and to enclose and protect at least one article of medical equipment received within the at least one receptacle when in a closed configuration; an electrically controllable lock mechanism responsive to an electrical lock control signal to lock the movable cover in a closed configuration; electrical control circuitry mounted in the shell for generating the electrical lock control signal and for receiving a signal from the at least one article of medical equipment; communication circuitry in the medical equipment case for wirelessly communicating information between the electrical control circuitry and a remote location; and machine-readable indicia accessible from outside the case when the moveable cover is in a closed configuration, the machine-readable indicia encoding information for return of the case from a usage location to a return location. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification