Methods and apparatus for healthcare facility optimization

• US 10,824,774 B2
• Filed: 03/26/2020
• Issued: 11/03/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Middle Chart, LLC
• Original Assignee: Middle Chart, LLC
• Inventors: Santarone, Kristen, Santarone, Michael S., Pugh, Randall, Duff, Jason E., Wodrich, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, Brandon J
• Application Number:
  US16/831,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20200250356A1
• Time in Patent Office: 222 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/01 Satellite radio beacon positioning systems transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/48 by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/09 for tracking people
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0247 Determining attitude
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02585 at least one of the measurements being a non-radio measurement
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/13 Architectural design, e.g. computer-aided architectural design [CAAD] related to design of buildings, bridges, landscapes, production plants or roads
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/05 Geographic models
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 19/006 Mixed reality object pose determination, tracking or camera calibration for mixed reality G06T7/00

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for improving the provision of healthcare via automated determination of a location of persons and equipment relative to each other and to conditions quantified via automated sensors. The present invention provides apparatus and methods for wireless designation of a position of health care providers and equipment relative to each other based upon wireless communications amongst multiple wireless transceivers combined with ongoing monitoring of conditions present in a healthcare facility. A user interface may provide a pictorial view of positions of all or some the healthcare providers and equipment and condition quantifying sensors.

Claims

1. A method of quantifying healthcare agent interaction during a healthcare procedure, the method comprising:

a) assigning a respective unique identifier with each of at least, a first transceiver, a second transceiver, and a third transceiver included in an array of transceivers;

b) removably attaching the first transceiver to a first healthcare agent, and the second transceiver to a second healthcare agent during a time of the healthcare procedure;

c) attaching the third transceiver to a reference position in a healthcare facility resource during a time of the healthcare procedure;

d) wirelessly communicating between the first transceiver the second transceiver and the third transceiver during performance of the healthcare procedure;

e) generating values for communication variables based upon wirelessly communicating between the first transceiver;

the second transceiver and the third transceiver, the communication variables comprising;

a start time of a respective wireless communication transmission (T1);

a receipt time of the respective wireless communication (T2);

an angle of arrival of the respective wireless communication transmission at a respective first antenna; and

an angle of arrival of the wireless communication transmission at a respective second antenna;

f) storing, in a digital storage the generated values for communication variables and unique identifiers for the first transceiver;

second transceiver and third transceiver;

g) storing, in the digital storage, values for communication variables and the unique identifiers for the first transceiver;

second transceiver and third transceiver to a controller;

h) with the controller, generating a respective set of position coordinates indicative of a position of each of the first healthcare agent; and

the second healthcare agent, each respective set of position coordinates based upon values included in an aggregate of values for communication variables received into the controller; and

i) with the controller, generating an orientation of one or both of the first healthcare agent and the second healthcare agent.

2. The method of claim 1 additionally comprising the step of designating position coordinates of the healthcare facility resource a base position for the third transceiver.

3. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising designating the base position as one of:

co-located with a position of the first transceiver, and offset from the first transceiver, according to a set of offset coordinates.

4. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the steps of:

generating a procedure step included in the healthcare procedure;

correlating a procedure time for the procedure step with T1 and T2;

generating a position of each of the first transceiver, the second transceiver and the third transceiver during the procedure time based upon the respective T1 and T2 for each of the first transceiver, the second transceiver and the third transceiver; and

generating a position of each of at least one of the first healthcare agent, and the second healthcare agent during the healthcare procedure.

5. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of summoning a third healthcare agent via wireless communication with a smart device supported by the third healthcare agent and providing orienteering instructions to the third healthcare agent via wireless communication with a fourth transceiver also supported by the third healthcare agent, the orienteering instructions comprising an indication of a position and orientation of the fourth transceiver.

6. The method of claim 2 additionally comprising the step of designating a position and orientation of the first healthcare agent relative to a position of the second healthcare agent during a time of the healthcare procedure.

7. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising the step of designating a position of at least one of the first healthcare agent, and the second healthcare agent, in relation to an item of equipment.

8. The method of claim 6 additionally comprising the steps of:

quantifying a biometric condition of at least one of the first healthcare agent and the second healthcare agent with a sensor located in the healthcare facility resource.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the biometric condition comprises a body temperature and the method additionally comprises the step of denying access to the healthcare facility resource if the body temperature exceeds a designated range.

10. The method step of claim 6 additionally comprising the step of;

with a sensor, quantifying a condition present in the healthcare facility resource.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the condition quantified comprises a biometric of one of the first healthcare agent, and the second healthcare agent.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the respective sets of coordinates comprises Cartesian coordinates.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the respective sets of coordinates comprises polar coordinates.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein at least one of the respective sets of coordinates comprises cylindrical coordinates.

15. The method of claim 9, additionally comprising the step of generating, with the controller, a time differential between T1 and T2.

16. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising the step of, with the controller, generating a user interface comprising a location and orientation of at least one of:

of the first transceiver, and the second transceiver during the time of the healthcare procedure.

17. The method of claim 15, additionally comprising the steps of, with the controller, determining that one of the first agent and the second agent is operating an item of equipment during the healthcare procedure based upon a location and orientation of the first healthcare agent and the second healthcare agent;

and generating a user interface comprising a location of at least one of the first healthcare agent, the second healthcare agent and the item of equipment.

18. The method of claim 17, additionally comprising the step of, with the controller, generating a user interface comprising a location and orientation of the equipment item.

19. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising generating an overlay of image data generated by a charged couple device, the overlay comprising a graphical representation of a location of at least one of:

the first healthcare agent, and the second healthcare agent.

20. The method of claim 17 additionally comprising generating an overlay of image data generated by a charged couple device, the overlay comprising a graphical representation of a location of the equipment item.