Medical tele-robotic system

• US 7,218,992 B2
• Filed: 08/06/2004
• Issued: 05/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: 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:
  US10/913,648
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,012 Days
• Field of Search: 700/245, 700/231, 318/568.1, 901/1
• 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 robot that is coupled to a remote station operated by an operator, the remote station includes a camera that captures an image at the remote station, comprising:

a housing;

a mobile platform attached to said housing;

a camera coupled to and moves relative to said housing;

a monitor that is coupled to and moves relative to said housing and displays the image captured at the remote station;

a high level controller that is coupled to said housing and controls a communication with the remote station; and

a low level controller that is coupled to said housing and actuates said mobile platform.

2. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a broadband interface attached to said housing and coupled to the remote station.

3. The robot of claim 2, wherein said broadband interface includes a wireless transceiver.

4. The robot of claim 1, wherein the image is a video image of an operator.

5. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a speaker coupled to said housing.

6. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a microphone coupled to said housing.

7. The robot of claim 1, wherein said mobile platform includes a plurality of roller assemblies.

8. The robot of claim 1, further comprising a mass storage device that is coupled to said controller and stores an image that can be displayed by said monitor.