Mobile videoimaging, videocommunication, video production (VCVP) system

• US 7,432,949 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christophe Remy, Simon P. King
• Original Assignee: Christophe Remy, Simon P. King
• Inventors: King, Simon P., Remy, Christophe
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah; Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/922,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20050052527A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,509 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401- 1409, 348/14.1, 348/14.11, 348/14.12, 600/300, 600/301, 606/130
• US Class Current: 348/14.02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/361 Image-producing devices, e.g. surgical cameras
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A mobile self-powered videoimaging, video communication, video production (VCVP) system designed specifically for health care industry that provides high-resolution audio, video and data communications, production and recording capabilities at hospital operating room/procedure room or field environments for transmission to other remote locations. The VCVP system generally comprises a mobile platform with a plurality of cameras, at least one being mounted on an extensible boom for overhead imaging of surgical procedures. An array of video production equipment is rack-mounted inside the platform, as is an array of network teleconferencing equipment. The mobile imaging system may be parked at a convenient location in an operating room or other environment and controlled by a single operator. As the surgery proceeds, the operator can multiplex the camera signals into a live high resolution video/audio feed that is networked in real time for teleconferencing, and/or recorded to a hard drive or in any known format such as Mini-DV, S-VHS, VHS and DVD as desired.

Claims

1. A mobile videoimaging station, comprising:

a wheeled cabinet;

a height-adjustable and length-adjustable camera support comprising a mast mounted to and extending upward from said cabinet, and a telescoping boom pivotally mounted at one end to said mast;

a first video camera having remotely controlled pan, tilt and zoom functions mounted distally on another end of said boom;

a second video camera mounted on said mast;

controls mounted on said wheeled cabinet for remotely controlling the pan, tilt and zoom functions of said first video camera;

a plurality of displays for displaying outputs from said first video camera and said second video camera;

a video production system including a switch for compiling a single video feed from said first video camera and said second video camera; and

a teleconferencing system for network conferencing of said video feed in real time;

a power supply mounted inside the cabinet;

whereby said videoimaging station may be controlled by a single operator to produce said video feed.

2. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of video displays comprises a mini-display panel including a plurality of displays for displaying outputs from the first video camera and the second video camera to an operator.

3. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of video displays further comprises an active broadcast preview monitor for displaying the live video feed compiled from said first video camera and said second video camera to onlookers.

4. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 1, wherein said teleconferencing system comprises a codec for networked videoconferencing.

5. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 4, wherein said video production system comprises a VHS/Mini-DV recorder for recording said video feed.

6. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 5, wherein said video production system comprises an optical media recorder for recording said video feed.

7. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 1, wherein said power supply comprises a rechargeable battery power supply.

8. A mobile videoimaging station, comprising:

a wheeled cabinet having a work surface;

a height-adjustable mast extending vertically from the work surface of said cabinet;

a length-adjustable boom extending from said mast;

a plurality of remotely-controlled video cameras, including at least one said camera having remotely controlled pan, tilt and zoom functions mounted distally on one end of said boom;

controls mounted on the work surface of said mobile platform for remotely controlling the pan, tilt and zoom functions of said at least one camera;

a video production system mounted inside the cabinet for mixing, producing and recording a single video feed from said plurality of cameras; and

a teleconferencing system mounted inside the cabinet for network conferencing of said video production in real time;

a rechargeable battery power supply;

whereby said mobile video communications and video production station may be wheeled into a convenient location in an operating room or other environment and controlled by a single operator to produce said video feed.

9. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 8, wherein said video production system comprises a mini-display panel including a plurality of displays for displaying outputs from the at least one remotely-controlled video camera to an operator.

10. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 9, wherein said video production system comprises an active broadcast monitor for displaying the live video feed compiled from said at least one remotely-controlled video camera to an operator.

11. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 9, wherein said video production system comprises at least one display for displaying outputs from the at least one remotely-controlled video camera to onlookers.

12. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 8, wherein said, teleconferencing system comprises a codec for networked videoconferencing.

13. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 12, wherein said video production system comprises a video tape recorder for recording said video feed.

14. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 13, wherein said video production system comprises an optical media recorder for recording said video feed.

15. The mobile videoimaging station according to claim 8, wherein said rechargeable battery power supply comprises a pair of rechargeable batteries for failsafe power.