System and method for performing an automatic and self-guided medical examination

• US 8,953,837 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2012
• Issued: 02/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyto Care, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tyto Care, Ltd.
• Inventors: Gilad-Gilor, David
• Primary Examiner(s): AHMED, SAMIR ANWAR
• Application Number:
  US14/000,374
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,090 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/407, 600/476, 600/586, 382/100, 382/128
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0257 Proximity sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/067 using accelerometers or gyroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6843 Monitoring or controlling sensor contact pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7246 using correlation, e.g. template matching or determination of similarity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/741 using synthesised speech
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 30/40 for processing medical images, e.g. editing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for performing one or more medical examinations of a patient using a diagnostics device, wherein for at least one medical examination of the medical examinations, the method comprising: providing reference data indicative of a desired spatial disposition of the device with respect to the patient'"'"'s body for performing the medical examination; operating the device for acquiring navigation enabling data; determining a spatial disposition of the device with respect to the desired spatial disposition, utilizing the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data; calculating a required movement correction from the determined spatial disposition to the desired spatial disposition, for acquiring medical data of the patient in accordance with the at least one medical examination; providing a user with maneuvering instructions to navigate the device to the desired spatial disposition in accordance with the calculated route; and acquiring the medical data upon arrival to the desired spatial disposition.

Claims

1. A handheld diagnostics device configured to perform one or more medical examinations of a patient, said diagnostics device comprising:

at least one diagnostics sensor;

at least one navigation sensor; and

a processor;

wherein, for at least one medical examination of the medical examinations, said processor is configured to;

provide reference data indicative of a desired spatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the patient'"'"'s body for performing said medical examination;

acquire navigation enabling data utilizing the at least one navigation sensor;

determine, based on matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data, a apatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the desired spatial disposition;

calculate a required movement correction from the determined spatial disposition to the desired spatial disposition, for acquiring medical data of the patient in accordance with said at least one medical examination;

provide a user with maneuvering instructions to navigate said diagnostics device to the desired spatial disposition in accordance with the calculated route; and

operate the at least one diagnostics sensor to acquire said medical data upon arrival to the desired spatial disposition.

2. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the reference data and the navigation enabling data are body or body organ images.

3. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the reference data and the navigation enabling data is Inertial Navigation System (INS) data received from the at least one navigation sensor.

4. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 2 wherein said processor is configured to perform the following steps in order to determine the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to the desired spatial disposition:

compare said at least one image with said reference image in order to find matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data; and

determine, based on said comparison, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

5. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 3 wherein said processor is configured to perform the following steps in order to determine the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to the desired spatial disposition:

receive INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body;

determine, based on the received INS data, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

6. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 5 wherein said determine is based on triangulation techniques while utilizing the received INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body.

7. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein said processor is further configured to transmit the acquired medical data to a remote workstation.

8. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 7 wherein said processor is configured to perform said transmit via a central system.

9. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 8 wherein said central system automatically routes the acquired medical data to a remote workstation of an available trained personnel out of a plurality of trained personnel, whereby at least one of said plurality of trained personnel is not available.

10. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein said processor is further configured to:

provide said user with one or more questions relating to the patient;

receive answers to the one or more questions; and

transmit said answers to said remote workstation.

11. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the reference data is acquired during a calibration process performed by a trained personnel.

12. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 11 wherein said processor is further configured to perform the following steps during the calibration process:

receive an indication of a medical examination to be performed;

provide the trained personnel with guidance for performing the calibration; and

upon arrival to the desired diagnostics device spatial disposition, record said reference data indicative of the desired spatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the patient'"'"'s body.

13. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein said reference data includes reference medical data and wherein said processor is further configured to:

replace existing reference medical data with the respective acquired medical data thereby maintaining updated reference medical data.

14. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein a pre-defined check plan associated with the patient defines a list of the one or more medical examinations to be performed on the patient.

15. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the diagnostics sensor is an image based diagnostics sensor.

16. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the diagnostics sensor is a sound based diagnostics sensor.

17. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 2 wherein the navigation sensor is a camera.

18. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 3 wherein the navigation sensor is an INS.

19. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the maneuvering instructions are voice instructions provided via a speaker.

20. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the maneuvering instructions are visual instructions provided via a display.

21. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the maneuvering instructions are vibration instructions provided via vibration elements.

22. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to verify that the acquired data meets pre-defined standards.

23. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 22 wherein the pre-defined standards are at least one of:

(a) a required length of reading;

(b) a minimal recorded sound volume;

(c) a minimal recorded sound quality;

(d) a minimal pressure against the patient'"'"'s body;

(e) a maximal pressure against the patient'"'"'s body;

(f) a maximal allowed movement of the diagnostics device during acquisition of readings;

(g) a type of image reading;

(h) a required image reading zoom;

(i) a required image reading light;

(j) a required image reading matching to predefined reference; and

(k) a minimal image quality.

24. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the reference data is generic reference data not related to a specific patient.

25. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 1 wherein the processor is further configured to automatically identify the patient.

50. The handheld diagnostics device of claim 17 wherein the camera is also the diagnostics sensor.

51. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 4 wherein said navigation enabling data further comprises Inertial Navigation System (INS) data and wherein said processor is further configured to perform the following additional steps in order to determine the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to the desired spatial disposition:

receive INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body;

determine, based on the received INS data, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

52. The handheld diagnostics device according to claim 20 wherein the display is comprised within the handheld diagnostics device.

53. The method of claim 22 wherein said operate and said verify are performed automatically upon arrival to said desired spatial disposition.

26. A method for performing one or more medical examinations of a patient using a diagnostics device, wherein for at least one medical examination of the medical examinations, said method comprising:

providing reference data indicative of a desired spatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the patient'"'"'s body for performing said medical examination;

operating said diagnostics device for acquiring navigation enabling data;

determining, using a processor, based on matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data, a spatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the desired spatial disposition;

calculating a required movement correction from the determined spatial disposition to the desired spatial disposition, for acquiring medical data of the patient in accordance with said at least one medical examination;

providing a user with maneuvering instructions to navigate the diagnostics device to said desired spatial disposition in accordance with the calculated route; and

acquiring said medical data upon arrival to the desired spatial disposition.

27. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reference data and the navigation enabling data are body or body organ images.

28. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reference data and the navigation enabling data is Inertial Navigation System (INS) data received from the at least one navigation sensor.

29. The method according to claim 27 wherein said determining comprises:

comparing said navigation enabling data with said reference data in order to find matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data; and

determining, based on said comparing, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

30. The method according to claim 28 wherein said determining comprises:

receiving INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body;

determining, based on the received INS data and the reference data, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

31. The method according to claim 30 wherein said determining is based on triangulation techniques while utilizing the received INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body.

32. The method according to claim 26 further comprising transmitting the acquired medical data to a trained personnel workstation.

33. The method according to claim 32 wherein said transmitting is performed via a central system.

34. The method according to claim 33 wherein said central system automatically routes the acquired medical data to an available trained personnel out of a plurality of trained personnel, whereby at least one of said plurality of trained personnel is not available.

35. The method according to claim 26 further comprising:

providing said user with one or more questions relating to the patient;

receiving answers to the one or more questions; and

transmitting said answers to said trained personnel.

36. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reference data is acquired during a calibration process performed by a trained personnel.

37. The method according to claim 36 wherein said calibration process comprises:

receiving an indication of a medical examination to be performed;

providing the trained personnel with guidance for performing the calibration; and

upon arrival to the desired diagnostics device spatial disposition, recording said reference data indicative of the desired spatial disposition of the diagnostics device with respect to the patient'"'"'s body.

38. The method according to claim 26 wherein said reference data includes reference medical data and wherein the method further comprises replacing existing reference medical data with the respective acquired medical data thereby maintaining updated reference medical data.

39. The method according to claim 26 wherein a pre-defined check plan associated with the patient defines a list of the one or more medical examinations to be performed on the patient.

40. The method according to claim 26 wherein the maneuvering instructions are voice instructions provided via a speaker.

41. The method according to claim 26 wherein the maneuvering instructions are visual instructions provided via a display.

42. The method according to claim 26 wherein the maneuvering instructions are vibration instructions provided via vibration elements.

43. The method according to claim 26 further comprising verifying that the acquired data meets pre-defined standards.

44. The method according to claim 43 wherein the pre-defined standards are at least one of:

(a) a required length of reading;

(b) a minimal recorded sound volume;

(c) a minimal recorded sound quality;

(d) a minimal pressure against the patient'"'"'s body;

(e) a maximal pressure against the patient'"'"'s body;

(f) a maximal allowed movement of the diagnostics device during acquisition of readings;

(g) a type of image reading;

(h) a required image reading zoom;

(i) a required image reading light;

(j) a required image reading matching to predefined reference.

45. The method according to claim 26 wherein the reference data is generic reference data not related to a specific patient.

46. The method according to claim 26 further comprising automatically identifying the patient.

47. A computer program comprising computer program stored on a non-transitory medium, comprising computer program code means for performing all the steps of claim 26 when said program is run on a computer.

54. The method of claim 29 wherein said navigation enabling data further comprises Inertial Navigation System (INS) data, and wherein said determining further comprises:

receiving INS data acquired in at least three pre-defined reference points on the patient'"'"'s body;

determining, based on the received INS data and the reference data, the diagnostics device spatial disposition with respect to said desired spatial disposition.

55. The method of claim 41 wherein the display is comprised within the handheld diagnostics device.

56. The method of claim 43 wherein said acquiring and said verifying are performed automatically upon arrival to said desired spatial disposition.

48. A handheld diagnostics device configured to perform one or more medical examinations of a patient, said diagnostics device comprising:

at least one diagnostics sensor;

at least one navigation sensor; and

a processor;

wherein, for at least one medical examination of the medical examinations, said processor is configured to;

provide reference data indicative of a desired spatial disposition of a pointing object, pointing at the physical patient'"'"'s body, with respect to the patient'"'"'s body for performing said medical examination;

receive navigation enabling data from the at least one navigation sensor;

determine, based on matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data, a spatial disposition of the pointing object with respect to the desired spatial disposition;

calculate a required movement correction from the determined spatial disposition to the desired spatial disposition, for acquiring medical data of the patient in accordance with said at least one medical examination;

provide a user with maneuvering instructions to navigate said pointing object, pointing at the physical patient'"'"'s body, to the desired spatial disposition in accordance with the calculated required movement correction;

instruct the user to move the diagnostics device to the location indicated by the pointing object upon arrival of the pointing object to the desired spatial disposition; and

operate the at least one diagnostics sensor to acquire said medical data.

49. A method for performing one or more medical examinations of a patient using a diagnostics device, wherein for at least one medical examination of the medical examinations, said method comprising:

providing reference data indicative of a desired spatial disposition of a pointing object with respect to the patient'"'"'s body for performing said medical examination;

operating said diagnostics device for acquiring navigation enabling data;

determining, using a processor, based on matching reference points within the acquired navigation enabling data and the reference data, a spatial disposition of the pointing object pointing at the physical patient'"'"'s body, with respect to the desired spatial disposition;

calculating a required movement correction from the determined spatial disposition to the desired spatial disposition, for acquiring medical data of the patient in accordance with said at least one medical examination;

providing a user with maneuvering instructions to navigate said pointing object, pointing at the physical patient'"'"'s body to said desired spatial disposition in accordance with the calculated required movement correction;

instructing the user to move the diagnostics device to the location indicated by the pointing object upon arrival of the pointing object to the desired spatial disposition; and

operating the at least one diagnostics sensor to acquire said medical data.