Modular telehealth cart with thermal imaging and touch screen user interface
Inventors
Celmins, John • Douville, Gary • Sanchez, Daniel • Pinter, Marco • Jordan, Charles S. • Wang, Yulun
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10984916-B2
Publication Date
2021-04-20
Expiration Date
Abstract
A telemedicine system including a cart that allows for two-way audio/video conferencing between patients or local care providers and remote care providers or family members. The cart employs a modular design that allows its capabilities to be expanded to meet the needs of particular telemedicine applications. In addition, the cart provides thermal imaging and a user interface that allows local care provers to access various capabilities of the device while the device is not in session with a remote party.
Core Innovation
The invention is a telemedicine system that includes a cart supporting a controller coupled to a camera system, a touchscreen display, a microphone, a speaker, and a network. The controller displays a user interface on the touchscreen display in response to a user input received via the touchscreen display. The user interface includes at least a first selectable option that causes video captured by the camera system to be displayed on the touchscreen display when the system is not in session, and a second option to transmit a request for consultation via the network.
The controller is also configured to establish a communication session with a remote device through the network. During the communication session, the remote device is coupled to a camera, a display, a microphone, and a speaker, and the controller causes the touchscreen display to display video captured by the camera of the remote device. The cart-based arrangement provides local video display when not in session and enables switching to remote-session video during the communication session.
The disclosed system further emphasizes a modular telehealth cart with a camera system that can include optical wide and narrow cameras, and a thermal camera as part of the camera system. The disclosed camera system may include overhead pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) camera arrangements and pan/tilt head mechanics with remote reorientation. A peripheral expansion bay is included to add additional medical devices, and the electronics/network/power architecture supports remote and local access.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is clm-00001, describing the core telemedicine system architecture and session-mode user interface behavior. The main inventive features include local (not-in-session) camera display via selectable touchscreen options and transmitting a consultation request via a network, followed by remote-session establishment and remote camera video display on the touchscreen during the communication session.
Telemedicine cart with controller, camera system, touchscreen, audio, and network
A telemedicine system comprising a cart that supports a controller coupled to a camera system, a touchscreen display, a microphone, a speaker, and a network, with the controller displaying a user interface on the touchscreen in response to a touchscreen-received user input.
Selectable options for local video display and consultation-request transmission
A user interface including at least a first selectable option that causes video captured by the camera system to be displayed on the touchscreen display when the system is not in session and a second option to transmit a request for consultation via the network.
Communication session with remote device and remote camera video display
The controller is configured to establish a communication session with a remote device coupled to the controller via the network, the remote device including a camera, a display, a microphone, and a speaker, and during the communication session the controller causes the touchscreen display to display video captured by the camera of the remote device.
Across the independently claimed system, the inventive focus is on a cart-based telemedicine configuration with touchscreen-driven selectable options that provide local video display when not in session and enable sending a consultation request via the network, then switching to a communication session in which remote device camera video is displayed on the touchscreen.
Stated Advantages
Provides local video display when the system is not in session.
Enables transmission of a consultation request via a network.
Displays video captured by the remote device camera during a communication session.
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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