Telehealth cart that supports a removable tablet with seamless audio/video switching
Inventors
Sanchez, Daniel Steven • Douville, Gary S. • Chen, Shuodan • Rosenthal, James • Kirchhoff, Andrew
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11389064-B2
Publication Date
2022-07-19
Expiration Date
Abstract
A two-way audiovisual communication device with multiple audio and video subsystems. In one embodiment, the device includes a wheeled cart that supports a dock for a tablet computing device that includes a tablet camera, a tablet display, and a tablet microphone. The device also includes a cart camera, a cart speaker, and a cart microphone. The device may be coupled to a network and accessible to other devices on the network to allow a two-way audiovisual session to take place between remote parties. The device may operate in two modes: In a first mode, the tablet is mated with the dock and the remote device receives video from the pan-tilt-zoom camera and audio from the cart microphone. In a second mode, the tablet is removed from the dock and the remote device receives video from the tablet camera and audio from the tablet microphone. In both modes, the tablet monitor displays video from the remote device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a telemedicine system in which a cart supports a dock and a cart camera, and the dock receives a tablet device that includes a tablet camera. A remote device communicatively coupled to the tablet via a network includes a display device that displays video received from the tablet device during a communication session.
The video received from the tablet device is automatically switched depending on whether the tablet is coupled to the dock. When the tablet is coupled to the dock, the display device displays video captured by the cart camera, and when the handheld computing device is decoupled from the dock, the display device displays video captured by the tablet camera.
The tablet displays a button that, when selected, causes the tablet to transmit a message to the remote device including an alert that a patient is ready for a remote consultation to begin. This provides an alert mechanism associated with patient readiness during the telemedicine communication session.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a telemedicine system with 4 inventive features: a cart with a dock adapted to receive a tablet device having a tablet camera, a remote device over a network that displays video during a communication session, automatic switching of displayed video between a cart camera and a tablet camera depending on docking state, and an in-tablet button that transmits a patient-ready alert message to the remote device.
Docked-versus-decoupled automatic video switching
Video received from the tablet device is automatically switched between video from the cart camera and video from the tablet camera depending on whether the tablet is coupled to the dock, such that the display device displays video captured by the cart camera when the tablet is coupled to the dock and displays video captured by the tablet camera when the handheld computing device is decoupled from the dock.
Telemedicine cart with tablet-dock camera support
A cart that supports a dock and a cart camera, the dock adapted to receive a tablet device that includes a tablet camera.
Remote display over a network during communication sessions
A remote device communicatively coupled to the tablet via a network, the remote device including a display device that displays video received from the tablet device during a communication session.
In-tablet patient-ready alert button
The tablet displays a button that, when selected, causes the tablet to transmit a message to the remote device including an alert that a patient is ready for a remote consultation to begin.
Touchscreen tablet display (dependent refinement)
The tablet display device is a touchscreen.
Physiological values displayed from a medical peripheral (dependent refinement)
The tablet display device displays one or more physiological values received from a medical peripheral coupled to the tablet.
Pan-tilt-zoom cart camera controlled via the remote device (dependent refinement)
The cart camera is a pan-tilt-zoom camera that can be controlled by user input via the remote device.
Dock latching mechanism for securing the tablet (dependent refinement)
The dock includes a latching mechanism for securing the tablet when coupled to the dock.
Plurality of electrical contacts for docking (dependent refinement)
The dock includes a plurality of electrical contacts that mate with the tablet when the tablet device is coupled to the dock.
The claim coverage centers on a cart-and-dock telemedicine configuration that automatically switches the displayed video source between a cart camera and a tablet camera based on docking state, while supporting a tablet button that transmits a patient-ready alert to a remotely connected device. Dependent refinements further include a touchscreen display, physiological-value display from a medical peripheral, pan-tilt-zoom cart camera control via the remote device, dock latching, and plurality of electrical contacts for docking.
Stated Advantages
Automatic switching of displayed video between the cart camera and the tablet camera depending on whether the tablet is coupled to the dock or decoupled.
A patient-ready alert can be transmitted from the tablet to the remote device to indicate a patient is ready for remote consultation to begin.
Documented Applications
Telemedicine communication sessions using a cart that docks a tablet and a remote device that displays video received from the tablet, including a patient-ready alert to begin a remote consultation.
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