Medical tele-robotic system
View Patent ↗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.
1. A remote controlled robotic system that is coupled to a broadband network, comprising:
a first remote control station coupled to the network;
a base station coupled to said remote control station through the broadband network; and,
a mobile robot wirelessly coupled to said base station and controlled through said first remote station, said mobile robot having a robot camera and a robot monitor that move together in at least one degree of freedom.
2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a second remote control station coupled to said base station, and said robot arbitrates control of said robot between said first and second control stations.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said remote station includes a remote camera coupled to said robot monitor and a remote monitor coupled to said robot camera.
4. The system of claim 3 , wherein said robot includes a holonomic platform attached to a housing.
5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising an arm coupled to said housing.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said arm includes a gripper.
7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a speaker coupled to said housing.
8. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a microphone coupled to said housing.
9. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said housing.
10. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a battery recharger station, a battery that is coupled to said housing and can be coupled to said battery recharger station, and a power management software routine wherein said holonomic platform moves said housing so that said battery is coupled to said battery recharger station.
11. The system of claim 4 , wherein said holonomic platform includes a plurality of roller assemblies.
12. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a mass storage device that stores a video image.
13. The system of claim 4 , wherein said housing includes a drawer that moves between an open position and a closed position.
14. A method for remotely operating a mobile robot to monitor a patient, comprising:
transmitting a command to move a robot, through a broadband network from a remote control station to a base station;
transmitting wirelessly the command from the base station to the robot;
moving the robot in response to the command and, said mobile robot having a robot camera and a robot monitor that move together in at least one degree of freedom.
15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting a video image from the robot to the remote control station.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein an existing video image and a pre-existing video image is transmitted to the remote control station from the robot.
17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising transmitting a video image from the remote control station to the robot.
18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising moving a drawer of the robot to an open position to dispense a drug.
19. The method of claim 14 , wherein the robot autonomously moves to a battery recharger station.
20. A remote controlled robotic system, comprising:
a first remote control station;
a second remote control station;
a robot that contains a controller that arbitrates access control of said robot between said first and second remote control stations and, said mobile robot having a robot camera and a robot monitor that move together in at least one degree of freedom.
21. The system of claim 20 , wherein said robot includes a robot camera and a robot monitor, said remote station includes a remote camera coupled to said robot monitor and a remote monitor coupled to said robot camera.
22. The system of claim 21 , wherein said robot includes a holonomic platform attached to a housing.
23. The system of claim 22 , further comprising an arm coupled to said housing.
24. The system of claim 22 , wherein said arm includes a gripper.
25. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a speaker coupled to said housing.
26. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a microphone coupled to said housing.
27. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a wireless transceiver coupled to said housing.
28. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a battery recharger station, a battery that is coupled to said housing and can be coupled to said battery recharger station, and a power management software routine wherein said holonomic platform moves said housing so that said battery is coupled to said battery recharger station.
29. The system of claim 22 , wherein said holonomic platform includes a plurality of roller assemblies.
30. The system of claim 22 , further comprising a mass storage device that stores a video image.
31. The system of claim 22 , wherein said housing includes a drawer that moves between an open position and a closed position.
32. A method for remotely operating a robot to monitor a patient, comprising:
transmitting a first command to move a mobile robot from a first remote control station;
transmitting a second command to move the mobile robot from a second remote control station;
determining which command has priority; and,
moving the mobile robot in response to the transmitted command with priority.
33. The method of claim 32 , further comprising transmitting a video image from the mobile robot to the remote control station.
34. The method of claim 33 , wherein an existing video image and a pre-existing video image is transmitted to the remote control station from the mobile robot.
35. The method of claim 32 , further comprising transmitting a video image from the remote control station to the mobile robot.
36. The method of claim 32 , further comprising moving a drawer of the mobile robot to an open position to dispense a drug.
37. The method of claim 32 , wherein the robot autonomously moves to a battery recharger station.