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 method that allows a person to remotely visit a patient located in a healthcare facility, comprising:
accessing a robot from a remote station;
capturing video and audio of the patient by the robot;
transmitting the video and audio of the patient to the remote station;
displaying the video of the patient at the remote station;
generating the audio of the patient at the remote station;
capturing video and audio of the person at the remote station
transmitting the video and audio of the person to the robot;
displaying the video of the person on a monitor of the robot;
generating the audio of the person at the robot;
transmitting a command from the remote station to move the robot; and,
moving the robot across a surface of the healthcare facility in response to the transmitted command.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the command, and the audio and video of the patient and the person are transmitted through a broadband network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot is located in a hospital.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the robot is located in a residential care facility.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising logging onto the remote station with a password.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted video and audio are encrypted.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising a family priority assignment that is transmitted to the robot.