Techniques for remotely controlling a medical device based on image data

1. A system for remotely controlling a medical device based on image data, the system comprising:

a medical device comprising a patient support apparatus including:

a controller coupled to a communication network;

a support structure configured to support a patient; and

an actuator configured to move the patient when the patient is disposed on the support structure;

an image sensor coupled to the communication network and being configured to capture image data and to transmit the image data to the controller; and

a remote caregiver interface coupled to the communication network and being configured to:

display the image data for viewing by a user of the remote caregiver interface;

receive a selected remote control function from the user; and

transmit an input signal corresponding to the selected remote control function to the controller of the medical device to execute the selected remote control function based on the input signal;

wherein the controller is configured to

receive the image data from the image sensor;

analyze the image data to determine a patient condition;

alter the selected remote control function based on the patient condition; and

transmit an output signal to the actuator to execute the altered remote control function.

2. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the image sensor comprises an infrared image sensor, a visual light image sensor, or a combination thereof.

3. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the communication network is a wireless network.

4. The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a local user interface configured to transmit a selected local control function to the controller.

5. The system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the local user interface is configured to display a graphical user interface; and

wherein the remote caregiver interface is configured to display a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface on the remote caregiver interface being identical to the graphical user interface on the local user interface.

6. The system as set forth in claim 4 , wherein the local user interface is configured to display a graphical user interface; and

wherein the remote caregiver interface is further configured to replicate at least a portion of the graphical user interface displayed on the local user interface.

7. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the image sensor is coupled to the patient support apparatus.

8. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein image sensor is coupled to a support structure near the patient support apparatus.

9. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the remote caregiver interface is a mobile device.

10. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the patient condition comprises a patient presence, a comfort indication of the patient, a physiological state of the patient, or combinations thereof.

11. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the remote caregiver interface is further configured to:

analyze the image data from the image sensor to determine a patient condition;

alter the selected remote control function based on the patient condition; and

transmit an input signal corresponding to the altered remote control function to the controller; and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

transmit an output signal to the actuator to execute the altered remote control function based on the input signal corresponding to the altered remote control function.

12. The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising a patient sensor configured to transmit a sensor input signal in response to sensing a state of the patient;

wherein the controller is further configured to receive the sensor input signal and determine the patient condition based on the sensor input signal; and

wherein the controller is further configured to:

alter the remote control function based on the patient condition, and

transmit an output signal to the actuator to execute the altered remote control function.

13. The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the patient sensor is coupled to the communication network and wherein the remote caregiver interface is further configured to receive the sensor input signal and determine the patient condition based on the sensor input signal;

wherein the remote caregiver interface is further configured to:

alter the remote control function based on the patient condition, and

transmit an input signal corresponding to the altered remote control function based on the patient condition; and

wherein the controller is further configured to transmit the output signal to the actuator to execute the altered remote control function based on the input signal corresponding to the altered remote control function.

14. The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the remote caregiver interface comprises a camera, the camera configured to capture image data of the user of the remote caregiver interface.

15. The system as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising a local user interface coupled to the communication network and being proximate to the patient support apparatus, the local user interface being configured to receive the image data of the user from the remote caregiver interface.

16. The system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein the remote caregiver interface is further configured to initiate a video conference with the local user interface and wherein the local user interface is further configured to initiate the video conference with the remote caregiver interface.

17. The system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein one of the controller and the remote caregiver interface is further configured to:

determine a patient condition; and

initiate a video conference with the local user interface based on the patient condition.

18. A method for remotely controlling a patient support apparatus based on image data, the method comprising steps of:

providing a remote caregiver interface coupled to a communication network;

providing an image sensor coupled to the communication network;

providing a patient support apparatus, the patient support apparatus comprising a support structure configured to support a patient, an actuator configured to move the patient when the patient is disposed on the support structure, and a controller coupled to the communication network;

capturing, with the image sensor, image data of an area including the support structure;

transmitting, with the image sensor, the image data to the remote caregiver interface and to the controller;

transmitting, with the remote caregiver interface, an input signal corresponding to a selected remote control function to the controller of the patient support apparatus;

analyzing, with the controller, the image data to determine a patient condition;

altering, with the controller, the selected remote control function based on the patient condition; and

transmitting an output signal to the actuator of the patient support apparatus to execute the altered remote control function.