System, method and apparatus for two-way language translation in a healthcare environment
View Patent ↗A healthcare translation apparatus, system, and method for two-way language translation in a healthcare environment is presented herein. The system includes a patient device in communication with a healthcare device, and a translation module configured to facilitate translation of inputs provided at the patient and healthcare devices. When a patient enters an input at the patient device, that input is sent to the translation module for real-time, translation into the language chosen by the healthcare provider. Similarly, when a health care provider enters an input through the healthcare device, that input is sent to the translation module for real-time, translation into the language chosen by the patient. Upon termination of the session, any and all data corresponding to the communication session is permanently deleted from the system and apparatus.
1. A method for two-way language translation in a healthcare environment, the method comprising:
providing a healthcare translation apparatus comprising a single, standalone housing unit with a patient device and a healthcare device each mounted thereto, the patient device comprising at least one patient input component and at least one patient output component, the healthcare device comprising at least one healthcare input component and at least one healthcare output component;
defining the healthcare translation apparatus as further comprising a translation module configured to translate a patient input in a patient language to a healthcare output in a healthcare language, and to translate a healthcare input in the healthcare language to a patient output in the patient language;
initiating a communication session at the healthcare translation apparatus;
receiving, by at least one of the patient device or the healthcare device, an input in an input language, the input language being one of the patient language or the healthcare language;
translating, in real-time, via at least one processor and the translation module, the input into an output in an output language, the output language being one of the patient language or the healthcare language;
communicating the output to the other one of the patient device or the healthcare device;
terminating the communication session at the healthcare translation apparatus; and
upon termination of the communication session, deleting all data corresponding to the patient input, healthcare input, patient output and healthcare output.
2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising defining the at least one patient input as comprising a microphone capable of receiving spoken audio as the patient input.
3. The method as recited in claim 2 further comprising defining the at least one healthcare input as comprising a microphone capable of receiving spoken audio as the healthcare input and a keyboard capable of receiving typed text as the healthcare input.
4. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising defining the single, standalone housing unit as comprising an interior portion within which at least one control device is disposed, the at least one control device being in localized communication with the patient device and the healthcare device and comprising at least one computer processor, at least one memory, at least one storage device, and at least one communication device.
5. The method as recited in claim 4 further comprising defining the healthcare translation apparatus as further comprising a patient device support, the patient device support comprising at least one angled surface upon which the at least one patient input component and the at least one patient output component are disposed.
6. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising defining the healthcare translation apparatus as further comprising a healthcare device support, the healthcare device support comprising at least one angled surface upon which the at least one healthcare input component and the at least one healthcare output component are disposed.
7. The method as recited in claim 6 wherein the patient device support and the healthcare device support are disposed on a top surface of the single, standalone housing unit.
8. The method as recited in claim 5 further comprising printing a transcript of the communication session via a printer disposed within the single, standalone housing unit.
9. A healthcare translation apparatus for two-way language translation in a healthcare environment, said apparatus comprising:
a transportable main housing;
a patient device mounted to said transportable main housing, said patient device comprising at least one patient input component and at least one patient output component;
a healthcare device mounted to said transportable main housing, said healthcare device comprising at least one healthcare input component and at least one healthcare output component;
a translation module configured to translate a patient input in a patient language to a healthcare output in a healthcare language, and to translate a healthcare input in the healthcare language to a patient output in the patient language;
wherein a patient input is received by the patient device, translated in real-time via the translation module into the healthcare output, and transmitted to the healthcare device for output by the at least one healthcare output component;
wherein a healthcare input is received by the healthcare device, translated in real-time via the translation module into the patient output, and transmitted to the patient device for output by the at least one patient output component;
wherein, at an end of a communication session between the patient device and the healthcare device, all data corresponding to the patient input, healthcare input, patient output or healthcare output is deleted; and
wherein said transportable main housing comprises a plurality of wheels for selective movement of said transportable main housing and said patient device and said healthcare device mounted thereto.
10. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein the at least one patient input component comprises at least one microphone capable of receiving spoken audio as the patient input.
11. The apparatus as recited in claim 10 wherein the at least one healthcare input component comprises at least one microphone capable of receiving spoken audio as the healthcare input, and a keyboard capable of receiving typed text as the healthcare input.
12. The apparatus as recited in claim 9 wherein said transportable main housing defines an interior portion within which at least one control device is disposed, the at least one control device being in localized communication with the patient device and the healthcare device, and comprising at least one computer processor, at least one memory, at least one storage device and at least one communication device.
13. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising at least one patient device support upon which at least a portion of the patient device is disposed.
14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 wherein the at least one patient device support comprises an angled surface upon which at least a portion of the patient device is disposed.
15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13 further comprising at least one healthcare device support upon which at least a portion of the healthcare device is disposed.
16. The apparatus as recited in claim 14 wherein the at least one healthcare device support comprises an angled surface upon which at least a portion of the healthcare device is disposed.
17. The apparatus as recited in claim 12 further comprising a printer disposed within the transportable main housing, the printer being capable of printing a transcript of the communication session.
18. A translation apparatus for two-way language translation, said apparatus comprising:
a transportable main housing;
a patient device mounted to said transportable main housing, said patient device comprising at least one patient input component and at least one patient output component;
a healthcare device mounted to said transportable main housing, said healthcare device comprising at least one healthcare input component and at least one healthcare output component;
a translation module configured to translate a patient input in a patient language to a healthcare output in a healthcare language, and to translate a healthcare input in the healthcare language to a patient output in the patient language;
wherein a patient input is received by the patient device, translated in real-time via the translation module into the healthcare output, and transmitted to the healthcare device for output by the at least one healthcare output component;
wherein a healthcare input is received by the healthcare device, translated in real-time via the translation module into the patient output, and transmitted to the patient device for output by the at least one patient output component;
wherein all of said patient input, said healthcare input, said patient output, said healthcare output and said translations are maintained locally, on the healthcare translation apparatus, and
wherein said transportable main housing comprises a plurality of wheels for selective movement of said transportable main housing and said patient device and said healthcare device mounted thereto.