U.S. patent application number 14/255556 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-22 for medical cart system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Huntingdon Telemed, LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Huntingdon Telemed, LLC. Invention is credited to David Boll, Maynard Payumo, William Rabbitt, James Szpak, Jason Tilk, Thomas Uttley, Robert Vystrcil.
Application Number | 20150305086 14/255556 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 53016784 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150305086 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Uttley; Thomas ; et
al. |
October 22, 2015 |
MEDICAL CART SYSTEM
Abstract
A medical cart includes an interface assembly including a
display, a speaker, a camera and a microphone. The interface
assembly is operatively connected to an enclosure at a connecting
portion that is operable to reposition the interface assembly from
a transporting configuration in which the interface assembly is
disposed inside the enclosure to a deployed configuration in which
the interface assembly is disposed outside of the enclosure. The
medical cart also includes a set of wheels operably connected to at
least one of the enclosure or a pivoting assembly operable to pivot
from the transporting configuration in which only the set of wheels
makes contact with a transporting surface to the deployed
configuration in which a portion of the cart in addition to the set
of wheels makes contact with the transporting surface for
stabilizing the cart in the deployed configuration.
Inventors: |
Uttley; Thomas; (Naples,
FL) ; Boll; David; (Avon, OH) ; Payumo;
Maynard; (Parma, OH) ; Rabbitt; William;
(Chesterland, OH) ; Szpak; James; (Cleveland
Heights, OH) ; Tilk; Jason; (Cleveland Heights,
OH) ; Vystrcil; Robert; (Garrettsville, OH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huntingdon Telemed, LLC |
Bonita Springs |
FL |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Huntingdon Telemed, LLC
Bonita Springs
FL
|
Family ID: |
53016784 |
Appl. No.: |
14/255556 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
280/652 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B62B 1/12 20130101; G16H
40/67 20180101; H04W 80/04 20130101; B62B 1/208 20130101; B62B
2202/56 20130101; G06F 1/1605 20130101; B62B 1/26 20130101; B62B
5/067 20130101; B62B 3/02 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 80/04 20060101
H04W080/04; B62B 1/26 20060101 B62B001/26; B62B 1/20 20060101
B62B001/20 |
Claims
1. A medical cart system comprising: an enclosure including a
connecting portion and having an opening at one end; an interface
assembly including a first display, a speaker, a camera and a
microphone, and operatively connected to the enclosure at least at
the connecting portion, the connecting portion operable to
reposition the interface assembly from a transporting configuration
in which the first display, the speaker, the camera and the
microphone are disposed within the enclosure to a deployed
configuration in which the first display, the speaker, the camera
and the microphone are disposed outside of the enclosure, wherein
the connecting portion is operable to reposition the interface
assembly from the deployed configuration to the transporting
configuration by sliding the interface assembly including the first
display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone into the
enclosure through the opening, and from the transporting
configuration to the deployed configuration by sliding the
interface assembly including the first display, the speaker, the
camera and the microphone from the enclosure through the opening; a
pivoting assembly pivotably disposed in relation to the enclosure;
a set of wheels operably connected to at least one of the enclosure
or the pivoting assembly, the pivoting assembly operable to pivot
from the transporting configuration in which only the set of wheels
makes contact with a transporting surface to the deployed
configuration in which a portion of the cart in addition to the set
of wheels makes contact with the transporting surface for
stabilizing the cart in the deployed configuration; a tray hingedly
connected to the interface assembly and foldable from the deployed
configuration in which the tray opens away from the interface
assembly to the transporting configuration in which the tray folds
towards the interface assembly; a computer including a second
display, the computer operatively disposed relative to the tray
such that in the deployed configuration the second display faces in
a direction opposite to a direction to which the display of the
interface assembly faces; and a privacy screen disposed between the
first display and the second display such that the facilitator,
while facing the second display and in a position on an opposite
side of the cart from a position in which a patient faces the first
display, is at least partially blocked from view of the patient
behind the privacy screen.
2. The medical cart system of claim 1, comprising: a wireless
communication network, wherein the computer is detachably disposed
relative to the tray such that in the deployed configuration the
computer is detachable from the tray and communicate with the
interface assembly via the wireless communication network.
3. A cart comprising: an enclosure including a connecting portion;
an interface assembly including a display, a speaker, a camera and
a microphone, and operatively connected to the enclosure at least
at the connecting portion, the connecting portion operable to
reposition the interface assembly from a transporting configuration
in which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone
are disposed inside the enclosure to a deployed configuration in
which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone are
disposed outside of the enclosure; a set of wheels operably
connected to at least one of the enclosure or another portion of
the cart to, in the transporting configuration transport the cart
on a transporting surface; and a communication module configured to
receive a video and audio communication corresponding to a
transmission from a doctor at a location remote from a location of
the cart and further configured to cause the video to show on the
display and the audio to play through the speaker, the
communication module further configured to receive a video image
from the camera and sound from the microphone and to transmit the
video image and the sound to the location remote from the location
of the cart.
4. The cart of claim 3, comprising: a second display operatively
connected to the interface assembly and disposed relative to the
first display of the interface assembly such that in the deployed
configuration the second display faces in a different direction
from a direction to which the display of the interface assembly
faces; a facilitator module configured to receive the video and
audio communication corresponding to the transmission from the
doctor and to cause the video to show on a first portion of the
second display, the facilitator module further configured to
receive the video image from the camera and sound from the
microphone and to cause the video image to show on a second portion
of the second display to allow a facilitator to monitor
communication between doctor and patient, the facilitator module
further configured to receive data corresponding to medical forms
corresponding to at least one of the doctor or the patient and to
show the data corresponding to medical forms on a third portion of
the second display to allow the facilitator to assist in completing
the medical forms; and a privacy screen disposed between the first
display and the second display such that the facilitator, while
facing the second display and in a position on an opposite side of
the cart from a position in which the patient faces the first
display, is at least partially blocked from the patient's view to
afford a level of privacy to the doctor/patient interaction.
5. (canceled)
6. (canceled)
7. The cart of claim 8, wherein the enclosure has an opening at one
end and the connecting portion is operable to reposition the
interface assembly from the deployed configuration to the
transporting configuration by inserting the interface assembly
including the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone
into the enclosure through the opening, wherein the connecting
portion includes at least one sliding assembly operable to
reposition the interface assembly from the deployed configuration
to the transporting configuration by sliding the interface assembly
including the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone
into the enclosure through the opening, and from the transporting
configuration to the deployed configuration by sliding the
interface assembly including the display, the speaker, the camera
and the microphone out of the enclosure through the opening.
8. A cart comprising: an enclosure including a connecting portion;
an interface assembly including a display, a speaker, a camera and
a microphone, and operatively connected to the enclosure at least
at the connecting portion, the connecting portion operable to
reposition the interface assembly from a transporting configuration
in which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone
are disposed inside the enclosure to a deployed configuration in
which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone are
disposed outside of the enclosure; a pivoting assembly pivotably
disposed in relation to the enclosure; a set of wheels operably
connected to at least one of the enclosure or the pivoting
assembly, the pivoting assembly operable to pivot from the
transporting configuration in which only the set of wheels makes
contact with a transporting surface to the deployed configuration
in which a portion of the cart in addition to the set of wheels
(e.g., a second set of wheels) makes contact with the transporting
surface for stabilizing the cart in the deployed configuration; and
a tray hingedly connected to the interface assembly and foldable
from the deployed configuration in which the tray opens away from
the interface assembly such that the tray is substantially parallel
to the transporting surface to the transporting configuration in
which the tray folds towards the interface assembly such that the
tray is substantially parallel to a major axis of the interface
assembly.
9. The cart of claim 8, comprising: a computer including a second
display, the computer operatively connected to the tray such that
in the deployed configuration the second display faces in a
direction different from a direction to which the display of the
interface assembly faces and in the transporting configuration the
computer retreats to within the shelf enclosure while remaining
operatively connected to the tray.
10. The cart of claim 8, comprising: a first wireless communication
interface; and a computer including a second wireless communication
interface wirelessly coupled to the first wireless communication
interface, wherein the computer is detachably disposed relative to
the tray such that in the deployed configuration the computer is
detachable from the tray and communicate with the interface
assembly via the first and the second wireless communication
interfaces.
11. (canceled)
12. The cart of claim 8, comprising: a second display operatively
connected to the interface assembly and disposed relative to the
display of the interface assembly such that in the deployed
configuration the second display faces in a direction different
from a direction to which the display of the interface assembly
faces; and a privacy screen disposed between the display and the
second display such that the facilitator, while facing the second
display and in a position on an opposite side of the cart from a
position in which the patient faces the display, is at least
partially blocked from view of the patient behind the privacy
screen.
13. The cart of claim 8, comprising: a communication module
configured to receive a video and audio communication corresponding
to a transmission from a doctor at a location remote from a
location of the cart and further configured to cause the video to
show on the display and the audio to play through the speaker, the
communication module further configured to receive a video image
from the camera and sound from the microphone and to transmit the
video image and the sound to the location remote from the location
of the cart.
14. The cart of claim 13, comprising: a second display, and a
facilitator module configured to receive the video and audio
communication corresponding to the transmission from the doctor and
to cause the video to show on a first portion of the second
display, the facilitator module further configured to receive the
video image from the camera and sound from the microphone and to
cause the video image to show on a second portion of the second
display to allow a facilitator to monitor communication between
doctor and patient.
15. The cart of claim 13, comprising: a second display, and a
facilitator module configured to receive the video and audio
communication corresponding to the transmission from the doctor and
further configured to cause the video to show on a first portion of
the second display, the facilitator module further configured to
receive data corresponding to medical forms corresponding to at
least one of the doctor or the patient and to show the data
corresponding to medical forms on a second portion of the second
display to allow a facilitator to assist in completing the medical
forms.
16. The cart of claim 13, comprising: a second display, and a
facilitator module configured to receive the video and audio
communication corresponding to the transmission from the doctor and
to cause the video to show on a first portion of the second
display, the facilitator module further configured to receive the
video image from the camera and sound from the microphone and to
cause the video image to show on a second portion of the second
display to allow a facilitator to monitor communication between
doctor and patient, the facilitator module further configured to
receive data corresponding to medical forms corresponding to at
least one of the doctor or the patient and to show the data
corresponding to medical forms on a third portion of the second
display to allow the facilitator to assist in completing the
medical forms.
17. The cart of claim 8, comprising: a second display operatively
connected to the interface assembly and disposed relative to the
display of the interface assembly such that in the deployed
configuration the second display faces in a direction different
from a direction to which the display of the interface assembly
faces; a communication module configured to receive a video and
audio communication corresponding to a transmission from a doctor
at a location remote from a location of the cart and further
configured to cause the video to show on the display and the audio
to play through the speaker, the communication module further
configured to receive a video image from the camera and sound from
the microphone and to transmit the video image and the sound to the
location remote from the location of the cart to provide a
doctor/patient interaction; a facilitator module configured to
receive the video and audio communication corresponding to the
transmission from the doctor and to cause the video to show on a
first portion of the second display, the facilitator module further
configured to receive the video image from the camera and sound
from the microphone and to cause the video image to show on a
second portion of the second display to allow a facilitator to
monitor the doctor/patient interaction; and a privacy screen
disposed between the display and the second display such that the
facilitator, while facing the second display and in a position on
an opposite side of the cart from a position in which the patient
faces the display, is at least partially blocked from view of the
patient behind the privacy screen.
18. The cart of claim 17, wherein the second display is operatively
connected to the tray such that in the deployed configuration the
second display faces in the direction substantially opposite to the
direction to which the display of the interface assembly faces and
in the transporting configuration the second display retreats to
within the shelf enclosure while remaining operatively connected to
the tray.
19. The cart of claim 8, wherein the enclosure has laterally
protruding portions disposed relative to the pivoting assembly such
that the pivoting assembly pivots from the transporting
configuration in which the pivoting assembly engages a first set of
walls of the protruding portions to the deployed configuration in
which the pivoting assembly engages a second set of walls of the
protruding portions.
20. The cart of claim 19, comprising: a power cord reel portion
disposed within one of the laterally protruding portions such that
in the transporting configuration a power cord is reelable in the
power cord reel portion such that the power cord does not interfere
with transporting of the cart.
21. A cart comprising: an enclosure including a connecting portion;
an interface assembly including a display, a speaker, a camera and
a microphone, and operatively connected to the enclosure at least
at the connecting portion, the connecting portion operable to
reposition the interface assembly from a transporting configuration
in which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone
are disposed inside the enclosure to a deployed configuration in
which the display, the speaker, the camera and the microphone are
disposed outside of the enclosure; a pivoting assembly pivotably
disposed in relation to the enclosure; a set of wheels operably
connected to at least one of the enclosure or the pivoting
assembly, the pivoting assembly operable to pivot from the
transporting configuration in which only the set of wheels makes
contact with a transporting surface to the deployed configuration
in which a portion of the cart in addition to the set of wheels
(e.g., a second set of wheels) makes contact with the transporting
surface for stabilizing the cart in the deployed configuration; a
tray hingedly connected to the interface assembly and foldable from
the deployed configuration in which the tray opens away from the
interface assembly to the transporting configuration in which the
tray folds towards the interface assembly; and a computer including
a second display, the computer operatively connected to the tray
such that in the deployed configuration the second display faces in
a direction different from a direction to which the display of the
interface assembly faces and in the transporting configuration the
computer retreats to within the shelf enclosure while remaining
operatively connected to the tray.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to remote medical
care and particularly to a medical cart system.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In some cases, access to medical care for certain
specialties such as, for example, psychological care may not be
widely available particularly in rural areas or even urban areas
that are significantly spread out. In other cases, care may be
available, but the cost of providing individualized care may be
prohibitive to patients and/or insurance programs.
[0003] Remote care systems have been proposed in which a doctor or
other medical practitioner may provide some level of care from a
location remote to the patient. In prior art systems, however, the
doctor/patient interaction facilitated by the systems may be less
than optimal. Remote care systems should allow the patient to
experience interaction with the doctor that is as similar as
possible to the interaction that the patient would have experienced
if the patient and the doctor were in the same room. Conventional
remote care systems do not provide that.
[0004] Moreover, because of their construction, weight, power
structure, etc., prior art remote care systems were effectively
bound to a single medical facility and were not effectively and
easily transported from one facility to another facility. The cost
of remote care systems that are effectively bound to a single
medical facility may be prohibitive because multiple systems would
be needed to service multiple facilities, which increases costs and
reduces availability of care.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] This disclosure provides a medical cart that provides for
doctor/patient interaction that is similar to the interaction that
the patient would have experienced if the patient and the doctor
were in the same location. Moreover, the medical cart of the
present disclosure provides for doctor/patient interaction that is
facilitated by a third person, a facilitator, who may monitor
various aspects of the communication between doctor and patient to
ensure a satisfactory experience for the patient. The medical cart
of the present disclosure also gives the patient the opportunity to
experience interaction with the doctor without the facilitator
becoming a distraction.
[0006] The medical cart of the present disclosure may be easily and
efficiently transported, not only within a facility, but also from
one facility to another because the cart is relatively light in
weight, particularly as compared to prior art medical carts
currently used in hospitals and other facilities. Moreover, the
cart is reconfigurable to make it easily deployable, storable and
transportable. Ease of transportation may allow for a single doctor
or medical practitioner utilizing a single medical cart to provide
consultation and/or care to multiple patients at multiple
facilities potentially expanding availability of care and/or
reducing costs.
[0007] These and further features of the present invention will be
described with reference to the attached drawings. In the
description and drawings, particular embodiments of the invention
have been disclosed in detail as being indicative of some of the
ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed, but
it is understood that the invention is not limited correspondingly
in scope. Rather, the invention includes all changes, modifications
and equivalents coming within the terms of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of the specification, illustrate various example
systems, methods, and so on, that illustrate various example
embodiments of aspects of the invention. It will be appreciated
that the illustrated element boundaries (e.g., boxes, groups of
boxes, or other shapes) in the figures represent one example of the
boundaries. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that
one element may be designed as multiple elements or that multiple
elements may be designed as one element. An element shown as an
internal component of another element may be implemented as an
external component and vice versa. Furthermore, elements may not be
drawn to scale.
[0009] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary medical cart.
[0010] FIG. 2A illustrates the exemplary cart in a deployed
configuration.
[0011] FIGS. 2B-2D illustrate the exemplary cart in configurations
intermediary to deployment, store and transport.
[0012] FIG. 2E illustrates the exemplary cart in a transporting
configuration.
[0013] FIG. 2F illustrates the exemplary cart in a storing
configuration.
[0014] FIG. 3A illustrates an additional embodiment of the
exemplary cart in the storing configuration.
[0015] FIG. 3B illustrates the exemplary cart in the transporting
configuration.
[0016] FIGS. 3C and 3D illustrate the exemplary cart in
configurations intermediary to deployment, store and transport.
[0017] FIG. 3E illustrates the exemplary cart in the deployed
configuration.
[0018] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional embodiment of the
cart.
[0019] FIG. 5 illustrates a computer environment in which modules
related to the exemplary carts may be embodied.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary medical cart 1. FIG.
1A illustrates the exemplary medical cart 1 from the perspective of
a patient while FIG. 1B illustrates the cart 1 from the perspective
of a facilitator as described below.
[0021] The medical cart 1 includes an interface assembly 10.
[0022] On the patient side (FIG. 1A), the interface assembly 10
includes a patient-side display 12, a speaker 14, a camera 16 and a
microphone 18. The cart 1 is also equipped with a communication
module as further disclosed below that receives video and audio
communication from a location remote to the location of the cart 1.
The communication module displays the received video on the display
12 and plays the received audio through the speaker 14. The
communication module also receives a video image from the camera 16
and sound from the microphone 18, and transmits the received video
image and sound to the remote location. The communication module
may be implemented as a node in a wired or wireless communication
network.
[0023] The video and audio communication received from the remote
location may be, for example, a transmission from a doctor D or
other medical practitioner. A camera and microphone may be set up
at the remote location to allow the doctor or medical practitioner
to communicate with a patient facing the display 12 and within
audible range of the speaker 14. The camera 16 and the microphone
18 may capture the patient's likeness and voice and allow the
patient to communicate with the doctor D or medical
practitioner.
[0024] For example, the cart 1 may be deployed at a medical
facility (e.g., hospital, nursing home, psychiatric care facility,
etc.) such that a patient may interact with a doctor D via the
interface assembly 10. The doctor D or medical practitioner may be
at a remote facility. By communicating via the cart 1 the doctor D
may provide consultation and care to the patient remotely. Thus,
the cart 1 may improve the availability and/or cost of medical care
to, for example, remote areas in which specific medical care may
not be readily available. The cart 1 may also allow a single doctor
or medical practitioner to provide consultation and/or care to
multiple patients at multiple facilities potentially expanding
availability of care and/or reducing costs.
[0025] The cart 1 may be deployed with the assistance of a
facilitator, a person that would attend to transport and setup of
the cart 1. The facilitator may also attend to any technical issues
or concerns regarding the cart 1, to completion of medical forms,
and may generally monitor the interaction between doctor and
patient to ensure a satisfactory experience for the patient.
[0026] On the facilitator side (FIG. 1B), the cart 1 includes a
tray 15 and a computer 20 that includes a facilitator-side display
22. For purposes of illustration the computer 20 is shown as a
laptop computer resting on the tray 15. In one embodiment, the
computer 20 may be a tablet computer connected to the tray 15 or to
a different portion of the interface assembly 10 or the cart 1. In
another embodiment, the computer 20 may be a desktop or tower type
computer with the main CPU portion of the computer 20 located on
the tray 15, the interface assembly 10 or in another portion of the
cart 1, while the display 22 may be located on the tray 15 or a
different portion of the interface assembly 10 or the cart 1. In
one embodiment, the tray 15 is less than a full tray, but instead
may be a skeleton or frame to which the computer 20 or the display
22 may attach or on which they may rest.
[0027] The cart 1 may also be equipped with a facilitator module as
further disclosed below that receives the video and audio
communication from the remote location similar to the communication
module described above. The facilitator module displays the
received video on the display 22. The facilitator module may also
play the received audio through speakers (not shown) such as, for
example, headphones that the facilitator may wear. The facilitator
module displays the received video and may play the received audio
such that the facilitator may monitor communication between doctor
and patient. In the illustrated embodiment, the facilitator module
displays the received video corresponding to the transmission from
the doctor D on a first portion 22a of the facilitator-side display
22.
[0028] In one embodiment, the facilitator module may also receive
the video image from the camera 16 and sound from the microphone 18
similar to the communication module described above. The
facilitator module displays the video image from the camera 16 on
the display 22. The facilitator module may also play the sound from
the microphone 18 through speakers (not shown) such as, for
example, headphones that the facilitator may wear. The facilitator
module displays the video image from the camera 16 and may play the
sound from the microphone 18 such that the facilitator may monitor
communication between doctor and patient. In the illustrated
embodiment, the facilitator module displays the video image from
the camera 16 on a second portion 22b of the facilitator-side
display 22.
[0029] In another embodiment, the facilitator module may also
receive data corresponding to medical forms (e.g., patient's
medical records, medical charts, health history, insurance forms,
Medicare forms, prescriptions, etc.) relating to the doctor D, to
the patient, to the facility, etc. The facilitator module displays
data corresponding to medical forms or the forms themselves on the
second display 22 such that the facilitator may assist the doctor D
or the patient in completing the medical forms. In the illustrated
embodiment, the facilitator module displays data corresponding to
medical forms on a third portion 22c of the second display 22. The
cart 1 may further include a printer 24 that the facilitator may
use to print any medical forms for the use of the patient, the
doctor, the medical facility, etc.
[0030] Thus, cart 1 including the facilitator module may help the
facilitator monitor various aspects of the communication between
doctor and patient to, again, ensure a satisfactory experience for
the patient.
[0031] In at least some cases, however, the doctor/patient
interaction facilitated by the cart 1 may be disrupted by the
presence of a third person, the facilitator. Ideally, the patient
would be able to concentrate on the interaction with the doctor D
via the display interface assembly 10 without the facilitator
becoming a distraction.
[0032] To this end, the cart 1 may provide the first display 12 and
the second display 22 at opposite ends of the cart 1. In the
illustrated embodiment, the computer 20 is connected to or rests on
the tray 15 such that the second display 22 faces in a direction
opposite to the direction to which the first display 12 faces. In
another embodiment, the second display 22 (not necessarily the
computer 20) is connected to or rests on the tray 15 such that the
second display 22 faces in a direction opposite to the direction to
which the first display 12 faces. In yet another embodiment, the
computer 20 and/or the display 22 are connected to portions of the
cart 1 other than the tray 15 such that the second display 22 faces
in a direction opposite to the direction to which the first display
12 faces. In yet another embodiment, the first display 12 and the
second display 22 are disposed within the cart 1 such that the
second display 22 faces in a direction different from, although not
necessarily opposite to, the direction to which the first display
12 faces.
[0033] Moreover, in the illustrated embodiment, the cart 1 further
includes a privacy screen 25 disposed between the first display 12
and the second display 22. The privacy screen 25 at least partially
blocks a facilitator facing the display 22 from the view of the
patient facing the first display 12. Thus, the facilitator, while
facing the second display 22 and in a position on an opposite side
of the cart 1 from a position in which a patient faces the first
display 12, is at least partially blocked from view of the patient
behind the privacy screen 25 when the patient is interacting with
the doctor D.
[0034] Thus, in the arrangement of FIGS. 1A and 1B the cart 1
including the privacy screen 25 and/or having the first display 12
and second display 22 arranged so that they face in different
directions may help preserve or enhance the doctor/patient
interaction. This arrangement may effectively minimize any
disruption created by the presence of the facilitator to the
doctor/patient interaction. The patient would be more likely to
concentrate on the interaction with the doctor D via the display
interface assembly 10 without the facilitator becoming a
distraction.
[0035] In one embodiment (not shown), the computer 20 is detachably
connected to the tray 15 (or another portion of the cart 1) such
that the facilitator may easily detach the computer 20 (or the
display 22) from the cart 1. The computer 20 may form a wireless
communication network with the interface assembly 10 or the cart 1
and communicate with the interface assembly 10 via the wireless
communication network. For example, the cart 1 may include a first
wireless communication interface and the computer 20 may include a
second wireless communication interface wirelessly coupled to the
first wireless communication interface. This arrangement may
further minimize any disruption created by the presence of the
facilitator to the doctor/patient interaction because the
facilitator may be able to facilitate the doctor/patient
interaction from a nearby yet remote location (e.g., a room near to
the patient's room, outside of the door of the patient's room,
etc.) This arrangement may help further preserve or enhance the
doctor/patient interaction. The patient should be able to better
experience the interaction with the doctor D via the display
interface assembly 10 without the facilitator being a
distraction.
[0036] Thus, the cart 1 may help ensure effective and satisfactory
doctor/patient interaction.
[0037] Moreover, to reduce the cost and increase the availability
of care, the cart 1 is not bound to a single medical facility. The
cart 1 may be easily and efficiently transported, not only within a
facility, but also from facility to facility. To this end, the cart
1 is relatively light in weight, particularly as compared to prior
art medical carts currently used in hospitals and other facilities.
Moreover, the cart 1 includes features that make it easily
deployable, storable and transportable as described below.
[0038] FIGS. 2A-2F illustrate the exemplary cart 1 in various
stages of deployment, store and transport.
[0039] FIG. 2A illustrates the exemplary cart 1 in the deployed
configuration, which is the same position illustrated in FIGS. 1A
and 1B above. In the deployed configuration, a patient (not shown)
may interact with a doctor D via the interface assembly 10 which
includes the display 12, the speaker 14, the camera 16 and the
microphone 18. Also, in the deployed configuration, a facilitator F
may monitor various aspects of the communication between doctor and
patient.
[0040] FIG. 2E illustrates the exemplary cart 1 in the transporting
configuration while FIG. 2F illustrates the cart 1 in the storing
configuration. FIGS. 2B-2D illustrate the cart 1 in configurations
intermediary between deployment, store and transport.
[0041] With return reference to FIG. 2A, the exemplary cart 1
includes a pivoting assembly 40 which, in the illustrated
embodiment of FIG. 2C, is connected to the enclosure 30 so that it
may pivot relative to the point of connection between the pivoting
assembly 40 and the enclosure 30. In the illustrated embodiment,
the cart 1 also includes a set of wheels 50 attached to the
pivoting assembly 40. In other embodiments, the set of wheels may
be connected to the enclosure 30 or to a portion of the cart 1
other than the pivoting assembly 40 or the enclosure 30. In the
configurations of FIGS. 2A-2C, including the deployed configuration
of FIG. 2A, another portion 52 of the cart 1 makes contact with the
transporting surface (e.g. the floor of the medical facility, a
sidewalk, etc.) in addition to the set of wheels 50. The wheels 50
in combination with the portion 52 form a multipoint base on which
the cart 1 may stably rest in the deployed configuration.
[0042] The exemplary cart 1 also includes an enclosure 30. In the
illustrated embodiment, the enclosure 30 has an opening 32 at one
end and the interface assembly 10 includes a connecting portion 34
(e.g., slides, rails, etc.) that is operable to move (e.g., slide)
the interface assembly 10 including the display 12, the speaker 14,
the camera 16 and the microphone 18 so that it may be inserted into
the enclosure 30 through the opening 32.
[0043] Inside the enclosure 30 the display 12, the speaker 14, the
camera 16 and the microphone 18 may be protected from the
environment including protection from contact, shock, moisture,
dirt, etc. The enclosure 30 may be fabricated of metal, plastic or
other suitable material that is durable and provide protection to
the display 12, the speaker 14, the camera 16 and the microphone 18
when they are stored in the enclosure 30.
[0044] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2A, prior to insertion
of the interface assembly 10 into the enclosure 30, the tray 15
folds in towards the interface assembly 10 so that the tray 15 may
be inserted into the enclosure 30 together with the interface
assembly 10. Also, an assembly 17 that may hold or cover the
speaker 14, the camera 16 and the microphone 18 may also fold in
prior to insertion of the interface assembly 10 into the enclosure
30. The tray 15 and the assembly 17 may be connected to the
interface assembly 10 by a hinge or similar element such that the
facilitator F may fold the tray 15 and the assembly 17 towards the
interface assembly 10.
[0045] FIG. 2B illustrates the exemplary cart 1 with the tray 15
and the assembly 17 folded toward the interface assembly 10. In one
embodiment, the computer 20 may remain attached to the tray 15
while the tray 15 is folded towards the interface assembly 10. In
another embodiment, the computer 20 may be detached from the tray
15 prior to folding of the tray 15 towards the interface assembly
10. The enclosure 30 may include a compartment 35 (see FIG. 1B) in
which the computer 20 may be stored.
[0046] FIG. 2C illustrates the cart 1 after the interface assembly
10 including the display 12, the speaker 14, the camera 16 and the
microphone 18 has been inserted into the enclosure 30 through the
opening 32.
[0047] When reconfiguring the cart 1 from the deployed
configuration to the transporting configuration, the pivoting
assembly 40 may be pivoted about the point of connection between
the pivoting assembly 40 and the enclosure 30 such that the
pivoting assembly 40 is substantially parallel to the enclosure 30
and only the wheels 50 make contact with the transporting surface
as shown in FIG. 2D. The pivoting assembly 40 includes a handle
portion 40a that slides axially off the pivoting assembly 40 as
shown in FIG. 2E to become a transporting handle for the cart 1. In
the transporting configuration, as shown in FIG. 2E, the
facilitator F may pull on the handle portion 40a to transport the
cart 1 which rolls on the wheels 50.
[0048] Finally, the facilitator F may slide the handle portion 40a
axially back into the pivoting portion 40 to minimize the profile
of the cart 1 into the storing configuration as shown in FIG. 2F.
In the storing configuration, the cart 1 may have a small enough
profile to fit in the trunk of car or the back of an SUV as shown
in FIG. 2F. The cart 1 is light enough for the facilitator F to be
able to lift the cart 1 off the ground near the car or the SUV and
place the cart 1 configured in the storing configuration in the
trunk of the car or in the back of the SUV.
[0049] FIGS. 3A-3E illustrate a slightly different embodiment of
the exemplary cart 1 in various stages of deployment, store and
transport.
[0050] FIG. 3A illustrates the exemplary cart 1 in the storing
configuration with its profile minimized for storage. FIG. 3B
illustrates the exemplary cart 1 in the transporting configuration
in which the handle portion 40a has been pulled axially off the
pivoting portion 40 for transporting. By use of the handle portion
40a the facilitator F has also pulled up the cart 1 to a slanted
stance for transportation. In the transporting configuration as
shown in FIG. 3B, only the wheels 50 make contact with the
transporting surface.
[0051] As shown in FIG. 3C, to reconfigure the cart 1 from the
transporting configuration to the deployed configuration the handle
portion 40a may slide axially back into the pivoting portion 40 and
the pivoting assembly 40 may be pivoted about the point of
connection between the pivoting assembly 40 and the enclosure 30
such that the wheels 50, which in the illustrated embodiment are
connected to the pivoting assembly 40, are repositioned away from
the enclosure 30. The wheels 50 in combination with the portion 52
form a multipoint base on which the cart 1 may stably rest in the
deployed configuration. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS.
3A-3E the portion 52 is embodied as a second set of wheels. In one
embodiment, the first set of wheels 50 or the second set of wheels
52 or both include a locking mechanism to prevent the wheels 50
and/or 52 from rotating when the cart 1 is in the deployed
configuration.
[0052] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 3A-3E the interface
assembly 10 includes a pull handle 19. Once the cart 1 has been
stabilized, the facilitator F may pull on the pull handle 19 to
slide the interface assembly 10 from the enclosure 30 through the
opening 32 as shown in FIG. 3C. In the illustrated embodiment of
FIGS. 3A-3C the tray 15 is embodied as a wall of the enclosure 30
at least in the transporting configuration. Once the interface
assembly has been pulled from the enclosure 30, the tray 15 may be
pulled up from the enclosure 30 and flipped down or opened away
from the interface assembly 10 and be made to rest on the handle
portion 40a of the pivoting assembly 40 as shown in FIG. 3D. The
assembly 17 may also be flipped down or opened away from the
interface assembly 10 to expose the speaker 14, the camera 16 and
the microphone 18.
[0053] FIG. 3E illustrates the exemplary cart 1 in the deployed
configuration in which the patient (not shown) may interact with
the doctor via the interface assembly 10. Also, in the deployed
configuration, a facilitator F may monitor various aspects of the
communication between doctor and patient by use of the computer 20
which may rest or be attached to the tray 15.
[0054] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate an additional embodiment of the
cart 1. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 4A and 4B the
interface assembly 10 includes an alternative design for the tray
15 and the pull handle 19. In the illustrated embodiment, the pull
handle 19 may be part of a locking mechanism that locks or unlocks
the connecting portion 34 to prevent it or allow it to slide the
interface assembly 10 into the enclosure 30 through the opening
32.
[0055] The enclosure 30 also has laterally protruding portions 30a
and 30b disposed relative to the pivoting assembly 40 such that the
pivoting assembly 40 may pivot from the transporting configuration,
in which the pivoting assembly engages a first set of walls of the
protruding portions 30a and 30b, to the deployed configuration, in
which the pivoting assembly 40 engages a second set of walls of the
protruding portions 30a and 30b. Engagement of the pivoting
assembly 40 and the walls of the protruding portions assists in
stabilizing the cart 1.
[0056] The cart 1 also includes a battery compartment 36 in which a
battery that powers the various components of the cart 1 may be
stored. The cart 1 also includes a power cord 38 that may be used
to connect to a power outlet to recharge the battery. The cart 1
also includes a power cord reel portion 39 disposed within one of
the laterally protruding portions 30a such that in the transporting
configuration the power cord 38 is reelable in the power cord reel
portion 39 such that the power cord 38 does not interfere with
transporting of the cart 1.
[0057] In one embodiment, to increase battery life and minimize the
weight of the cart 1 among other considerations, the cart 1
includes a main AC-DC converter (not shown) that charges the
battery. The various devices of the cart 1 including the first
display 12, the speaker 14, the camera 16, the microphone 18, the
second display 22 and the computer 20 may operate exclusively off
DC power from the battery. This way the cart 1 may include only one
main power converter instead of multiple power converters, one for
each device. This arrangement reduces power conversion losses and
thus increases efficiency and battery life. Additionally, the
reduction in the number of power converters also reduces the
overall weight of the cart 1.
[0058] FIG. 5 illustrates a computer 500 that includes a processor
502, a memory 504, and I/O Ports 510 operably connected by a bus
508. In one embodiment, the computer 500 of FIG. 5 corresponds to
the computer 20 described above. In another embodiment, the
computer 500 of FIG. 5 corresponds to a computer other than the
computer 20 described above.
[0059] In one example, the computer 500 may include a communication
module 530 configured to receive a video and audio communication
corresponding to a transmission from a doctor at a location remote
from a location of the cart 1 and further configured to cause the
video to show on the display 12 and the audio to play through the
speaker 14, the doctor/patient communication module further
configured to receive a video image from the camera 16 and sound
from the microphone 18 and to transmit the video image and the
sound to the location remote from the location of the cart 1.
[0060] In one example, the computer 500 may include a facilitator
module 540 configured to receive the video and audio communication
corresponding to the transmission from the doctor and to cause the
video to show on the first portion 22a of the second display 22. In
another example, the facilitator module 540 may further be
configured to receive the video image from the camera 16 and sound
from the microphone 18 and to cause the video image to show on the
second portion 22b of the second display 22 such that the
facilitator may monitor communication between doctor and patient.
In yet another example, the facilitator module 540 may further be
configured to receive data corresponding to medical forms
corresponding to at least one of the doctor or the patient and to
show the data corresponding to medical forms on the third portion
22c of the second display 22 such that the facilitator may assist
in completing the medical forms.
[0061] The processor 502 can be a variety of various processors
including dual microprocessor and other multi-processor
architectures. The memory 504 can include volatile memory or
non-volatile memory. The non-volatile memory can include, but is
not limited to, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and the like. Volatile
memory can include, for example, RAM, synchronous RAM (SRAM),
dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate
SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), and direct RAM bus RAM (DRRAM).
[0062] A disk 506 may be operably connected to the computer 500
via, for example, an I/O Interfaces (e.g., card, device) 518 and an
I/O Ports 510. The disk 506 can include, but is not limited to,
devices like a magnetic disk drive, a solid state disk drive, a
floppy disk drive, a tape drive, a Zip drive, a flash memory card,
or a memory stick. Furthermore, the disk 506 can include optical
drives like a CD-ROM, a CD recordable drive (CD-R drive), a CD
rewriteable drive (CD-RW drive), or a digital video ROM drive (DVD
ROM). The memory 504 can store processes 514 or data 516, for
example. The disk 506 or memory 504 can store an operating system
that controls and allocates resources of the computer 500.
[0063] The bus 508 can be a single internal bus interconnect
architecture or other bus or mesh architectures. While a single bus
is illustrated, it is to be appreciated that computer 500 may
communicate with various devices, logics, and peripherals using
other busses that are not illustrated (e.g., PCIE, SATA,
Infiniband, 1394, USB, Ethernet). The bus 508 can be of a variety
of types including, but not limited to, a memory bus or memory
controller, a peripheral bus or external bus, a crossbar switch, or
a local bus. The local bus can be of varieties including, but not
limited to, an industrial standard architecture (ISA) bus, a
microchannel architecture (MCA) bus, an extended ISA (EISA) bus, a
peripheral component interconnect (PCI) bus, a universal serial
(USB) bus, and a small computer systems interface (SCSI) bus.
[0064] The computer 500 may interact with input/output devices via
I/O Interfaces 518 and I/O Ports 510. Input/output devices can
include, but are not limited to, the first display 12, the speaker
14, the camera 16, the microphone 18, the second display 22, a
keyboard, a microphone, a pointing and selection device, cameras,
video cards, displays, disk 506, network devices 520, and the like.
The I/O Ports 510 can include but are not limited to, serial ports,
parallel ports, and USB ports.
[0065] The computer 500 can operate in a network environment and
thus may be connected to network devices 520 via the I/O Interfaces
518, or the I/O Ports 510. Through the network devices 520, the
computer 500 may interact with a network. Through the network, the
computer 500 may be logically connected to remote computers. The
networks with which the computer 500 may interact include, but are
not limited to, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network
(WAN), and other networks. The network devices 520 can connect to
LAN technologies including, but not limited to, fiber distributed
data interface (FDDI), copper distributed data interface (CDDI),
Ethernet (IEEE 802.3), token ring (IEEE 802.5), wireless computer
communication (IEEE 802.11), Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15.1), Zigbee
(IEEE 802.15.4) and the like. Similarly, the network devices 520
can connect to WAN technologies including, but not limited to,
point to point links, circuit switching networks like integrated
services digital networks (ISDN), packet switching networks, and
digital subscriber lines (DSL). While individual network types are
described, it is to be appreciated that communications via, over,
or through a network may include combinations and mixtures of
communications.
[0066] While example systems, methods, and so on, have been
illustrated by describing examples, and while the examples have
been described in considerable detail, it is not the intention to
restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to
such detail. It is, of course, not possible to describe every
conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes
of describing the systems, methods, and so on, described herein.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to
those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention is not limited
to the specific details, and illustrative examples shown or
described. Thus, this application is intended to embrace
alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the
scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, the preceding
description is not meant to limit the scope of the invention.
Rather, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the
appended claims and their equivalents.
[0067] To the extent that the terms "in" or "into" are used in the
specification or the claims, it is intended to additionally mean
"on" or "onto." Furthermore, to the extent the term "connect" is
used in the specification or claims, it is intended to mean not
only "directly connected to," but also "indirectly connected to"
such as connected through another component or components. An
"operable connection," or a connection by which entities are
"operably connected," is one by which the operably connected
entities or the operable connection perform its intended purpose.
For example, two entities may be "operably connected" to each other
directly or through one or more intermediate entities.
[0068] To the extent that the term "includes" or "including" is
employed in the detailed description or the claims, it is intended
to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as
that term is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a
claim. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "or" is employed in
the detailed description or claims (e.g., A or B) it is intended to
mean "A or B or both". When the applicants intend to indicate "only
A or B but not both" then the term "only A or B but not both" will
be employed. Thus, use of the term "or" herein is the inclusive,
and not the exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of
Modern Legal Usage 624 (3D. Ed. 1995).
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