Abstract
A medical system (300) comprises a medical examination apparatus (302) and a wearable patient device (100). The medical examination apparatus (302) comprises an examination zone for a patient (304), and the wearable patient device (100) comprises a user interface operable by a hand of the patient when the patient (304) is positioned in the examination zone of the medical examination apparatus (302). The wearable patient device (100) is communicatively connected with the medical examination apparatus (302) via a wireless connection, for sending a control command corresponding to input received from the patient via the user interface of the wearable patient device (100), the control command being adapted to control a patient-controllable part or parameter (308) of the medical examination apparatus (302).
Claims
1. A medical system comprising: a medical examination apparatus and a wearable patient device, wherein the medical examination apparatus is a magnetic resonance imaging system, the medical examination apparatus comprising an examination zone for a patient, the wearable patient device comprising a user interface operable by a hand of the patient when the patient is positioned in the examination zone of the medical examination apparatus, wherein the wearable patient device is communicatively connected with the medical examination apparatus via a wireless connection, for sending a control command corresponding to input received from the patient via the user interface of the wearable patient device, the control command being adapted to control a patient-controllable part or parameter of the medical examination apparatus, and wherein the controlling of the patient-controllable part or parameter comprises one or more of interrupting or aborting an examination, controlling at least a temperature or a softness of a cushion of a patient bed or patient support for positioning the patient in the examination, or controlling a system for illuminating, ventilating or odorizing of a room or chamber in which the medical examination apparatus is located, and wherein the wearable patient device is further communicatively connected with a communication system providing voice communication between the patient and an operator of the medical examination apparatus, and wherein the wearable patient device is configured to establish or initiate the voice communication.
2. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wearable patient device is a glove.
3. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the control command is configured for controlling the medical examination apparats to cause the communication system to establish or initiate the voice communication.
4. (canceled)
5. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the wearable patient device further comprises one or more sensors configured to detect physiological properties or parameters of the patient, wherein the wearable patient device is adapted for transmitting via the wireless connection a signal representing the sensor input, or derivatives thereof, to the medical examination apparatus, and wherein the medical examination apparatus is adapted to modify its operation in response to the received signal.
6. The medical system of claim 5, wherein the sensors of the wearable patient device comprise sensors for determining as the physiological properties or parameters a patient's heart rate or pulse, blood pressure, blood oxygenation, blood glucose level, skin conductivity, temperature, gyroscopes or accelerometers.
7. The medical system of claim 5, wherein modifying the operation of the medical examination apparatus comprises one or more of interrupting or aborting an examination of the patient by the medical examination apparatus, or triggering an examination or a particular variant thereof of the patient by the medical examination apparatus.
8. The medical system of any claim 1, wherein the medical examination apparatus is configured to selectively communicatively connect with individual ones of a plurality of wearable patient devices.
9. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the examination apparatus and/or the wearable patient device are configured to periodically or continuously monitor the communication connection therebetween.
10. The medical system of claim 1, wherein the examination apparatus is configured to trigger provision of feedback to the patient through corresponding output means of the wearable patient device.
11. A method of controlling a medical examination apparatus by a wearable patient device, the medical examination apparatus comprising an examination zone for a patient, wherein the medical examination apparatus is a magnetic resonance imaging system, the wearable patient device comprising a user interface operable by a hand of the patient when the patient is positioned in the examination zone of the medical examination apparatus, wherein the wearable patient device is communicatively connected with the medical examination apparatus via a wireless connection, the method comprising: sending by the wearable patient device a control command corresponding to input received from the patient via the user interface of the wearable patient device, in response to receiving the control command controlling by the medical examination apparatus patient-controllable parts or parameters of the medical examination apparatus, and wherein the controlling of the patient-controllable part or parameter comprises one or more of interrupting or aborting an examination, controlling at least a temperature or a softness of a cushion of a patient bed or patient support for positioning the patient in the examination, or controlling a system for illuminating, ventilating or odorizing of a room or chamber in which the medical examination apparatus is located; wherein the wearable patient device is further communicatively connected with a communication system providing voice communication between the patient and an operator of the medical examination apparatus, and wherein the wearable patient device is configured to establish or initiate the voice communication.
12. The method of claim 11, further comprising temporarily associating and communicatively connecting the wearable patient device and the medical examination apparatus.
13. The method of claim 12, further comprising testing the function of the wearable patient device and its operability by the patient prior to the associating and connecting of the wearable patient device and the medical examination apparatus.
14. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions for performing the method of claim 11.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0084] In the following section embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the drawings in which:
[0085] FIG. 1 shows a first example of a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0086] FIG. 2 shows a second example of a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0087] FIG. 3 illustrates a first example of a system including a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0088] FIG. 4 illustrates a second example of a system including a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0089] FIG. 5 illustrates a third example of a system including a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0090] FIG. 6 shows a first schematic message flow in a system according to FIG. 3;
[0091] FIG. 7 shows a second schematic message flow in a system according to FIG. 5; and
[0092] FIG. 8 shows a third schematic message flow in a system according to FIG. 5.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0093] Like numbered elements in these figures are either identical or equivalent elements or perform the same function. Elements which have been discussed previously will not necessarily be discussed in later figures if the function is identical or equivalent.
[0094] FIG. 1 shows a first example of a wearable patient device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The wearable patient device may comprise a glove-like enclosure 102 comprising a wrist section 104 and a palm section 106. Wrist section 104 includes e.g. various sensors 108 that are configured to measure physiological properties of the patient including, e.g., pulse rate, blood oxygenation, temperature, skin conductivity. Palm section 106 may include a communication module 110 that is configured to transmit communication and/or control signals to at least one receiver and to receive communication and/or control signals from at least one transmitter (both not shown in the figure). Communication module 110 may be placed on the back of the hand, as indicated by the dashed line. A power supply (not shown in the figure) may be provided with the wearable patient device. The enclosure may have flexible portions permitting attachment to the hand like a glove, or may be configured to be opened for easier attachment to a patient's hand. A closing mechanism (not shown in the figure) may be provided, e.g. two parts of a Velcro strip engaging with each other, and providing some flexibility to adapt the fit to hands of various sizes. Other closing mechanisms are likewise conceivable, including adjustable strap and buckle and the like. The closing mechanism may be located at the back of the hand. Communication module 110 may include or be connected to a microprocessor, memory (not shown in the figure) and input means 112 and/or output means 114 of a patient interface. Input means 112 may include switches or touch buttons 112′ that are arranged on the enclosure 102 in such a way that they can be reached by moving the fingers of the hand, e.g. between the thumb and the first joint of the index finger and in the palm of the hand. Output means 114 may include a vibrator that produces perceivable vibrations, e.g. at the wrist. The memory included in the or connected to communication module 110 may be any combination of memory which is accessible to the microprocessor. This may include such things as main memory, cached memory, and also non-volatile memory such as flash RAM. In some examples the memory may be considered to be a non-transitory computer-readable medium. The memory may contain machine-executable instructions which enable the microprocessor to both control the operation and function of the wearable patient device.
[0095] FIG. 2 shows a second example of a wearable patient device in accordance with the present disclosure. The wearable patient device shown in this figure is very similar to the one discussed with reference to FIG. 1, but in this example a larger number of switches or touch buttons 112′ of the input means 112 is provided, allowing for providing more patient feedback or control options.
[0096] Other variants and embodiments of wearable patient devices that are not shown in the figures may include larger enclosures 102 having an at least partially hard outer shell, or a number of flexible bracelet-like enclosures linked to each other that may be attached at appropriate positions of a lower part of a patient's arm (not shown in the figures). In another example, the wearable patient device may be attachable or wearable on a thigh area or an abdominal area or a hip area. The device could also be carried on the hand of the patient in such a way that any elements of the patient interface are located in the palm of the hand, so that the fingers associated with this palm could be used to operate the elements.
[0097] FIG. 3 illustrates a first example of a system 300 including a wearable patient device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. A medical examination or treatment apparatus 302 for examination or treatment of a patient 304 is located in an examination or treatment room 306. The room may be shielded, the shielding indicated by the double dashed line. Medical examination or treatment device 302 may include a part 308 that is patient-controllable, e.g., a patient support having patient-adjustable cushions or the like. Examination or treatment room 306 may be considered a system associated with medical examination or treatment device 320 and may have one or more properties, environmental or other, that are patient-controllable and that can be controlled through room property controller 310. A receiver and/or transmitter 312 is provided inside examination or treatment room 306, which is connected to the outside of examination or treatment room 306 by connection 314, as will be discussed further below. Wearable patient device 100, which is attached to patient 304, as indicated by the line connecting the boxes, is configured to establish wireless connections with each of the patient-controllable part 308 of medical examination or treatment device 302, room property controller 310 and receiver and/or transmitter 312. The wireless connections may be unidirectional or bidirectional, as deemed appropriate for an actual system.
[0098] As mentioned above, receiver and/or transmitter 312 is connected to the outside of examination or treatment room 306, e.g. to control room 316 and, more particularly, to a communication system 318 configured to provide a communication connection between patient 304 and an operator 318 of the medical examination or treatment device 302, by means of connection 314. Connection 314 may be a physical point-to-point connection or a network providing one or more logical connections. For the sake of simplicity, control connections between control room 314, medical examination or treatment device 302 and room property controller 310 are omitted in this and the following figures.
[0099] FIG. 4 illustrates a second example of a system 300 including a wearable patient device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. The elements or components in examination or treatment room 306 are the same as presented with reference to FIG. 3. However, in this example medical examination or treatment apparatus 302 and the patient-controllable part 308 and room property controller 310 are not configured to establish a direct communication connection with wearable patient device 100. Rather, these elements are connected to system controller 322, which is itself connected to receiver and/or transmitter 312 and control room 316 or communication system 318, respectively. System controller 322 may reside outside examination or treatment room 306, as shown in the figure, or inside examination or treatment room 306 (not shown in the figures). Wearable patient device 100 is configured to establish a single wireless connection with receiver and/or transmitter 312. Any communication or signaling from or to wearable patient device 100 will be established and/or routed by system controller 322 via connection 314, which may comprise a number of physical point-to-point connections or a network that is configured to provide an appropriate number of logical connections.
[0100] FIG. 5 illustrates a third example of a system 300 including a wearable patient device 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. System 300 largely corresponds to the system presented with reference to FIG. 4, but additionally has a preparation or training room 324. Preparation or training room 324 includes training system comprising a computer 326 that is connected to a visual and/or acoustic interface 328. A further wearable patient device 100′ is wirelessly connected to a corresponding interface of computer 326. Computer 326 executes program instructions representing a training program for the next patient 304′, to which the further wearable patient device 100′ is attached. The training program may include audio and/or video signals, or stimuli, issued to next patient 304′ who, in response thereto, provides input to the patient interface of further wearable patient device 100′. The audio and/or video signals may represent instructions that may occur during an impending examination or treatment. Further wearable patient device 100′ transmits the user input to computer 326 which compares the input with one or more possible or appropriate patient inputs for a given stimulus.
[0101] FIG. 6 shows a first exemplary schematic message flow 600 in a system according to FIG. 3, in which system the different connections may be managed through wearable patient device 100. Accordingly, wearable patient device 100 initiates a first connection with patient-controllable part 308 of medical examination or treatment apparatus 302 in step or message 602, a second connection with room property controller 310 in step or message 604, and a third connection with communication system 318 in step or message 606. It is to be noted that only single messages for initiating or terminating a communication are shown in this figure and the following figures for simplicity. Initiation and termination of communication connections may comprise sequences of messages going in both directions, including acknowledge (ACK) messages, which are likewise not shown in the figures. It is further to be noted that the sequence in which the connections are initiated may differ, and that connections may be initiated and terminated at any time during the examination or treatment. Initiation of a connection may be only preliminary or for testing general functions, and such connection may be activated only as required. In phase 608 communication between the wearable patient device and various elements of the system occurs as required during examination or treatment of the patient. At least after the examination or treatment has ended the wearable patient device terminates any of the first through third connections that may still be active by issuing corresponding termination messages 610, 612 and 614.
[0102] FIG. 7 shows a second exemplary schematic message flow in a system according to FIG. 4, in which a training for instructing the patient how to use the system precedes the actual examination or treatment. It is to be noted that the training or preparation room 324 and the elements thereof are not shown in FIG. 4, and reference is made to FIG. 5 for the respective elements. Wearable patient device 100 initiates a communication connection to training computer 326, and messages can be sent to and received by wearable patient device 100 and the training computer 326, respectively, in phase 618 as required by the training program running on training computer 326 until the training phase has ended. The training messages may include providing audio and visual stimuli or feedback to the patient through the visual and/or acoustic interface 328 connected to training computer 326. Once the training phase has ended the training computer informs wearable patient device accordingly by sending an according message 620. If message 620 does not also terminate the connection, wearable patient device may send an according termination message 622. Assuming that the and the treatment or examination room are now ready for treatment, wearable patient device initiates the communication connections with the various elements and components in the same way as has been described with reference to FIG. 6. The message that indicates a completed training may be necessary for enabling wearable patient device to establish connections with elements or components in the examination or treatment room 306, thereby preventing starting a treatment without proper training of the patient. An according software component within wearable patient device 100 may ensure that wearable patient device 100 can only initiate connections with patient-controllable part 308 of medical examination or treatment device 302, room property controller 310 and communication system 318 after computer 326 indicates a successfully completed training.
[0103] FIG. 8 shows a third exemplary schematic message flow in a system according to FIG. 5, in which at least some part of the communication between the wearable patient device and the elements and devices in the examination or treatment room and/or the training room is routed via central system controller 322. Initially, a patient must perform a training in training or preparation room 324, and the wearable patient device initiates the connection, performs the training phase and terminates the connection in the same way as has been described with reference to FIG. 7. In addition to sending the message indicating the completed training only to wearable patient device 100 training computer 326 sends a further message 624 indicating a completed training to central system controller 322, which may, assuming that the patient and the treatment or examination room are now ready for treatment, send configuration messages 626 to wearable patient device 100, patient-controllable part 308 of medical examination or treatment device 302, room property controller 310 and communication system 318 for sharing according connection information and/or authorization and/or authentication information. Wearable patient device may connect to the aforementioned elements in the same way as has been described with reference to FIG. 6, using the connection information and/or authorization and/or authentication information provided by system controller 322. Wearable patient device may then communicate with any of the elements in the system during the examination or treatment phase 608 in the same way as has been described further above. Once the treatment or examination has ended system controller may send termination messages 628 to wearable patient device 100, patient-controllable part 308 of medical examination or treatment device 302, room property controller 310 and communication system 318. Termination message 628 may include de-authorization and/or de-authentication to the various elements, for preventing inadvertent re-establishing a communication.
[0104] It is to be noted that the systems discussed hereinbefore show only exemplary setups, and that mixed configurations are also conceivable. Accordingly, some of the message flows that have been presented in relation to the exemplary systems may be different. In particular, communication connections may be initiated and/or terminated by wearable patient device or central system controller 322, if such system controller is present in a system, but messages may be sent directly from wearable patient device 100 to the connected elements.
[0105] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments.
[0106] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0107] 100 wearable patient device [0108] 100′ further wearable patient device [0109] 102 enclosure [0110] 104 wrist section [0111] 106 palm section [0112] 108 sensor [0113] 110 communication module [0114] 112 input means [0115] 112′ switch/button [0116] 114 output means [0117] 300 system [0118] 302 medical apparatus [0119] 304 patient [0120] 304′ next patient [0121] 306 examination or treatment room [0122] 308 patient-controllable part [0123] 310 room property controller [0124] 312 receiver and/or transmitter [0125] 314 connection [0126] 316 control room [0127] 318 communication system [0128] 320 operator [0129] 322 system controller [0130] 324 preparation/training room [0131] 326 system simulator [0132] 328 visual/acoustic interface [0133] 600 message flow [0134] 602 initiation message [0135] 604 initiation message [0136] 606 initiation message [0137] 608 examination/treatment phase comm. [0138] 610 termination message [0139] 612 termination message [0140] 614 termination message [0141] 616 initiation message [0142] 618 training phase communication [0143] 620 “training ended” message [0144] 622 termination message [0145] 624 “training ended” message [0146] 626 connection information message [0147] 628 termination message
