Patent Application
20230329565
The invention relates to a device and a method for detecting the medical status of a person.
It is known that, in the case of persons who may have an infectious disease, in particular, a highly infectious disease, the medical personnel who are usually involved in determining the current medical status of such persons are sometimes exposed to a high risk of infection.
The object of the invention is to specify a device and a method for recording biosignals for detecting the medical status of a person which largely excludes potential risks of infection for medical personnel.
The invention results from the features of the independent claims. Advantageous refinements and embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims. Other features, applications, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and from the discussion of example embodiments of the invention, which are depicted in the figures.
A first aspect of the invention relates to a device for detecting the medical status of a person, wherein the device includes: at least a robot manipulator RM, which is designed and configured to exchangeably receive and handle a number N of different provided effectors EFFn at the distal end of the robot manipulator, where N≥1 and n=1, 2, . . . , N, wherein the effectors EFFn each enable an activity AKTk selected from the following list, where k=1, 2, . . . , K and K≥1:
The device further includes: a first unit for determining a current state ZRM (t) of the robot manipulator RM and a current state ZEFFn(t) of an effector EFFn currently arranged at the distal end thereof; a second unit for determining and/or mechanically specifying, in particular, in a customizable manner, the current position (position/orientation) LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working region of the robot manipulator; a third unit for determining a wrench KW(t) currently acting on the robot manipulator RM; a fourth unit which specifies, for each of the activities AKTk, a target position LKT,SOLL,AKTk of the respectively assigned body part KT in the working region of the robot manipulator RM, a target movement of the robot manipulator RM BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk, as well as target forces of interaction INTSOLL,AKTk (BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) and target states of the effector ZEFFn,SOLL (BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) between the robot manipulator RM (101) and the body part KT during execution of the target movement, as well as corresponding permissible deviations: ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt (BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk); and a control unit which is designed and configured to control the robot manipulator RM upon specification of an activity AKTk, as a function of: ZRM(t), LKT,AKTk(t), KW(t), LKT,SOLL,AKTk(t), BEWEGSOLL,AKTk, ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt (BEWEGSOLL,AKTn), wherein, as soon as a current movement of the robot manipulator RM determined from the current states ZRM(t), or a currently detected wrench KW(t), or a variable derived therefrom, or a current state ZEFF(t) of the effector EFFn (102) currently arranged on the robot manipulator RM exceeds a correspondingly specified and/or learned permissible deviation, the robot manipulator RM and the effector EFFn currently arranged thereon are controllably placed into a safe state SZRM (AKTn), SZEFFn (AKTn) based on the currently selected activity AKTn, and furthermore to control the robot manipulator RM and the effector EFFn currently arranged thereon respectively such that images and/or medical parameters and/or samples ascertained while the activity AKTk is taking place are provided for further analysis at a respective interface.
In the present case, the term “medical status” is understood to mean at least the medical diagnoses resulting from the listed samples and recorded medical parameters and/or measurement data and/or image data.
In the present case, the robot manipulator RM is preferably an articulated manipulator with six or seven degrees of freedom. The robot manipulator RM can also be a continuum robot, a parallel robot, a linear robot, or any other movement apparatus. The robot manipulator RM is preferably force- and/or impedance- and/or admittance-controlled. It can also be current-controlled or flexibly controlled in some other way. It can also be position-controlled and have force feedback or a flexible end effector EFFn. The robot manipulator RM is preferably provided with an antibacterial, disinfecting coating.
The term activity “AKTk” is understood to mean at least those diagnostic activities that are designated as from AKT1 to AKT21. However, this list is not exhaustive, so that other diagnostic activities are also included in the concept of the invention.
The effectors EFFn for sampling microbiological material from the person are advantageously designed as grippers, so that the provided swabs, applicator sticks, spatulas, or biopsy needles can be advantageously gripped, handled according to the specified target movements, and placed in the provided lockable containers after the sampling has ended.
The effectors EFFn for sampling capillary blood from the person advantageously include, on the one hand, a device for puncturing the skin and a corresponding gripper with which the provided capillary tubes can be gripped, handled according to the specified target movement, and placed in the provided lockable containers after the sampling has ended.
The effectors EFFn for detecting medical parameters of the person advantageously include appropriate sensors for measuring blood pressure, heart rate, temperature, electrical skin resistance, electrical conductivity of the skin, local electrical potentials on the skin surface, oxygen saturation (in particular by pulse oximetry), and for listening to the lungs, the heart, etc. (auscultation). This list is not exhaustive. Thus, further activities AKTk such as the recording of medical parameters and data through the use of ultrasonic sensors, laser sensors, X-ray sensors, etc. are included in the concept of the invention.
The effectors EFFn for capturing image data advantageously include corresponding imaging sensors, such as camera sensors, infrared sensors, laser sensors, ultrasonic sensors, X-ray sensors, magnetic resonance sensors, etc.
The effectors EFFn are advantageously coupled manually or automatically to the distal end of the robot manipulator RM as a function of a selected activity AKTk. An effector EFFn can advantageously have several different sensors and/or have instruments for performing different activities AKTk. The robot manipulator RM and the effector EFF currently arranged on the robot manipulator RM are controlled by the control unit.
The term “state ZRM(t) of the robot manipulator RM” is understood in a broad sense here. This includes, in particular, the dynamic and electrical state of the robot manipulator RM.
The term “state ZEFFn(t) of the effector EFFn” is also understood broadly in the present case. This includes, in particular, the dynamic and electrical state of the effector EFFn.
In the present case, the state ZRM(t) of the robot manipulator RM and the state ZEFFn(t) of the effector EFFn are determined by the first unit. For this purpose, corresponding information and data from the robot manipulator RM and the respective effector EFFn are advantageously transmitted to the first unit. Alternatively or additionally, information and data from external sensors, observers, etc. can be used for this.
The second unit is used firstly to determine the current position (i.e., the position and orientation) LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working area of the robot manipulator RM and/or secondly to mechanically specify, in a customizable manner, a current position LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working area of the robot manipulator RM.
In the first case, the second unit includes sensors (in particular, imaging sensors: e.g., camera sensor, video sensor, infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor, laser scanner, etc.) and/or distance-measuring sensors (in particular ultrasonic sensors, capacitive sensors, laser sensors, etc.) via which a 3D position and 3D orientation of the body part KT to be analyzed is preferably possible. These sensors thus actively detect the current position of the body part KT. In this case, the first unit thus includes a corresponding processor on which a corresponding evaluation program (app) runs.
In the second case, the unit preferably includes a mechanical contact or guide device with which the person can position a body part KT to be examined on the mechanical contact or guide device with a predetermined position and orientation. This contact or guide device is preferably made of a material that can be easily disinfected, or it is replaced manually or automatically as a consumable before each corresponding examination activity AKTk and is thus renewed.
The contact or guide device can be designed, for example, in such a way that the person places their nose or their mouth opening or one of their ear openings in the position and orientation predetermined by the design and positioning of the device. The position and orientation specified by the contact or guide device can preferably be individualized and can preferably be adjusted manually by the person or, in the case of interaction between the first and second case, it can be automatically individualized (positioned) based on the optical conditions of the person recorded by sensors.
The third unit determines wrenches KW(t), i.e., forces and/or torques, currently acting on the robot manipulator RM. The third unit is advantageously connected to at least one force sensor or a contact detection device on the robot manipulator or on the effector EFFn. The third unit thus determines the forces of interaction and interaction torques during an interaction between the robot manipulator RM or the effector EFFn currently arranged distally thereon and the person when performing an activity AKTk. In order to rule out injuries or unnecessary pain to the person when performing an activity AKTk, wrenches that occur must be determined with high sensitivity and reliability (robustness). For this purpose, the third unit includes a corresponding processor on which a corresponding external program (app) runs.
For each of the activities AKTk, the fourth unit provides information and data on the target position LKT,SOLL,AKTk of the associated body part KT in the working area of the robot manipulator RM, on the target movement of the robot manipulator RM BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk, and on the target forces of interaction INTSOLL,AKTk(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) and target states of the effector ZEFFn,SOLL(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) between the robot manipulator RM (101) and the body part KT during the execution of the target movement, as well as associated permissible deviations: ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk). The fourth unit advantageously includes a corresponding data memory and a corresponding processor on which corresponding software (app) runs.
The proposed device enables the medical status of persons to be detected without the need for medical personnel. The proposed device can be operated fully autonomously, partially autonomously, or remotely. The proposed device is preferably mobile and can therefore be easily brought to medical crisis zones, in particular.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed device is characterized in that the device has a first data interface, via which individual medical information INFOPERS about the person to be examined includes one or more items of information from the following (non-exhaustive) list:
In this refinement, the device also includes an analysis unit, which is designed and configured to specify one or more current activities AKTk to be carried out in succession, depending on the individual medical information INFOPERS provided: AKTk=AKTk(INFOPERS). For this purpose, the first data interface advantageously includes a card reader, wherein the individual medical information INFOPERS is stored on a chip card (e.g., health insurance card G2) and the card reader is designed and configured to read the chip card. The analysis unit also advantageously uses a neural network and a self-learning algorithm to determine AKTk(INFOPERS). In particular, this enables a more targeted diagnosis planning based on available medical history information and thus a corresponding selection of activities AKTk to be performed.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed device is characterized in that a second data interface is present via which the recorded medical parameters and/or image data can be transmitted to a computer in a data network. Advantageously, the second data interface is also designed to receive data or instructions from the computer or from a control unit, which data or instructions are sent to an optical and/or acoustic output unit of the device (and relate, for example, to instructions to the person) and/or which enable the robot manipulator RM to be controlled from the computer or the control unit.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed device is characterized in that the robot manipulator RM is integrated into a sealable, advantageously climate-controlled, room which has a mechanism for killing microbiological germs in the room and on the objects located therein, wherein this mechanism is automatically activated after the detection of the medical status of the person has ended, once the person has left the room, no other person is in the room, and the room is closed up. The room is advantageously sealed in such a way that microbiological germs cannot penetrate the room from the outside if the room is closed up. The mechanism advantageously includes a UV light source and/or chemicals that can be spread into the room and/or an ultrasound source. When the mechanism is activated, the amount of the application of chemicals or the intensity of the UV light source or the ultrasound source is set in such a way that the room is sufficiently sterile before the next person is examined.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed device is characterized in that the device has an output unit for outputting optical and/or acoustic instructions to the person, wherein the instructions are determined and output as a function of the determined current position (position/orientation) LKT,AKTk(t) of the person's body part KT associated with the selected activity AKTk. The output unit thus serves, in particular, to guide and inform the person while their medical status is being determined.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed device is characterized in that the robot manipulator RM is arranged in a room separated from the person by a partition, wherein the partition has an opening, and wherein the control unit is designed and configured in such a way that the robot manipulator RM only guides a distal end of a respective swab or a respective applicator stick or a respective swab spatula or a respective biopsy needle through the opening into the person's body part KT to be examined, in order to get a sample of the microbiological material of the person.
This room is also advantageously sealed in such a way that microbiological germs cannot penetrate the room from the outside if the room is closed up. The room advantageously includes a mechanism with a UV light source and/or chemicals that can be spread into the room and/or an ultrasound source. When the mechanism is activated, the amount of the application of chemicals or the intensity of the UV light source or the ultrasound source is set in such a way that the room remains sufficiently sterile.
Advantageously, the opening on the side of the partition facing away from the room has a contact device for the supported and/or guided contact of the body part to be examined. Advantageously, the opening is designed in such a way that predefined movement restrictions of a guided-through distal end of a respective swab or a respective applicator stick or a respective swab spatula or a respective biopsy needle are predefined. This creates an additional safety framework, which, in particular, mechanically restricts the range of movement of a distal end guided through the opening sufficiently well enough such that injuries to the body part being examined can be excluded. The partition advantageously has a mechanism for disinfecting the contact device.
A further aspect of the invention relates to a method of detecting the medical status of a person, using a device including at least one robot manipulator RM, which is designed and configured at the distal end thereof for interchangeably receiving and handling a number N of different provided effectors EFFn, where N≥1 and n=1, 2, . . . , N, wherein the effectors EFFn each enable an activity AKTk selected from the following list, where k=1, 2, . . . , K and K≥1:
The proposed method includes: In one step, a determination of a current state ZRM(t) of the robot manipulator RM and a current state ZEFFn(t) of an effector EFFn currently arranged at the distal end thereof. In a further step, there is a determination and/or in particular customizable, mechanical specification of a current position (position/orientation) LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working area of the robot manipulator RM. In a further step, there is a determination of a wrench KW(t) currently acting on the robot manipulator RM. In a further step, the following is specified for each of the activities AKTk: a target position LKT,SOLL,AKTk of the respectively associated body part KT in the working region of the robot manipulator RM, a target movement of the robot manipulator RM BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk, as well as the target forces of interaction INTSOLL,AKTk(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) and target states of the effector ZEFFn,SOLL(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) between the robot manipulator RM (101) and the body part KT during the execution of the target movement, as well as associated permissible deviations: ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTn), and ΔZEFFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk). In a further step, upon specification of an activity AKTk, the robot manipulator RM is controlled as a function of: ZRM(t), LKT,AKTk(t), KW(t), LKT,SOLL,AKTk(t), BEWEGSOLL,AKTk, ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTn), wherein, as soon as a current movement of the robot manipulator RM determined from the current state ZRM(t) or a currently detected wrench KW(t) or a variable derived therefrom or a current state ZEFF(t) of the effector EFFn currently arranged on the robot manipulator RM exceeds a correspondingly predetermined and/or learned permissible deviation, the robot manipulator RM and the effector EFFn currently arranged thereon are controllably placed in a safe state SZRM(AKTn), SZEFFn(AKTn), as a function of the currently selected activity AKTn. Furthermore, the robot manipulator RM (101) and the effector EFFn (102) currently arranged thereon are controlled in such a way that images and/or medical parameters and/or samples ascertained while the activity AKTk is taking place are provided for further evaluation at a respective interface.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that one or more items of individual medical information INFOPERS about the person to be examined are provided from the following list via a first data interface:
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the first data interface comprises a card reader, wherein the individual medical information INFOPERS is stored on a chip card (e.g., health insurance card G2) and in that the information INFOPERS is read and made available by the card reader.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that a neural network and a self-learning algorithm are used to determine AKTk(INFOPERS).
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the recorded medical parameters and/or image data are transmitted to a computer in a data network via a second data interface.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the second data interface receives data from the computer, which data are output to an optical and/or acoustic output unit of the device and/or which enable the robot manipulator RM to be controlled from the computer.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the robot manipulator RM is integrated into a sealable, climate-controlled room which has a mechanism for killing microbiological germs in the room and on the objects located therein, wherein this mechanism is automatically activated after the detection of the medical status of the person has ended, once the person has left the room, no other person is in the room, and the room is closed up.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the mechanism comprises a UV light source and/or chemicals that can be spread into the room and/or an ultrasound source.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that an output unit is present for outputting optical and/or acoustic instructions to the person, wherein the instructions are determined and output as a function of the determined current position (position/orientation) LKT,AKTk(t) of the person's body part KT associated with the selected activity AKTk.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the robot manipulator RM is arranged in a room separated from the person by a partition, wherein the partition has an opening, and wherein the control unit controls the robot manipulator RM in such a way that only a distal end of a respective swab or a respective applicator stick or a respective swab spatula or a respective biopsy needle is guided through the opening into the person's body part KT to be examined, in order to get a sample of the microbiological material of the person.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the opening on the side of the partition facing away from the room has a contact device for the supported and/or guided contact of the body part to be examined.
One advantageous refinement of the proposed method is characterized in that the contact device is automatically disinfected by a disinfection mechanism after each use.
With regard to advantages and advantageous refinements of the proposed method, reference is made to the statements on the proposed device, which are to be transferred correspondingly and analogously.
Further advantages, features, and details will be apparent from the following description, in which—possibly with reference to the drawings—at least one example embodiment is described in detail. The same, similar, and/or functionally identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals.
In the drawings:
a first unit 103 for determining a current state ZRM(t) of the robot manipulator RM 101 and a current state ZEFFn(t) of an effector EFFn 102 currently arranged at the distal end thereof; a second unit 104 for determining and/or mechanically specifying, in particular, in a customizable manner, the current position LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working region of the robot manipulator RM 101; a third unit 105 for determining a wrench KW(t) currently acting on the robot manipulator RM 101; a fourth unit 106 which specifies, for each of the activities AKTk, a target position LKT,SOLL,AKTk of the respectively assigned body part KT in the working region of the robot manipulator RM, a target movement of the robot manipulator RM BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk, as well as target forces of interaction INTSOLL,AKTn(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) and target states of the effector ZEFFn,SOLL(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) between the robot manipulator RM 101 and the body part KT during execution of the target movement, as well as corresponding permissible deviations: ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk); and a control unit 107 which is designed and configured to control the robot manipulator RM 101 upon specification of an activity AKTk, as a function of: ZRM(t), LKT,AKTk(t), KW(t), LKT,SOLL,AKT(t), BEWEGSOLL,AKTk, ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTn), wherein, as soon as a current movement of the robot manipulator RM 101 determined from the current state ZRM(t), or a currently detected wrench KW(t), or a variable derived therefrom, or a current state ZEFF(t) of the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged on the robot manipulator RM 101 exceeds a correspondingly specified and/or learned permissible deviation, the robot manipulator RM 101 and the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged thereon are controllably placed into a safe state SZRM(AKTn), SZEFFn(AKTn) based on the currently selected activity AKTn, to control the robot manipulator RM 101 and the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged thereon respectively such that images and/or medical parameters and/or samples ascertained while the activity AKTk is taking place are provided for further analysis at a respective interface.
determining 201 a current state ZRM(t) of the robot manipulator RM 101 and a current state ZEFFn(t) of an effector EFFn 102 currently arranged at the distal end thereof; determining 202 and/or mechanically specifying, in particular, in a customizable manner, the current position LKT,AKTk(t) of a person's body part KT associated with a selected activity AKTk in the working region of the robot manipulator RM 101; determining 203 a wrench KW(t) currently acting on the robot manipulator RM 101; specifying 204, for each of the activities AKTk, a target position LKT,SOLL,AKTk of the respectively assigned body part KT in the working region of the robot manipulator RM, a target movement of the robot manipulator RM BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk, as well as target forces of interaction INTSOLL,AKTk(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) and target states of the effector ZEFFn,SOLL(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk) between the robot manipulator RM 101 and the body part KT during execution of the target movement, as well as corresponding permissible deviations: ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,RM,AKTk); and controlling 205 the robot manipulator RM 101 upon specification of an activity AKTk, as a function of: ZRM(t), LKT,AKTk(t), KW(t), LKT,SOLL,AKTk(t), BEWEGSOLL,AKTk, ΔLKT,SOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔBEWEGSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt, ΔINTSOLL,AKTk,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTk), and ΔZEFFn,SOLL,erlaubt(BEWEGSOLL,AKTn), wherein, as soon as a current movement of the robot manipulator RM 101 determined from the current state ZRM(t), or a currently detected wrench KW(t), or a variable derived therefrom, or a current state ZEFF(t) of the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged on the robot manipulator RM 101 exceeds a correspondingly specified and/or learned permissible deviation, the robot manipulator RM 101 and the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged thereon are controllably placed into a safe state SZRM(AKTn), SZEFFn(AKTn) based on the currently selected activity AKTn, and furthermore, the robot manipulator RM 101 and the effector EFFn 102 currently arranged thereon respectively are controlled such that images and/or medical parameters and/or samples ascertained while the activity AKTk is taking place are provided for further analysis at a respective interface.
Although the invention has been further illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred example embodiments, the invention is not limited by the disclosed examples, and other variations can be derived therefrom by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of protection of the invention. It is therefore clear that a multitude of possible variations exists. It is also clear that example embodiments are really only examples, which are not to be construed in any way as limiting the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the foregoing description and description of the figures enable a person skilled in the art to implement the example embodiments, and such person may make various changes knowing the disclosed inventive concept, for example with respect to the function or arrangement of individual elements cited in an example embodiment, without departing from the scope as defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as a more extensive explanation in the description.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2020 001 954.4 | Mar 2020 | DE | national |
The present application is the U.S. National Phase of PCT/EP2021/056288, filed on 12 Mar. 2021, which claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2020 001 954.4, filed on 18 Mar. 2020, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2021/056288 | 3/12/2021 | WO |
