Patent Application
20130339039
1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to object recognition and control, in particular the invention relates to medical object recognition and control including mobile wireless devices for use with medical practitioners.
2. Description of Prior Art
Various attempts have been made to create a patient medical record system and to track medications and material used with various patients in hospitals and in other health care environments. However these systems are hard to use, require time-consuming data entry, require time-consuming data lookup and navigation, and fail to eliminate errors in the administration of medication and the performance of medical procedures.
Various attempts have been made to label objects with labels that can be read automatically by a computing machine. Barcodes have proven to be an effective scheme for achieving these purposes. Originally, linear or one-dimensional barcodes such as the Universal Product Code (UPC) were used. The UPC was the first commercially successful model and enjoyed widespread universal use.
Later a two-dimensional or matrix code was developed. These are similar to one-dimensional codes, but represent more data per unit area and traditionally utilize square pixels. While the UPC represents a serial number, matrix codes can represent text, URLs, or other data. The Quick Response Code (QR Code or QRC) is one of the most popular types of two-dimensional codes and is often used with smart phones.
More recently, a third-generation barcode called the High Capacity Color Barcode (HCCB) was developed. This two-dimensional barcode uses multi-colored triangles for an increase in data density, but still represents the same types of data.
Bar code readers are typically connected to computer systems and databases to keep track of sales or inventory.
These conventional methods have many drawbacks and limitations including the inability to identify individuals in various disciplines and roles and correlate relationships, tasks, permissions, etc. with other objects and/or individuals. In addition, these methods lack the ability to provide and present training, instructional and other information in various forms for maintenance and other purposes.
There is a need for mobile wireless handheld devices to be able to recognize various objects and people and to provide for training, instruction, tracking, monitoring, and observation, which are authorized, and object specific. Further there is a need to be able to confirm that maintenance or use procedures are performed properly while they are being performed.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a means and method of identifying objects that include and go beyond those currently identifiable by conventional labels and go beyond existing tracking systems. Although traditional coded labels have proven to be an effective scheme for achieving item identification, they by themselves fall short of being able to achieve a more universal means and method of medical object recognition, training, instruction, tracking, monitoring, observation, and control. Handheld mobile wireless devices are used with medical objects and individuals to provide up-to-date pertinent information using methods such as on screen instructions, checklists, videos, pictures, diagrams, etc. or any combination thereof. Items and people are identified by scanning a label attached to the item or medical practitioner/technician, or by use of object recognition, facial recognition, or other biological recognition, such as iris scan, fingerprint scan, or other recognition known in the art. The system tracks and controls items, people, and their interactions. The handheld mobile wireless device provides item specific information, instruction, and supervision.
A system aspect of the invention comprises a plurality of handheld devices used by different people, and a database in communication with the handheld devices.
A handheld device comprises a camera for scanning an image of a medical object, a display for displaying information, and a wireless network connection to the database for sending and receiving data.
The system recognizes the medical object by interpreting the image. In some embodiments, a coded label, e.g. a UPC or QR code, is interpreted. The system also identifies a medical practitioner/technician. The medical practitioner/technician may be identified by being associated with the handheld device; by scanning a scan label, such as an ID badge, ID card, or tattoo; or by scanning a face, a fingerprint, an iris, or other biometric.
The database includes information regarding people and their roles, permissions, and authorized or assigned tasks; medical objects and tools; medical object specific instructions; and the handheld devices. The database also records information regarding the interaction between the medical objects and the people.
The roles include maintenance, use, and observation, and may vary based on the medical object.
The medical object specific instructions include documents, checklists, pictures, audio, and video.
When the handheld device scans a medical object, the medical object is recognized, the medical practitioner/technician and their role are identified, and if the medical practitioner/technician is authorized the handheld device provides medical object specific instructions.
In some situations, an observer is notified when use, or maintenance, is started by another medical practitioner/technician who is a user, or a maintainer, respectively.
An observer, or in some embodiments, the automated system, can monitor the proper performance of the tasks, and provide corrective feedback during the performance.
Method aspects of the invention include capturing an image with the camera of the handheld device, interpreting the image, determining a medical object, determining a medical practitioner/technician, and if the medical practitioner/technician is authorized determining a role of the medical practitioner/technician.
A method of performing maintenance includes identifying a current part and any associated tools, providing medical object specific instructions for the current maintenance task, confirm completion of the task, and recording completion of the task, and repeating for each maintenance task.
A method of performing use includes identifying tools, if any, providing medical object specific instructions for the current use task, confirm completion of the use, and recording information regarding the use, and repeating for each use task.
A method of performing observation includes providing medical object specific instructions if required, and recording information regarding the start and finish of the observation, and repeating for each observation task.
Accordingly, the present invention includes the following advantages:
In the drawings, closely related figures have the same number but different alphabetic suffixes.
The communication paths for the outgoing database information 212a-c and the incoming database information 213a-c are preferably wireless, such as WiFi or 3G or 4G wireless network protocols.
The mobile wireless handheld devices 210a-c can communicate directly to each other as enabled by the database 250, or may communicate using the database 250 as a teleconferencing server.
In some embodiments, the observer 240 observes using conventional computer or video conferencing equipment, rather than using a handheld device 210c.
In some embodiments, the perform observation step 326 is triggered independently, for example, by the notify observer of the start of maintenance message 338 in
The data regarding roles 400 include the roles of various people associated with various medical objects. For example, an individual may be a maintainer of a particular object, such as a machine, but may be a user of another object, such as a tool used to fix the machine. The individual may also be a supervisor for another maintainer and will be notified as an observer whenever the maintainer they supervise is performing maintenance. Thus the same individual may have the role of maintainer, user, and observer. These relationships are tracked in the roles 400, people 402, and objects (tools) 404 data tables.
Means for identifying people such as ID badges, fingerprints, face scans, or iris scans are stored in the people 402 data table. Relationships of people 402 to roles 400, objects 404, task lists 408, and devices 410 are also tracked in the database.
Medical object specific tasks 406 and instructions associated with those tasks are stored in the tasks 406 portion of the database. Medical object specific instructions may include documents, checklists, pictures, audio, and/or video.
In the example of giving a medication, the handheld device 210 can identify the drug container 200a by reading coded label 100a and display the corresponding drug order to determine how the drug is to be administered and what is the proper dosing, to confirm that the right drug is being given to the right patient, and to check for drug interactions. The handheld device 210 matches the medication with the order and performs dosage calculations (e.g. weight or potassium (K+) level with cross check to most recent lab data). The database 250 can track exactly when the drug was given, to whom it was given, and who gave it.
In the example of starting an IV bag 200b, the handheld device 210 can identify the IV bag 200b by reading coded label 100b, display the drug order, determine what is the proper dosing, and confirm that the right drug is being given to the right patient. The database 250 can assimilate this information and determine whether the user 230 will need tools or materials, such as IV tubing 510a or a catheter, for this particular medical task. The database 250 can track exactly when the IV was started, to whom it was given, and who gave it. It can also track when the IV tubing 510a, or a catheter, was first used and thus when it needs to be replaced.
If a procedure is to be done, such as an IV or catheter, the handheld device 210 scans the medical device's code label, such as 100b for the IV bag 200b, 100c for the hospital bed 200c, or 100d for the IV tubing 510a. The handheld device 210 confirms the proper device, calibration, maintenance, etc. and provides an on-screen checklist and instructions, such as pictures, audio, and/or video.
At the same time, the system tracks that the specific practitioner 230 is interacting with the patient 500 or the drug 200a or IV bag 200b. The system can notify one or more observers 240 who are required to observe or who may be interested and authorized to observe. The system may automatically observe. For example, if a specific material or tool 510 (such as IV tubing 510a) is required, the system can notify the user 230, provide instructional information, including video information to the user 230 via the handheld device 210, and the monitor the use to ensure that it is performed properly. If the procedure is not performed properly, the system, or an observer 240, can correct the situation while the user 230 is with the patient 500 and performing the task. Further, if there is a problem, additional instruction may be provided via pictures, audio, and/or video. Details of the performance of the procedure, and optional observation, are stored in the database 250 as part of the overall medical history and record, and can be used to improve procedures, training, and safety.
In some embodiments, the mounted camera 520 can scan all of the coded labels 100 and scan labels 120 as well as recognize Medical objects 200, tools 510, and patients 500. Once a practitioner 230, a patient 500, and a medical object 200 are identified in proximity, the system could instruct the practitioner 230 via the handheld device 210 to perform the procedure. The system could observe the entire interaction and provide instruction prior to each task as well as providing corrective feedback and instruction when the wrong actions or medications or materials are observed. The system would also record information regarding the practitioner 230, the patient 500, the medical object 200, and the interactions. The recorded information can be stored in the database 250 and reviewed at a later time.
The present invention can be used to provide a common repository for central storage of data and that can be shared among users throughout the organization and between organizations that are working together.
The present invention can be used to assign roles to individuals associated with various medical objects or tasks.
The present invention can be used to assign disciplines to individuals and provide instruction, tracking and control based on those disciplines.
The present invention can be used to provide instructions regarding specific medical objects to specific individuals in a variety of mediums including documents, checklists, pictures, audio, and/or video.
The present invention can be used to verify and ratify information for medical objects and individuals.
The present invention can be used to provide maintenance notification and instructions regarding specific medical objects to specific individuals.
The present invention can be used to log maintenance and events for medical objects.
The present invention can be used to provide reports on given medical objects and individuals or a combination of the two.
The present invention can be used to provide information in a variety of mediums including documents, checklists, pictures, diagrams, audio and/or video.
The present invention can be used to provide the ability for problem solving via knowledge bases that can be associated with medical objects and individuals.
The present invention is easy to use.
The present invention's unique design allow for quick use and time-saving when compared to conventional methods.
The present invention is effective, allowing for multiple sources of identification and providing helpful information to streamline the work that needs to be done.
The present invention allows for the simplification of many medical procedures by providing correlated patient medical information to the practitioners as well as providing instruction for necessary procedures.
The present invention allows for the access of patient information including their medical record and history. It brings up pertinent data associated with specific medicine or medical devices or materials.
With the patient data all in one place, the present invention will allow for quicker diagnoses and other medical decisions. The time saved due to the accessibility of the information will increase productivity and allow medical practitioners to see more clients and treat them more effectively.
With the patient data all in one place, the present invention will allow for more accurate treatment. It can be used to prevent the misapplication of medications or procedures.
Accordingly, the reader will see that the improved, universal, role and discipline based, low cost means and method of medical object identification, tracking and control are easy to use, quicker and accurate and can be used with medical objects or individuals to provide up-to-date pertinent information using methods such as on screen instructions, checklists, videos, pictures, diagrams, etc. or any combination thereof.
While the above descriptions contain several specifics these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of the invention, but rather as examples of some of the preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. The variations could be used without departing from the scope and spirit of the novel features of the present invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined not by the illustrated embodiments, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.
