Remote ultrasound assessment and intervention system

Abstract

A remote ultrasound assessment and intervention system comprises a console having a controller for an ultrasound imaging device attachable to a human skin surface or implantable in a human body cavity. Commands from a remote work station located, for example, at a hospital may remotely control a transducer of the device to move in x, y, z, rotate and tilt directions to remotely assess an injury to a victim, for example, of a war zone injury or terrorist attack. A first responder, who need not be medically trained, may be instructed via a communications link or via a predetermined controller program stored in computer memory to move the imaging device from one location to another on the human skin surface or in a human body cavity. Intervention is also remotely controlled, once an injury is assessed and diagnosed from the hospital work station via an image guided catheter manipulated by the first responder via commands received from the hospital work station.

What I claim is: 
     
         1 . A remote assessment system comprising
 a radio transceiver with a communications interface to satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at a hospital, the radio transceiver having a unique identification code;   a controller, coupled to the radio transceiver, for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device,   the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having x, y, rotation, tilt and depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of an ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having variable frequency for achieving varying resolution and for selectively providing therapeutic ultrasound frequencies, the device adapted to be located on the surface of a human body and fixed to the body for remote movement over the surface of the body in at least the x and y directions,   the controller further coupled to external medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter;   the radio transceiver for receiving command data for remotely manipulating the location of the device on the surface of the human body and the direction and resolution of imaging of the ultrasound image device such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the human body for remote medical assessment purposes.   
     
     
         2 . The remote assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the remotely controlled imaging device comprises a housing and a transducer plane adapted to be remotely controlled in a z axis direction toward a skin surface, the transducer plane coupled to at least a first and second screw at opposite anchor points and an orthogonally located third screw for a point of motion so that movement of the three screws together comprises z axis movement and by maintaining the first and second screws and moving the third screw results in a tilt movement of the transducer plane. 
     
     
         3 . The remote assessment system of  claim 2  further comprising a rectangular assembly comprising x axis and y axis motors for moving rods supporting the remotely controlled ultrasound image device. 
     
     
         4 . The remote assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is coupled to a camera for imaging a medical emergency. 
     
     
         5 . The remote assessment system of  claim 4  wherein the camera is coupled to an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer for proper camera orientation. 
     
     
         6 . The remote assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is coupled to a global positioning system for locating a site of a medical emergency. 
     
     
         7 . The remote assessment system of  claim 6 , the global positioning system and an accelerometer being coupled to a controller for calculating a location and an estimated time of arrival at a hospital. 
     
     
         8 . The remote assessment system of  claim 1  further comprising environmental data collection devices including data for collecting external temperature and barometric pressure from the human body. 
     
     
         9 . The remote assessment system of  claim 1  wherein the controller is coupled to a blood pressure meter, a human temperature thermometer and a pulse meter for automatic transmission of medical data from the controller to the remote work station at the hospital. 
     
     
         10 . A remote assessment and diagnostic system comprising
 a communications interface to one of satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at a hospital, the communications interface having a unique identification code;   a controller, coupled to the communications device, for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device adapted for attachment or implant to an emergency patient at a remote location,   the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having rotation, tilt and z axis depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of the ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having a cylindrical housing and a circular transducer plate for movement towards and away from an end surface adapted to be coupled to the emergency patient,   the controller further coupled to external medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter;   the communications device for receiving command data from the remote hospital work station for remotely manipulating the location of the device towards or away from a surface of the emergency patient such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the human body for remote medical assessment purposes,   the controller further coupled to a fingerprint sensor and a camera for determining the identity of the emergency patient, the controller for outputting an assessment of the emergency patient and a diagnosis.   
     
     
         11 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 10  further comprising a global positioning system input and a clock coupled to the controller, the global positioning system for outputting a location on the world's surface of a present location of the emergency patient and the clock for providing time and date data for association with imaging data, medical data and other data collected from the emergency patient. 
     
     
         12 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 10  further comprising a rectangular assembly comprising x axis and y axis motors for moving rods supporting the remotely controlled ultrasound image device. 
     
     
         13 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 12 , the rods being flexible of adjustable to lengths from zero meters to 30 centimeters, the rectangular assembly adapted to be fixed to a surface area of the emergency patient, the assembly comprising x and y axis motors for moving the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having rotation, tilt and z axis depth coordinate control in x and y coordinate directions as well as rotation, tilt and z axis depth under remote control from the remote hospital work station. 
     
     
         14 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 10  wherein the communications interface communicates using an encrypted communications link. 
     
     
         15 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 14  wherein the camera is adapted to transmit images via the controller and the communications link to the remote work station of the hospital, the remote work station having access to patient records, the patient records of the emergency patient being accessed by one of fingerprint identification and camera image data. 
     
     
         16 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 15 , the remote work station of the hospital for receiving control input for emergency patient assessment and diagnosis. 
     
     
         17 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 15 , the remote work station of the hospital for receiving control input for emergency patient system intervention responsive to assessment and diagnosis. 
     
     
         18 . A remote assessment and diagnostic system comprising
 a communications interface to one of satellite or ground-based telecommunications for communicating with a remote work station at an emergency site, the communications interface having a unique identification code;   a controller of a remote hospital work station coupled to the communications device, the controller for receiving command information input by medically trained personnel, the command information for controlling operation of a remotely controlled ultrasound image device adapted for attachment or implant to an emergency patient at a remote location,   the remotely controlled ultrasound image device having rotation, tilt and z axis depth coordinate control for remotely controlled movement via input from the remote work station at the hospital of the ultrasound imaging transducer, the ultrasound imaging transducer having a cylindrical housing and a circular transducer plate for movement towards and away from an end surface adapted to be coupled to the emergency patient,   the controller of the remote hospital work station further coupled via the communications interface to medical equipment comprising one of a blood pressure meter, a thermometer, a defibrillator and a pulse meter;   the communications device for transmitting command data from the remote hospital work station for remotely manipulating the location of the remotely controlled ultrasound device device towards or away from a surface of the emergency patient such that the radio transmitter transmits ultrasound images of a target location within the emergency patient for remote medical assessment purposes,   the controller further coupled to a remote fingerprint sensor and a camera via the communications interface for determining the identity of the emergency patient, the controller for outputting an assessment of the emergency patient and a diagnosis.   
     
     
         19 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 18  wherein the communications interface communicates using an encrypted communications link. 
     
     
         20 . The remote assessment and diagnostic system of  claim 18  wherein the remote work station of the hospital for receiving control input for emergency patient assessment and diagnosis responsive to retrieved emergency patient medical records.