Automated delivery and intelligent toilet seats

Abstract

Some disclosed embodiments of the invention are a system for delivering a toilet seat to a patient. The system includes a transceiver system, a toilet seat delivery robot, and a toilet seat (or multiple toilet seats). In use, the system receives a toilet seat request at the transceiver system, and the toilet seat delivery robot delivers the toilet seat to the patient in response to the toilet seat request. The system also receives a completion request at the transceiver system, and the toilet seat delivery robot delivers the toilet seat to a disposal location in response to the completion request.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention generally relates to a method and system for delivering toilet seats, including a robot. [Background technology]

[0002] There is an increasing demand for automation of non-patient care so that clinical staff can focus on providing patient care. For example, outpatients undergoing chemotherapy use the toilet more frequently due to their treatment. Because they are undergoing chemotherapy, their waste contains certain chemicals. Therefore, because patient waste can be harmful due to treatment, we propose a robotic system for automatically delivering toilet seats to patients and disposing of bedpans used by chemotherapy patients. The proposed robotic system includes a mobile robot that delivers toilet seats to patients as needed and a smart toilet seat that detects when a patient attempts to leave the seat without the assistance of a nurse.

[0003] It would be desirable for the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the above-mentioned problems, or at least provide a useful alternative. Summary of the Invention

[0004] In response to the above problems, the present invention relates to the automation of toilet seat delivery and the design of a smart toilet seat that detects when the patient is about to leave the toilet seat, as well as other smart features of the toilet seat.

[0005] The disclosed system for delivering toilet seats to patients is a transceiver system; Toilet seat delivery robot and Equipped with a toilet seat, The system includes receiving a toilet seat request at the transceiver system, and a toilet seat delivery robot delivering a toilet seat to the patient in response to the toilet seat request; Here, the system receives a completion request at the transceiver system, and in response to the completion request, the toilet seat delivery robot delivers the toilet seat to the disposal location.

[0006] In response to the toilet seat request, a toilet seat delivery robot can collect the toilet seat and deliver the toilet seat to the patient. The toilet seat can be one of a plurality of toilet seats, and the toilet seat delivery robot can subsequently select a toilet seat from the plurality of seats based on an indication that the toilet seat (i.e., the selected toilet seat) has been disinfected. The indication can indicate that at least the toilet seat includes a clean bedpan.

[0007] The toilet seat delivery robot can be configured to detach the toilet seat from the toilet seat after delivering it to the patient.

[0008] One or both of the toilet seat and the toilet seat delivery robot may include a detector that detects when the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. The system may further include an alert system configured to issue an alert upon detection by the detector that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. The detector may be further configured to receive instructions from a caregiver monitoring the patient's attempt to leave the toilet seat. The alert system may be configured to issue an alarm only if the detector does not detect the caregiver. The detector may include a weight detector.

[0009] Also disclosed is a method for delivering a toilet seat to a patient, comprising: receiving a toilet seat request at a transceiver system; using a toilet seat delivery robot to deliver a toilet seat to the patient in response to the toilet seat request; receiving a completion request at the transceiver system; using a toilet seat delivery robot to deliver the toilet seat to a disposal location in response to the completion request; Equipped with.

[0010] The step of delivering the toilet seat to the patient can comprise collecting the toilet seat and delivering the toilet seat to the patient. The toilet seat may be one of a plurality of toilet seats, and thus the method further comprises selecting a toilet seat from the plurality of toilet seats based on an indication that the toilet seat has been disinfected.

[0011] The method may further comprise the step of decoupling the toilet seat delivery robot from the toilet seat after delivering the toilet seat to the patient.

[0012] The method may further include detecting, using a detector on one or both of the toilet seat and the toilet seat delivery robot, when the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. The method may further include issuing an alert using an alert system upon detection by the detector that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. Thus, the method may involve receiving instructions at the detector for a caregiver to monitor that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. The alarm may only be issued if the detector does not detect the caregiver.

[0013] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the drawings, in which: [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] 1 shows images (a) to (c) of a toilet seat being requested, delivered, used, picked up, and removed for bedpan disposal. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet seat delivery robot. [Figure 3] FIG. 10 shows a toilet seat disposal location. [Figure 4A] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4B] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4C]1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4D] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4E] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4F] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4G] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4H] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4I] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4J] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4K] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; [Figure 4L] 1 shows images of a practical application of the system according to the invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] Hospitals are facing increasing pressure to recruit nursing staff due to manpower shortages and demanding daily routines. One key issue that is partly responsible for the staffing shortage problem is the tedious yet necessary several daily tasks that nurses must perform. Furthermore, nurses are often at risk if preventative measures are not strictly adhered to. One example is the delivery of toilet seats and the subsequent disposal or emptying of bedpans inside the toilet seats.

[0016] The disclosed system is for automated toilet seat delivery and disposal (e.g., disposal of the contents of a toilet seat or a bedpan for a toilet seat). Such a system is reflected in the workflow of FIG. 1. The workflow implements a method for delivering a toilet seat to a patient. The method comprises receiving a toilet seat request at a transceiver system. The toilet seat request can be initiated by a patient requesting a chair or toilet seat (step 100). Upon initiation by the patient, the request is received by a receiver of the system. The receiver can comprise part of a toilet seat delivery robot, can communicate wirelessly with the toilet seat delivery robot, or can be part of a base station where the toilet seat delivery robot awaits instructions to deliver or dispose of the toilet seat.

[0017] After receiving the toilet seat request, a toilet seat delivery robot delivers the toilet seat to the patient. Here, the toilet seat delivery robot includes or is equipped with the toilet seat and can travel directly to the patient. In other embodiments, in response to the toilet seat request, the toilet seat delivery robot travels to collect the toilet seat or chair (step 102) and delivers the toilet seat to the patient (step 104). In some cases, the toilet seat is one of a plurality of toilet seats. The toilet seat delivery robot then navigates to the toilet seat, selects a toilet seat (e.g., based on the toilet seat closest to the toilet seat delivery robot, the least recently used seat among all seats in the plurality of toilet seats, and / or the seat with a disinfected or clean bedpan), and delivers the toilet seat to the patient.

[0018] The toilet seat delivery robot can navigate to each destination (e.g., toilet seat pickup location, patient location, or disposal location) using a known robotic navigation system. Ideally, the robotic navigation system uses image recognition to avoid collisions, especially with the clinical environment.

[0019] After delivering the toilet seat, the toilet seat delivery robot can detach from the toilet seat or remain on the toilet seat depending on the desired use. When the toilet seat delivery robot detaches from the toilet seat in use, the toilet seat delivery robot can be used to deliver a second toilet seat.

[0020] The patient uses the toilet seat and then sends a completion request (step 106). The completion request is received by the transceiver system, instructing the toilet seat delivery robot to pick up the toilet seat. This may include returning with the toilet seat. Alternatively, the toilet seat delivery robot can navigate back to the patient (step 108), pick up the toilet seat, and deliver it to a disposal location. This alternative embodiment allows a single toilet seat delivery robot to deliver a toilet seat to one patient while waiting for another patient to complete their use of the toilet seat. That is, a single toilet seat delivery robot can service multiple patient toilet seat requests simultaneously.

[0021] The disposal location can include a toilet seat handling manipulator for emptying the toilet seat or disposing of the bedpan (step 110). A toilet seat delivery robot docks the toilet seat with a docking plate of the manipulator to allow the toilet seat to be emptied (e.g., the bedpan to be disposed of in a macerator) (step 112).

[0022] Patients in clinical settings often have symptoms of motor disorders, so they may fall when attempting to leave the toilet seat. To that end, the toilet seat and / or toilet seat delivery robot can be equipped with a detector to detect when the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat. In one embodiment, the toilet seat is equipped with a pressure sensor or weight detector to detect when the patient is sitting on the toilet seat and when the patient subsequently makes an effort to stand up from the seat. The toilet seat delivery robot can be equipped with a visual sensor (e.g., an image capture or camera system) that analyzes the visual feed in a known manner to determine when the patient is standing up from the toilet seat or has fallen.

[0023] If the patient is making an effort to leave the toilet seat, the system can generate an alert using an alert system such as an audible alarm, a visual alert, or a message to a device such as a smartphone or hospital monitoring system.

[0024] Similarly, a caregiver can indicate that they are with the patient, such as by disabling the alarm or disabling the alarm beforehand. Disabling or disabling the alarm can provide an indication to the detector that a caregiver is with the patient. Thus, the detector can only alarm when the caregiver is not detected.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a toilet seat delivery robot 200 according to the present teachings. The robot 200 comprises a motorized body 202 that contains and controls motors to move the robot 200 during navigation. The robot 200 also comprises a transceiver 204 that wirelessly receives signals instructing the robot 200 where to navigate and the task to perform (delivery, drop-off, pickup, or disposal). During navigation, a camera 210 captures images that are analyzed in a known manner to detect hazards and facilitate control of the robot 200. The robot 200 further comprises one or more grippers 206 that engage the frame of the toilet seat, allowing the robot 200 to navigate to the toilet seat. The grippers 206 in some embodiments are pneumatic and actuated using a pneumatic system 208. During drop-off, the grippers 206 release the toilet seat.

[0026] Once the toilet seat is used by the patient, the contents of the bedpan must be disposed of. To that end, the robot 200 delivers the toilet seat to a disposal location, as reflected in FIG. 3 . The toilet seat 300 is stored next to the disposal location. A manipulator (e.g., the robot's articulated arm 302) collects the bedpan 304 from the toilet seat using any suitable attachment or engagement mechanism, such as a gripper 306 or a magnetic attachment (for metal bedpans). The robotic arm 302 then delivers the bedpan to a disposal unit (e.g., a macerator 308 for disposal). In some embodiments, the bedpan is reusable. Therefore, the gripper 304 may need to change grips to allow the bedpan to be flipped and emptied. The grip change can be performed at a grip change station 310.

[0027] The process by which a robotic system automatically disposes of waste, such as chemotherapy waste or other waste, is further illustrated in FIGS. 4A through 4K. Generally, the design includes a toilet seat that is either integrated with or detached from the toilet seat delivery robot. In FIG. 4A, a patient requests a toilet seat. The robot then delivers the toilet seat to the patient, as shown in FIG. 4B. The robot is designed to be able to engage the toilet seat (e.g., using the gripper described above) and deliver it to the patient. During toilet seat delivery, a navigation stack is used for navigation through potentially crowded clinical environments. As shown in FIG. 4C, the robot can navigate while people are around, and in some cases, slows or stops when it detects a person (e.g., using a video feed from camera 210). Additionally, the robot may use modified algorithms to prevent continuous stalling when there is a person walking ahead and in the same direction as the robot. Instead of waiting, the robot resumes its operation as soon as the person leaves, as reflected in Figure 4D. As soon as it approaches the patient, the robot releases the toilet seat, as illustrated in Figure 4E. The nurse helps the patient sit on the toilet seat (Figure 4F). To reduce the risk of falls, a pressure / force sensor is built into the toilet seat so that an alarm is activated when the patient attempts to stand up without the nurse, as shown in Figure 4G. Once the patient has completed their toileting, the robot returns to collect the toilet seat, as shown in Figures 4H and 4I. The robot then delivers the toilet seat to the disposal room (Figure 4J). The manipulator then places the bedpan on a scale, records the weight, and takes a photograph (Figure 4K). The robot then removes the toilet seat, and the whole cycle starts again.

[0028] It will be understood that many further modifications and variations of aspects of the described embodiments are possible, and accordingly, the described aspects are intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

[0029] Throughout this specification and the claims that follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising" will be understood to mean the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps, but not to the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0030] Reference herein to any prior publication (or information derived therefrom) or known matter is not to be taken as, and should not be construed as, an acknowledgment, admission, or any form of suggestion that the prior publication (or information derived therefrom) or known matter forms part of the common general knowledge in the field of endeavor to which this specification pertains.

Claims

1. 1. A system for delivering a commodie to a patient, comprising: a transceiver system; Toilet seat delivery robot and Toilet seat and Equipped with the system receiving a toilet seat request at the transceiver system; and, in response to the toilet seat request, the toilet seat delivery robot delivering the toilet seat to the patient; The system receives a completion request at the transceiver system, and in response to the completion request, the toilet seat delivery robot delivers the toilet seat to a disposal location.

2. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein in response to the toilet seat request, the toilet seat delivery robot collects the toilet seat and delivers the toilet seat to the patient.

3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the toilet seat is one of a plurality of toilet seats, and the toilet seat delivery robot selects the toilet seat from the plurality of toilet seats based on an indication that the toilet seat has been disinfected.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the instructions indicate that at least the toilet seat includes a clean bedpan.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the toilet seat delivery robot is configured to detach the toilet seat from the toilet seat after delivering the toilet seat to the patient.

6. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein one or both of the toilet seat and toilet seat delivery robot comprises a detector that detects when the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

7. 7. The system of claim 6, further comprising an alert system configured to issue an alert upon detection by the detector that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

8. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the detector is further configured to receive a caregiver indication that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the alert system is configured to issue an alarm only if the detector does not detect the caregiver.

10. The system of claim 6 , wherein the detector comprises a weight detector.

11. 1. A method for delivering a toilet seat to a patient, comprising: receiving a toilet seat request at a transceiver system; using a toilet seat delivery robot to deliver the toilet seat to the patient in response to the toilet seat request; receiving a completion request at the transceiver system; using the toilet seat delivery robot to deliver the toilet seat to a disposal location in response to the completion request; A method comprising:

12. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein delivering the toilet seat to the patient comprises collecting the toilet seat and delivering the toilet seat to the patient.

13. 13. The method of claim 12, wherein the toilet seat is one of a plurality of toilet seats, the method further comprising selecting the toilet seat from the plurality of toilet seats based on an indication that the toilet seat has been disinfected.

14. 14. The method of any one of claims 11 to 13, further comprising the step of decoupling a toilet seat delivery robot from the toilet seat after delivering the toilet seat to the patient.

15. 15. The method of any one of claims 11 to 14, further comprising using a detector on one or both of the toilet seat and toilet seat delivery robot to detect when the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

16. 16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of issuing an alert using an alert system upon detection by the detector that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

17. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising receiving at the detector an indication to a caregiver to monitor that the patient is attempting to leave the toilet seat.

18. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein issuing an alarm comprises issuing an alarm only if the detector does not detect the caregiver.

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