System and method for non-face-to-face telemedicine using robot device

Abstract

A non-face-to-face remote ward round system according to one embodiment may include a server storing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) containing a schedule for warding a patient's bedside; and a robot device that looks up the EMR and moves to the location of the bedside based on the schedule.

Description

Technology Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-face-to-face remote ward examination system and method using a robotic device. Background Technology

[0003] As advancements in medical technology expand patients' medical choices and medical services become more patient-centered, there is a growing need for efficient ward rounds for hospitalized patients.

[0004] However, recently, while various modern diseases are on the rise, the increase in personnel to manage patients has been minimal; therefore, the shortage of medical professionals relative to the advancement of medical technology can be a major factor in lowering patient satisfaction with medical services.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a system that allows hospitals to round patients and check their condition according to a set schedule without directly using personnel. Prior art literature

[0007] Korean Registered Patent Publication No. 10-2374649: Personalized IoT Medical System The problem to be solved

[0008] The problem to be solved in the embodiments of the present invention is to provide a system that can round patients and check their condition according to a set schedule in a hospital without using direct personnel.

[0009] However, the technical problems that the embodiments of the present invention aim to solve are not limited to those mentioned above, and various technical problems can be derived from the contents described below within the scope obvious to a person skilled in the art. means of solving the problem

[0011] A non-face-to-face remote ward round system according to one embodiment may include a server storing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) containing a schedule for warding a patient's bedside; and a robot device that looks up the EMR and moves to the location of the bedside based on the schedule.

[0012] In addition, the system further includes a medical staff terminal equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient, and the robot device can provide feedback to the medical staff terminal regarding the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition.

[0013] In addition, the system further includes a bed control device that adjusts the angle of a support that supports the upper body of a patient on a bed, and the robot device can control the bed control device based on the patient's medical data to adjust the angle of the bed.

[0014] In addition, the robot device can move to a preset position of the bed according to the angle of the controlled bed.

[0015] Additionally, the robot device may include a main body; a driving unit that performs movement of the main body and controls the direction in which the main body faces; a camera unit that performs shooting; a first display unit that receives patient information and outputs information about the patient; a second display unit that receives medical staff information and outputs information about the patient; a scanning unit that recognizes a bed or patient identification code; an LED unit that outputs an emotional expression; and a storage unit that stores medical supplies.

[0016] In addition, the above-mentioned drive unit can move the main body to the position of the bed based on the position of the bed included in the EMR.

[0017] In addition, the camera unit can adjust the direction and angle to photograph the patient.

[0018] In addition, the scanning unit can recognize an identification code provided by the bed or patient to verify whether it is the patient based on the schedule.

[0019] In addition, the server can receive patient information from the robot device and store it in the EMR.

[0020] A non-face-to-face remote ward round method performed by a non-face-to-face remote ward round system including a server and a robot device according to one embodiment may include the step of the server storing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) containing a schedule for ward rounding a patient's bedside; and the step of the robot device querying the EMR and moving to a bedside location based on the schedule.

[0021] In addition, after the above moving step, if the robot device confirms that the patient is based on the schedule, it may further include a step of feeding back the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition to a medical terminal equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient.

[0022] In addition, after the above moving step, the robot device may further include a step of controlling a bed control device that adjusts the angle of a support that supports the upper body of the patient based on the patient's medical data to adjust the angle of the bed.

[0023] Additionally, the adjusting step may include the step of the robot device moving to a preset position of the bed according to the angle of the controlled bed.

[0024] Additionally, the robot device may include a main body; a driving unit that performs movement of the main body and controls the direction in which the main body faces; a camera unit that performs shooting; a first display unit that receives patient information and outputs information about the patient; a second display unit that receives medical staff information and outputs information about the patient; a scanning unit that recognizes a bed or patient identification code; an LED unit that outputs an emotional expression; and a storage unit that stores medical supplies.

[0025] In addition, the above-mentioned drive unit can move the main body to the position of the bed based on the position of the bed included in the EMR.

[0026] In addition, the camera unit can adjust the direction and angle to photograph the patient.

[0027] In addition, the scanning unit can recognize an identification code provided by the bed or patient to verify whether it is the patient based on the schedule.

[0028] In addition, after the above moving step, the server may further include a step of receiving patient information from the robot device and storing it in the EMR. Effects of the invention

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a system can be provided in which a robot device retrieves a schedule for rounds to a patient's bed via the EMR of a server, moves to the location of the bed based on the schedule to perform rounds, and feeds back the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition to a medical staff terminal to perform rounds remotely. In addition, the robot device can independently identify the location of the bed where rounds can be efficiently performed according to the patient's condition, and can assist the patient in receiving rounds in an optimal condition by controlling the angle of the support that supports the patient's upper body on the bed.

[0031] In addition, various effects that can be identified directly or indirectly through this document may be provided. Brief explanation of the drawing

[0033] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a non-face-to-face remote ward examination system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 2a and FIGS. 2b are exemplary diagrams showing the configuration of a robot device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 3a to 3c are exemplary diagrams of an operation in which the direction or angle of a configuration provided in a robot device according to one embodiment of the present invention is adjusted. FIGS. 4a to 4c are exemplary diagrams showing points where a robot device according to an embodiment of the present invention is positioned according to the angle of the bed. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a non-face-to-face remote warding method performed by a non-face-to-face remote warding system according to one embodiment of the present invention. Specific details for implementing the invention

[0034] The advantages and features of the present invention and the methods for achieving them will become clear by referring to the embodiments described below in detail together with the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed below but can be implemented in various forms. These embodiments are provided merely to ensure that the disclosure of the present invention is complete and to fully inform those skilled in the art of the scope of the invention, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims.

[0035] In describing the embodiments of the present invention, specific descriptions of known functions or configurations will be omitted unless actually necessary. Furthermore, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions in the embodiments of the present invention, and these may vary depending on the intentions or practices of the user or operator. Therefore, their definitions should be based on the content throughout this specification.

[0036] The functional blocks shown in the drawings and described below are merely examples of possible implementations. In other implementations, other functional blocks may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the detailed description. Additionally, while one or more functional blocks of the present invention are shown as individual blocks, one or more of the functional blocks of the present invention may be a combination of various hardware and software configurations that perform the same function.

[0037] Furthermore, the expression "including certain components" is an open-ended expression that merely refers to the existence of such components and should not be understood as excluding additional components.

[0038] Furthermore, when it is stated that a component is connected to or coupled with another component, it should be understood that while it may be directly connected or coupled to that other component, there may also be other components present in between.

[0039] Furthermore, expressions such as 'first, second,' etc., are used solely to distinguish multiple compositions and do not limit the order or other characteristics between the compositions.

[0040] FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a non-face-to-face remote ward examination system (10) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] The non-face-to-face remote ward round system (10) of FIG. 1 may include a server (100), a robot device (200), a medical staff terminal (300), and a bed control device (400). Each of the server (100), the robot device (200), the medical staff terminal (300), and the bed control device (400) may include a memory for storing data and commands and one or more processors. The server (100), the robot device (200), the medical staff terminal (300), and the bed control device (400) can perform the overall operation described below based on the provided processors. The server (100), the robot device (200), the medical staff terminal (300), and the bed control device (400) can perform wired and wireless communication with each other through a 5G, WIFI network, etc.

[0042] Below, the operation of the server (100), robot device (200), medical staff terminal (300), and bed control device (400) included in the non-face-to-face remote ward round system (10) will be explained one by one.

[0043] The server (100) may store an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) that includes a schedule for rounds to the patient's bedside. The EMR is health information of the patient collected in digital form and stored electronically, and may include various information about the patient, such as the patient's age, sexually transmitted diseases, medical records, and specific details. For example, information regarding the schedule may include medical information about the patient, location information where the patient's bedside is located, and information about the time of the patient's rounds.

[0044] The robot device (200) can move to the location of the patient's bed based on the schedule for rounds by querying the EMR stored in the server (100). The configuration of the robot device (200) is shown in more detail in the following FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0045] FIGS. 2a and FIGS. 2b are exemplary diagrams showing the configuration of a robot device (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 2a and 2b, a robot device (200) according to one embodiment may include a main body (210), a driving unit (220), a camera unit (230), a first display unit (241), a second display unit (242), a scanning unit (250), an LED unit (260), and a storage unit (270).

[0047] The main body (210) may include a housing having various components of the robot device (200). For example, the housing of the main body (210) may additionally be equipped with a speaker that outputs sound and a communication module that communicates with the outside.

[0048] The driving unit (220) can move the main body (210) and control the direction in which the main body (210) is facing. For example, the driving unit (220) can move the main body (210) to a bed based on the location of the bed retrieved through the EMR, which will be described in detail later with reference to FIG. 3.

[0049] The camera unit (230) can photograph an external object (e.g., a patient). For example, the camera unit (230) can be adjusted in direction and angle to photograph the patient when the robot device (200) moves to the patient's bedside.

[0050] The first display unit (241) can operate to output information necessary for the patient. For example, the first display unit (241) can receive information about the patient through input (e.g., touch input) and output information necessary for the patient.

[0051] The second display unit (242) can operate to output information necessary for medical staff. For example, the second display unit (242) can receive information about medical staff through input (e.g., touch input) and output information necessary for medical staff.

[0052] The interfaces output to the first display unit (241) and the second display unit (242) can be customized according to the patient or medical staff.

[0053] The scanning unit (250) can recognize an identification code provided on a bed or patient. For example, when the robot device (200) moves to a bed according to a schedule, the scanning unit (250) can recognize the identification code provided on the bed or the identification code provided by the patient to verify whether it is the patient who needs to be rounded based on the schedule.

[0054] The LED unit (260) is equipped with a display liquid crystal, and the display liquid crystal can be configured to output a preset emotion expression pattern (e.g., a smile symbol, a crying symbol, etc.).

[0055] The storage section (270) may be equipped with a space for storing medical supplies.

[0056] The direction or angle of the configuration provided in the robot device (200) can be adjusted as shown in the example of Fig. 3 below.

[0057] FIGS. 3a and 3b are exemplary diagrams of an operation in which the direction or angle of a configuration provided in a robot device (200) according to one embodiment of the present invention is adjusted.

[0058] Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3b, the driving unit (220) can rotate the direction so that the main body (210) faces the bed or the position of the patient. Referring to FIGS. 3a and 3c, the first display unit (241) can rotate 360 ​​degrees at an angle coupled with the main body (210).

[0059] The medical staff terminal (300) is a terminal equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient. When the robot device (200) arrives at the bed according to the schedule, the medical staff terminal (300) can receive feedback on the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition.

[0060] The bed control device (400) is a device that adjusts the angle of a support that supports the upper body of a patient on a bed. The bed control device (400) can be controlled by a signal sent by a robot device (200). The robot device (200) can control the bed control device (400) to adjust the angle of the bed based on the patient's medical data (e.g., age, disease status, etc.) retrieved through the EMR. At this time, the robot device (200) can move to a pre-set position of the bed according to the angle of the bed controlled as shown in FIG. 4.

[0061] FIGS. 4a to 4c are exemplary diagrams showing points where a robot device (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention is positioned according to the angle of the bed.

[0062] Referring to FIG. 4a, according to one embodiment, when the angle formed with the horizontal direction of the support supporting the upper body of the patient on the bed is 0 to 15 degrees, the robot device (200) can move to a first position which is the upper side of the bed (the upper side of the patient's head is expressed as the upper side).

[0063] Referring to FIG. 4b, according to one embodiment, when the angle of the support supporting the upper body of the patient on the bed is greater than 15 degrees and less than or equal to 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, the robot device (200) can move to a second position which is the side middle of the bed (represented as the middle of the patient's waist).

[0064] Referring to FIG. 4c, according to one embodiment, when the angle of the support supporting the upper body of the patient on the bed is greater than 45 degrees with respect to the horizontal direction, the robot device (200) can move to a third position, which is the lower side of the bed (represented as the lower side of the patient's legs).

[0065] The range of angles described with reference to FIGS. 4a to 4c is merely illustrative, and angles and ranges pre-set by the user, etc. may be applied, and the set values ​​may be changed and applied at any time.

[0066] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a non-face-to-face remote warding method performed by a non-face-to-face remote warding system (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention. Each step of the non-face-to-face remote warding method according to FIG. 5 can be performed by the configuration of the non-face-to-face remote warding system (10) described through FIG. 1, and each step is described as follows.

[0067] In step S1010, the server (100) can store an EMR that includes a schedule for rounds to the patient's bedside.

[0068] In step S1020, the robot device (200) can look up the EMR and move to the location of the bed based on the schedule.

[0069] In step S1030, the robot device (200) can adjust the angle of the bed by controlling a bed control device (400) that adjusts the angle of a support that supports the upper body of the patient based on the patient's medical data.

[0070] In step S1040, the robot device (200) can provide feedback on the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition to the medical staff terminal (300) equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient.

[0071] Meanwhile, in addition to the steps illustrated in FIG. 5, as the above-described server (100), robot device (200), medical staff terminal (300), and bed control device (400) are configured in various ways to perform the operations described together with FIG. 1, new steps performed by each functional block may be added in the steps of FIG. 5, and since the configuration of additional steps and the operations of the components that are the subjects of each step to perform the corresponding steps have been described in FIG. 1 to 4, a redundant description is omitted.

[0072] According to the above-described embodiment, a system (10) can be provided in which a robot device (200) retrieves a schedule for rounds to a patient's bed through the EMR of a server (100), moves to the location of the bed based on the schedule to perform rounds, and feeds back the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition to a medical staff terminal (300) to perform rounds remotely. In addition, the robot device (200) can independently identify the location of the bed where rounds can be efficiently performed according to the patient's condition, and can assist the patient in receiving rounds in an optimal condition by controlling the angle of the support that supports the patient's upper body on the bed.

[0073] The embodiments of the present invention described above may be implemented through various means. For example, the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.

[0074] In the case of implementation by hardware, the method according to the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by one or more ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), DSPs (Digital Signal Processors), DSPDs (Digital Signal Processing Devices), PLDs (Programmable Logic Devices), FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), processors, controllers, microcontrollers, microprocessors, etc.

[0075] In the case of implementation by firmware or software, the method according to the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in the form of a module, procedure, or function, etc., that performs the function or operation described above. A computer program having software code, etc., recorded thereon may be stored in a computer-readable recording medium or a memory unit and executed by a processor. The memory unit may be located inside or outside the processor and may exchange data with the processor by various means already known.

[0076] Additionally, combinations of each block of the block diagram attached to the present invention and each step of the flowchart may be performed by computer program instructions. Since these computer program instructions may be loaded into an encoding processor of a general-purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, or other programmable data processing equipment, the instructions executed through the encoding processor of the computer or other programmable data processing equipment create means for performing the functions described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flowchart. Since these computer program instructions may also be stored in computer-available or computer-readable memory that can be directed toward the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to implement the function in a specific way, the instructions stored in computer-available or computer-readable memory may also produce a manufactured item containing instruction means for performing the function described in each block of the block diagram or each step of the flowchart. Since computer program instructions can be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing equipment, instructions that execute a computer or other programmable data processing equipment by performing a series of operation steps on the computer or other programmable data processing equipment to create a process executed by the computer can also provide steps for executing the functions described in each block of the block diagram and each step of the flowchart.

[0077] In addition, each block or each step may represent a module, segment, or part of code containing one or more executable instructions for executing a specific logical function. Furthermore, it should be noted that in some alternative embodiments, the functions mentioned in the blocks or steps may occur out of order. For example, two blocks or steps described in succession may actually be performed substantially simultaneously, or the blocks or steps may sometimes be performed in reverse order according to the corresponding function.

[0078] As such, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains will understand that the present invention may be implemented in other specific forms without altering its technical concept or essential features. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be understood as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims set forth below rather than by the detailed description, and all modifications or variations derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included within the scope of the present invention. Explanation of the symbols

[0080] 10: Non-face-to-face remote ward rounds system 100: Server 200: Robotic device 210: Main body 220: Drive unit 230: Camera Department 241: 1st display unit 242: Second display unit 250: Scan section 260: LED section 270: Storage compartment 300: Medical Terminal 400: Bed control device

Claims

Claim 1 A non-face-to-face remote warding system comprising: a server storing an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) including a schedule for warding a patient's bedside; a robot device that queries the EMR and moves to a bedside location based on the schedule; and a bedside control device that adjusts the angle of a support that supports the patient's upper body on the bedside, wherein the robot device controls the bedside control device based on the patient's medical data to adjust the angle of the bedside, but during warding, controls the support to an angle different from that before warding, and the robot device determines a movement position from one side of the bedside to the other according to the controlled change in the angle of the bedside. Claim 2 In claim 1, the system further includes a medical staff terminal equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient, and the robot device is a non-face-to-face remote ward round system that feeds back the fact of arrival at the bed and the patient's condition to the medical staff terminal. Claim 3 delete Claim 4 delete Claim 5 In claim 1, the robot device comprises: a main body; a driving unit that performs movement of the main body and controls the direction in which the main body faces; a camera unit that performs shooting; a first display unit that receives patient information and outputs information about the patient; a second display unit that receives medical staff information and outputs information about the patient; a scanning unit that recognizes a bed or patient identification code; an LED unit that outputs an emotional expression; and a storage unit that stores medical supplies, a non-face-to-face remote ward round system. Claim 6 In paragraph 5, the above-mentioned drive unit moves the main body to the position of the bed based on the position of the bed included in the EMR, in a non-face-to-face remote warding system. Claim 7 In paragraph 5, the above-mentioned camera unit is a non-face-to-face remote ward round system that adjusts the direction and angle to photograph the patient. Claim 8 In claim 5, the above-mentioned scanning unit recognizes an identification code provided by a bed or patient and verifies whether the patient is based on the schedule in a non-face-to-face remote ward round system. Claim 9 In claim 1, the server is a non-face-to-face remote warding system that receives patient information from the robot device and stores it in the EMR. Claim 10 A non-face-to-face remote ward round method performed by a non-face-to-face remote ward round system including a server and a robot device, comprising: a step in which the server stores an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) including a schedule for ward rounding a patient's bed; a step in which the robot device queries the EMR and moves to a bed position based on the schedule; and a step in which the robot device controls a bed control device that adjusts the angle of a support supporting the patient's upper body based on the patient's medical data, wherein during the ward round, the angle of the support is adjusted to an angle different from that before the ward round, thereby adjusting the angle of the bed, wherein the adjusting step comprises a step in which the robot device determines a position to move from one side of the bed to the other according to the controlled angle of the bed and moves. Claim 11 A non-face-to-face remote ward round method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of, after the moving step, feeding back the fact of arrival at the bed and the condition of the patient to a medical staff terminal equipped by the medical staff in charge of the patient when it is confirmed that the robot device is the patient based on the schedule. Claim 12 delete Claim 13 delete Claim 14 In claim 10, the robot device comprises: a main body; a driving unit that performs movement of the main body and controls the direction in which the main body faces; a camera unit that performs shooting; a first display unit that receives patient information and outputs information about the patient; a second display unit that receives medical staff information and outputs information about the patient; a scanning unit that recognizes a bed or patient identification code; an LED unit that outputs an emotional expression; and a storage unit that stores medical supplies, in a non-face-to-face remote ward round method. Claim 15 In claim 14, the above-mentioned drive unit moves the main body to the position of the bed based on the position of the bed included in the EMR, a non-face-to-face remote warding method. Claim 16 In claim 14, the above-mentioned camera unit adjusts the direction and angle to photograph the patient in a non-face-to-face remote ward round method. Claim 17 In claim 14, the above-mentioned scanning unit recognizes an identification code provided by the bed or patient and verifies whether the patient is based on the schedule in a non-face-to-face remote ward round method. Claim 18 A non-face-to-face remote warding method according to claim 10, further comprising, after the moving step, a step in which the server receives patient information from the robot device and stores it in the EMR.

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