DE102020207778A1 - Autonomous vehicle with examination device and medical device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an autonomous vehicle (1.1) with an examination device (10) for carrying out a health examination of an occupant (3) of the autonomous vehicle, the examination device (10) being set up to carry out the health examination of the occupant (3) while the occupant is driving to be carried out with the autonomous vehicle (1.1), wherein the health examination comprises in particular a measurement of at least one vital parameter of the occupant (3) by means of the examination device (10), and wherein the autonomous vehicle (1.1) has a medical device (20) which is used to remove Human material of the occupant (3) and / or is designed to carry out a medical procedure on the occupant (3).

Description

The invention relates to an autonomous vehicle with an examination device for carrying out a health examination of an occupant of the autonomous vehicle, the examination device being set up to carry out the health examination of the occupant while the occupant is driving the autonomous vehicle, the health examination in particular a measurement of at least one vital parameter of the occupant by means of the examination device.

For example from the DE 10 2017 113 129 A1 an autonomous vehicle with a health monitoring unit for monitoring the health status of the passengers in the autonomous vehicle is known. If a medical emergency of a passenger is recognized by the health monitoring unit, an emergency request is sent to generate a rescue alley for the autonomous vehicle.

After detection of a medical emergency, the admission to a hospital may be too late despite the creation of an emergency corridor. There may also be medical problems for a passenger that are not life-threatening and therefore do not need to be treated immediately. Nevertheless, a doctor must then be consulted, who checks the state of health of the passenger and, based on this, carries out a treatment or a medical intervention on the passenger.

The object of the invention is to develop the autonomous vehicles known from the prior art and to reduce the disadvantages associated with them, in particular to provide an autonomous vehicle which ensures the health of the occupant in a simple manner.

The above object is achieved by the subject matter of the patent claims, in particular by an autonomous vehicle according to claim 1. Further advantages and details of the invention emerge from the subclaims, the description and the drawings.

The invention achieves the object by an autonomous vehicle with an examination device for carrying out a health examination of an occupant of the autonomous vehicle, the examination device being set up to carry out the health examination of the occupant while the occupant is driving the autonomous vehicle, the health examination in particular being a measurement comprises at least one vital parameter of the occupant by means of the examination device, the autonomous vehicle having a medical device which is designed to remove human material from the occupant and / or to carry out a medical intervention on the occupant.

Accordingly, the autonomous vehicle according to the invention also provides a medical device via the monitoring or examination of a health status of the occupant known from the prior art, which allows a more detailed analysis of the health status of the occupant on the basis of the human material removed from him and / or medical treatment by means of medical intervention. In this way, if a medical emergency is presented, the occupant can be treated directly by the medical device. Furthermore, medical problems other than emergencies can also be dealt with by the medical device in the autonomous vehicle.

Providing the medical device in the autonomous vehicle has the advantage that the autonomous vehicle can be used for locomotion by means of the autonomous vehicle. The occupant undergoing the health check does not have to go to a doctor or a hospital, but can attend to their everyday life and any appointments, for example on the way to work, to which the autonomous vehicle can take them. Furthermore, thanks to the mobility of the autonomous vehicle, it is still possible to immediately deliver the occupant to a hospital if this should become necessary.

The medical device can either be designed to remove human material from the occupant and / or to perform a medical procedure on the occupant, or it can have a removal device to remove human material from the occupant and / or an intervention device to perform a medical procedure on the occupant. Furthermore, the medical device can have several removal devices for different human materials and / or several intervention devices for performing different medical interventions on the occupant.

Human material includes, in particular, blood, plasma, serum, saliva, urine and stool samples as well as tissue, organs and primary cell cultures of human origin. In this respect, the extraction device can be, for example, a blood extraction device, a saliva extraction device or the like.

The interventional device is set up to carry out a medical intervention. The medical intervention is, in particular, an intervention in which the occupant's body is deliberately injured in order to treat a medical disease or to prevent it. The deliberate injury to the body can already be, for example, puncturing with a needle tip, for example to inject the occupant with a drug intravenously. However, the medical intervention can also be, for example, an intervention on a tooth, such as with a dentist, for example with a drill, or a more extensive operation. In any case, the aforementioned medical interventions are only mentioned as examples.

In addition, the autonomous vehicle can have an analysis device for analyzing the human material. Alternatively, the human material can be collected in the autonomous vehicle and then handed over to an analysis laboratory.

The autonomous vehicle is designed for autonomous driving and can therefore drive without a driver. Pick-up time and location and / or arrival time and location can be specified by the occupant.

The autonomous vehicle can be equipped with only one seat for one occupant. Furthermore, the windows of the autonomous vehicle can be darkened. In this way, on the one hand, the occupant's privacy for the health examination, the removal of the human material and the medical intervention can be guaranteed and, on the other hand, the necessary space and a clean environment for the health examination, the removal of the human material and the medical intervention can be secured.

The autonomous vehicle can be equipped with any drive. For example, the autonomous vehicle can be equipped with an internal combustion engine, an electric motor and / or a fuel cell drive.

The examination device can for example have one or more of the following sensors: a heart rate monitor, a pulse oximeter, a breathing sensor, a carbon dioxide sensor, a humidity sensor, a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor. The examination device can also have one or more cameras. One or more of the aforementioned sensors and / or the cameras can be integrated into a vehicle structure, for example a seat. The vital parameters, which are supplied by one or more of the aforementioned sensors, can be used to identify whether a more detailed analysis is necessary, for example human material is to be removed, or a medical intervention is necessary, or whether the occupant is during the removal of the human material or health status of the medical intervention can be monitored.

It can be provided that the medical device is a medical robot. The medical robot can, for example, have one or more robot arms. Medical tools, for example a syringe, a scalpel, a drill or the like, can be arranged on the robot arms as end effectors. The medical tools can be interchangeable.

The medical robot can be set up to work fully automatically, for example to remove human material or to carry out a medical intervention. In this respect, the medical robot can reduce to a minimum or even completely avoid the assistance of the occupant in the removal of the human material or the medical intervention. As a result, possible sources of error for a failure of a removal or an intervention are bypassed and the occupant is given a high level of security.

It can also be provided that the autonomous vehicle is designed as an autonomous taxi. It can be marked as such with a corresponding label. The autonomous taxi can be used by different passengers in order to get from one place to another within the framework of a taxi ride in the autonomous taxi. The health check-up and the removal of human material or the medical intervention then take place parallel to the taxi ride.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the autonomous vehicle has a wireless communication unit which is technically connected to a control interface of the medical device in such a way that a remote doctor can control the medical device by means of a wireless communication link with the wireless communication unit.

For this purpose, the physically distant doctor can for his part have a control device with a wireless communication device, which can be designed, for example, in the form of a computer. The wireless communication device establishes a connection to the wireless communication unit and the doctor can control the medical device by means of the control interface, even if he is not on site himself. It can also be provided that the doctor uses one or more cameras of the examination device to carry out the medical tests carried out by means of the medical device Monitor the intervention and monitor the occupant's vital parameters by means of sensors of the examination device.

It can also be provided that the examination device is set up to transmit a result of the health examination, a result of an analysis of the human material and / or a result of the medical intervention to a digital medical record of the occupant.

The transmission can in particular take place wirelessly by means of a wireless communication device. The digital medical record can be stored on a server. The server can be operated, for example, by the occupant's health insurance company, a doctor and / or the operator of the autonomous vehicle. In this way, a history of the occupant can be recorded during several journeys with the autonomous vehicle. Furthermore, the result of the health examination can be transmitted in a simple manner to the doctor and / or the health insurance company of the occupant.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the medical device is connected to a trip prediction device of the autonomous vehicle and is set up to carry out the medical intervention on the occupant when the trip prediction device predicts constant driving conditions.

Constant driving conditions can exist in particular when driving at constant speed or essentially constant speed and / or flat or essentially flat driving plane. This avoids an uneven driving plane or an abrupt acceleration from causing a medical intervention to fail while driving. Provision can also be made for medical interventions to be carried out when the autonomous vehicle is at a standstill or in the event of medical emergencies, regardless of the constant driving conditions.

It can also be provided that the autonomous vehicle is set up to record deviations from constant driving conditions by means of predictive route data, Car2Car communication and / or traffic jam and construction site information.

Predictive route data include, for example, road gradients, curve radii, speed limits, intersections, traffic lights. By recognizing such deviations from constant driving conditions, such as a red traffic light or a reduced speed due to a sharp curve, it can be ensured that the medical intervention is only carried out when the external conditions of the journey are optimal.

It can also be provided that the medical device has a regulating device for regulating a position of a medical tool of the medical device on the basis of driving conditions or the deviations from constant driving conditions.

The control device can thus control a relative position of the medical tool, such as a drill, a needle or a scalpel, to the occupant depending on the driving conditions in such a way that an error does not occur in the medical intervention despite varying deviations in the driving conditions. The control device can, for example, be set up to control corresponding stepper motors of the medical tool, in particular of the robot arm. Furthermore, the control device can be set up to use position sensors of the autonomous vehicle. The control device can also be set up to detect the position of the occupant on the seat, for example by means of a camera of the examination device.

In addition, it can be provided that the examination device has a communication interface with a display, a camera, a microphone and / or a loudspeaker, the communication interface being set up to establish a wireless communication link to a remote doctor so that the remote doctor can use the communication interface can communicate with the occupant.

As a result, despite the physical distance, the doctor can communicate with the occupant of the autonomous vehicle in order to carry out an examination. To this end, the doctor can, for example, question the occupant or give him instructions for tests to be carried out himself.

It can also be provided that the autonomous vehicle is set up to call another autonomous vehicle with a special medical device to carry out a special medical intervention on the occupant for another journey, the special medical intervention not being carried out by the medical device of the autonomous vehicle if the health examination reveals a health finding that makes the special intervention on the occupant necessary.

As a result, a medical intervention can be carried out even if it cannot be carried out by the autonomous vehicle in which the occupant is located because it is too special, that is to say requires a different medical device, for example. So can several more autonomous Vehicles with different special medical devices are used.

Further measures improving the invention emerge from the following description of various exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are shown schematically in the figures. All of the features and / or advantages arising from the claims, the description or the figures, including structural details and spatial arrangements, can be essential to the invention both individually and in the various combinations.

• 1 eine Ansicht eines autonomen Fahrzeugs gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;
• 2 eine schematische Darstellung des autonomen Fahrzeugs aus 1 in einer drahtlosen Kommunikationsumgebung;
• 3 einen beispielhaften Ablauf einer Gesundheitsuntersuchung in dem autonomen Fahrzeug aus 1; und
• 4 einen beispielhaften Ablauf eines medizinischen Eingriffs in dem autonomen Fahrzeug aus 1.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

• 1 a view of an autonomous vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention;
• 2 a schematic representation of the autonomous vehicle 1 in a wireless communication environment;
• 3 an exemplary sequence of a health examination in the autonomous vehicle 1 ; and
• 4th an exemplary sequence of a medical intervention in the autonomous vehicle 1 .

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are in the 1 until 4th each provided with the same reference numerals.

This in 1 The autonomous vehicle 1 shown here is designed as an autonomous taxi. The autonomous taxi is used to autonomously transport an occupant 3 (please refer 2 ) from a starting point to a destination of his choice. The inmate 3 can, for example, have an application on his smartphone with which he calls the autonomous taxi.

2 shows a schematic representation of the interior 2 of the autonomous vehicle 1 of the 1 , hereinafter referred to as the autonomous vehicle 1.1 referred to as. The inmate 3 is here on a seat 4th in the interior 2 . On the seat 4th the inmate is seated 3 transported from the starting point to the destination.

The autonomous vehicle 1.1 points in its interior 2 an examination device 10 with a sensor 11 for monitoring at least one vital parameter of the occupant 3 on. The examination device 10 can alternatively have several sensors 11 exhibit. The examination device 10 can thereby carry out a health examination of the occupant 3 make.

Also exhibits the autonomous vehicle 1.1 in the interior 2 a medical device 20th in the form of a medical robot with at least one robot arm 21 and a medical tool 23 as the end effector of the at least one robot arm 21 on. Furthermore, the medical device 20th a control interface 22nd to control the medical tool 23 and the robotic arm 21 as well as a control device 24 on. When the inmate's health examination 3 results in a medical procedure being carried out on the occupant 3 is required, this can be done directly by means of the medical device 20th be performed.

The autonomous vehicle 1.1 further comprises a wireless communication unit 30th on. Using the wireless communication unit 30th can the autonomous vehicle 1.1 a wireless communication link 31 , in the present case as the first wireless communication link 31 referred to, which can be set up for example by means of a cellular network via the Internet, with a distant doctor 50 build up. The distant doctor 50 has for this purpose a corresponding control device with a wireless communication device, which in the present case is a computer 51 is shown. The autonomous vehicle also has it 1.1 via a communication interface 40 . The communication interface 40 in the present case has a display, a loudspeaker, a microphone and a camera. The communication interface 40 is with the wireless communication unit 30th so connected that the doctor 50 Gets access to this. So can the computer 51 also have a camera, a microphone and a loudspeaker. This allows the doctor 50 while driving the autonomous vehicle 1.1 with the inmate 3 communicate. The doctor 50 so can the inmate 3 inform about the result of the health examination and advise him. The doctor 50 can the inmate 3 also or alternatively diagnose remotely and give him instructions for a medical intervention or the removal of human material.

By means of the control device in the form of the computer 51 and the wireless communication link 31 can the doctor 50 also on the control interface 22nd access and the robotic arm 21 as well as the medical tool 23 for the medical procedure on the occupant 3 steer.

A result of a health examination, a medical procedure and / or an analysis of human material of the occupant 3 can be in a digital medical record 60 get saved. The wireless communication unit is built for this purpose 30th another wireless one Communication link 33 , in the present case as a third wireless communication link 33 referred to, with a remote server 61 on. On this server 61 is the digital medical record 60 of the inmate 3 saved. By means of the third wireless communication link 33 can be the result of the health examination, the medical procedure and / or the analysis of human material in the digital medical record 60 on the server 61 get saved. There she can be available for further examinations and other doctors, for example in a hospital. This enables the occupant to be examined and treated 3 in the autonomous vehicle 1.1 without losing any information about this in a digital medical record 60 of the inmate 3 .

Another wireless communication link 32 , in the present case as a second wireless communication link 32 is between the wireless communication unit 30th and another autonomous vehicle 1.2 built up when the health status of the occupant 3 requires a special medical intervention for the autonomous vehicle 1.1 is not set up. The additional autonomous vehicle has this 1.2 via a special medical device 80 . So there can be several more autonomous vehicles 1.2 which are each set up for different special medical interventions and are used individually. If the more autonomous vehicle 1.2 via the second wireless communication link 32 is called, this additional autonomous vehicle can 1.2 the inmate 3 take in and treat.

A trip forecasting device 70 of the autonomous vehicle 1.1 can also be used to forecast constant driving conditions. Then the health examination, the removal of human material and / or the medical intervention can only be carried out if constant driving conditions are forecast.

3 shows an exemplary process of a health examination 100 in the autonomous vehicle 1.1 out 1 . A first step 101 denotes the start and the journey of the occupant 3 with the autonomous vehicle trained as an autonomous taxi 1.1 .

While driving, the occupant has 3 on the way to his desired destination, the choice in step 102 whether he wants a health examination by means of the examination device 10 want to have it carried out. The inmate can do this 3 for example by means of the communication interface 40 by voice input, by touch input on a display of the communication interface 40 or through an input field with physical buttons with the examination device 10 Communicate to conduct the health examination. The health check-up can also be referred to as a routine check-up. When the inmate 3 does not want to have the health examination carried out, the process of the health examination becomes 100 canceled in step 103. If, on the other hand, he would like to have the health examination carried out, this is carried out by the examination device 10 accomplished.

In the subsequent step 104 it is checked whether a medical finding has been found by the health examination. If necessary, it can also be decided here that human material should be removed in order to protect the occupant 3 to investigate in more detail. If it was not possible to find any medical findings about an illness, in step 105 an entry about a health examination without a medical finding is made in the digital patient record 60 did.

Otherwise, the sequence goes to step 106, in which a decision is made as to whether the medical finding that has been made is one that poses an acute danger to the occupant 3 threatens. If there is no acute danger, a medical intervention by the medical device can be carried out in step 107 20th of the autonomous vehicle 1.1 be carried out if the illness identified as part of the medical findings can be cured, or if the autonomous vehicle 1.1 is not set up for this medical intervention, the additional autonomous vehicle can 1.2 with the special medical tool 80 be called.

Otherwise, if there is an acute danger, the occupant can 3 according to step 108 be immediately admitted to the hospital, including the autonomous vehicle 1.1 can change the destination accordingly.

4th shows an exemplary sequence of a medical intervention in the autonomous vehicle 1.1 out 1 . In step 201 of the process, the health examination is carried out according to the process 100 accomplished. If this shows that in the autonomous vehicle 1.1 a medical procedure on the occupant 3 is to be carried out, it is checked in step 202 whether normal road conditions, that is to say for example a dry road, are present. If this is not the case, a transition is made to step 203, which postpones the check according to step 202 to a later point in time. In step 203, music or the like can also be used via the communication interface 40 in the interior 2 of the autonomous vehicle 1.1 be imported.

If the road conditions are normal, this is determined in step 204. In step 205 it is then checked whether the autonomous vehicle 1.1 is at a standstill or constant driving conditions are forecast. If this is not the case, it is determined in step 206 that there are insufficient prerequisites for a medical intervention and only medical advice is possible. The checking of step 205 is postponed to a later point in time.

If, however, the autonomous vehicle 1.1 is at a standstill or constant driving conditions by means of the trip prediction device 70 are predicted, the medical intervention is carried out in step 207. In step 208 it is checked whether the medical intervention has been ended. If this is the case, an entry is made in the digital medical record in accordance with step 212 60 of the inmate 3 and the medical procedure is carried out according to step 213 completed.

If the medical intervention has not yet ended, it is checked again in step 209 whether there is an acute danger. If so, the inmate will 3 admitted to the hospital in accordance with step 211 or, if this is not the case, the further autonomous vehicle is used for the next trip 1.2 requested.

List of reference symbols

1.1

autonomous vehicle

1.2

another autonomous vehicle

2

inner space

3

inmate

4th

Seat

10

Examination device

11th

sensor

20th

Medical device

21

Robotic arm

22nd

Control interface

23

Medical tool

24

Control device

30th

wireless communication unit

31

first wireless communication link

32

second wireless communication link

33

third wireless communication link

40

Communication interface

50

doctor

51

computer

60

digital medical record

61

server

70

Trip forecasting device

80

special medical facility

100

Procedure of a health examination

101 ... 108

Steps in the Health Examination Process

200

The course of a medical procedure

201 ... 213

Steps in the course of the medical procedure

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent literature cited

• DE 102017113129 A1 [0002]

Claims (10)

Autonomous vehicle (1.1) with an examination device (10) for carrying out a health examination of an occupant (3) of the autonomous vehicle, the examination device (10) being set up to carry out the health examination of the occupant (3) while the occupant is driving the autonomous vehicle (1.1), the health examination including, in particular, a measurement of at least one vital parameter of the occupant (3) by means of the examination device (10), characterized in that the autonomous vehicle (1.1) has a medical device (20) which is used to remove human material from the Occupant (3) and / or designed to carry out a medical procedure on the occupant (3). Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the medical device (20) is a medical robot. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the autonomous vehicle (1.1) is designed as an autonomous taxi. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the autonomous vehicle (1.1) has a wireless communication unit (30) which is connected to a control interface (22) of the medical device (20) in such a way that a distant doctor (50) can control the medical device (20) by means of a wireless communication link (31) with the wireless communication unit (30). Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the examination device (10) is set up to transfer a result of the health examination, a result of an analysis of the human material and / or a result of the medical intervention to a digital medical record (60) of the inmate. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medical device (20) is connected to a trip prediction device (70) of the autonomous vehicle (1.1) and is set up to carry out the medical intervention on the occupant (3) if the trip prediction device (70) predicts constant driving conditions. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to Claim 6 , characterized in that the autonomous vehicle (1.1) is set up to record deviations from constant driving conditions by means of predictive route data, Car2Car communication and / or traffic jam and construction site information. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the medical device (20) has a control device (24) for controlling a position of a medical tool (23) of the medical device (20) on the basis of driving conditions. Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the examination device (10) has a communication interface (40) with a display, a camera, a microphone and / or a loudspeaker, the communication interface (40) being set up for this to set up a wireless communication link (31) to a remote doctor (50) so that the remote doctor (50) can communicate with the occupant (3) by means of the communication interface (40). Autonomous vehicle (1.1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the autonomous vehicle (1.1) is set up to provide a further autonomous vehicle (1.2) with a special medical device (80) for performing a special medical procedure on the occupant (3 ) to call for another trip, the special medical intervention not being able to be carried out by the medical device (20) of the autonomous vehicle (1.1) if the health examination results in a health finding that requires the special intervention on the occupant (3).

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