EP1325631A1

EP1325631A1 - Medical home-service modular terminal

Info

Publication number: EP1325631A1
Application number: EP01974380A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marc Berenguer
Original assignee: France Telecom SA
Current assignee: Orange SA
Priority date: 2000-09-25
Filing date: 2001-09-20
Publication date: 2003-07-09
Also published as: FR2814629A1; IL155075A0; CA2423690A1; AU2001293911A1; US20040019503A1; JP2004508914A; FR2814629B1; WO2002025947A1

Abstract

The invention concerns a terminal comprising a base module (100), installed at a patient's home, equipped with a telephone link (1) with a remote medical home-service centre, said base module (100) being adapted to receive at least a complementary module (200, 300, 400) dedicated to at least one utility of the medical home-service centre, and to exchange data with said remote centre via the telephone link (1). The invention is applicable to medical home-service.

Description

MODULAR HOME MEDICAL SERVICE TERMINAL

The present invention relates to a modular terminal for home medical service. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application in all fields of home medical service, whether it is home support, home nursing care or home hospitalization, and, more generally, all means which allow patients residing in their usual living environment to benefit from medical benefits. This is particularly the case when a person has decided to stay at home or to return there after having undergone an intervention but while needing to stay in contact with a medical or paramedical service. This need for a relationship is generally temporary, both in terms of frequency and duration. We know from unpublished French patent application n ° 00 03367 a medical home tele-assistance system for a patient comprising a patient station, or terminal, grouping together a certain number of equipment making it possible to perform the functions of assistance in the patient's home. This terminal is in connection with a caregiver, or remote home medical service center, located in a hospital or independent service and able to receive information from the patient's terminal and to send control orders to equipment installed in the patient's home. .

The home medical service terminal known from the state of the art, however, has drawbacks of two types. On the one hand, when a single terminal centralizes a large number of functionalities of a very varied nature, it is rare that all the possibilities are used at 100%, generating a high investment / service ratio. On the other hand, if one wishes to follow developments in the equipment installed in the patient, one realizes that, on this type of terminal, adaptation requires often heavy structural modifications, as well as fixed assets and significant costs.

Also, the technical problem to be solved by the object of the present invention is to propose a terminal which could always be adapted to the requested home medical services, and which could also evolve according to the needs of the service, all at a minimum cost.

The solution to the technical problem posed consists, according to the present invention, in a modular terminal for home medical service, remarkable in that it comprises a basic module, installed in the home of a patient, equipped with a telephone connection with a remote home medical service center, said basic module being able to receive at least one additional module dedicated to at least one functionality of home medical service, and to exchange information with said remote center via the telephone link.

Thus, the principle of modularity which is at the origin of the design of the terminal, object of the invention, allows the basic module, by the addition of suitably chosen complementary modules, to be always adapted to the required service. In addition, each additional module can be developed and modified according to the evolution of techniques, independently of the basic module, thus ensuring the modular terminal according to the invention great flexibility of adaptation.

In summary, the modularity of the service terminal according to the invention has the following advantages:

- Adaptability of the terminal's functionalities in relation to the demand for the service,

- Design of complementary modules independently of each other and of the basic module, - Technical modifications and evolutions without calling into question the entire terminal,

- Optimization of the deployed functions,

- Operational maintenance facilitated by the interchangeability of the modules,

- Terminal price ratio on optimal service. According to one embodiment of the modular terminal of the invention, said basic module is a remote assistance module comprising means for receiving images and sound from said center via the telephone line and means for transmitting to the remote image and sound center from the patient's home via the telephone line. In this minimal version of the terminal, object of the invention, the basic module provides at the lowest cost an exclusively videotelephony tele-assistance service allowing the practitioner located at the remote center to enter into oral communication with the patient and to receive visual information. concerning the patient and his environment. To this end, it is provided that said transmission means consist of a camera controlled remotely from the remote center, and a microphone.

One can also envisage a simplified and even cheaper version of the basic module in which said reception means are constituted by a television set. The transfer of these functions is made possible by the fact that almost all patients have a television set in their home. The basic tele-assistance module thus simplified then serves as an interface between the telephone network and the television set, the reception of images and sound taking place on the patient's television set by the SCART socket. The module no longer manages its own means of transmission, namely shooting and sound recording.

A more advanced version of the terminal of the invention consists in that it further comprises an additional remote surveillance module connected to said remote assistance module, said remote surveillance module comprising means for controlling control devices. assistance and / or biomedical sensors.

Thus equipped, the modular terminal according to the invention allows the nursing staff of the remote center to monitor a patient at home by managing assistive devices or biomedical sensors, or both. Of course, the type of material used is adapted to the patient's pathology and will be prescribed by the practitioner. It is this same practitioner who will also prescribe the device and sensor management programs.

The modular nature of the terminal of the invention can, in general, be even more easily obtained by self-identification of an element of the terminal with the element to which it connects, located just upstream in the modular chain. This self-identification is preferably carried out permanently at all times, and not only when the upstream element is energized. In other words, the element under consideration is energized by simple connection to the upstream element, then it identifies itself automatically with the latter so as to set up the reserves necessary for the operation of the first element. Note however that in the case of elements communicating with the upstream element by radio-frequency link, the power-up is carried out directly by the sector, self-identification with the upstream element then taking place. Thus, according to the invention, said assistance devices and / or said biomedical sensors comprise means of permanent self-identification with the remote surveillance module, and that the remote surveillance module comprises means permanent self-identification with the remote assistance module with the establishment in the remote assistance module of functional reserves necessary for the operation of the remote surveillance module.

Another particularly advantageous characteristic of the invention resides in the fact that the remote surveillance module also includes means for triggering alarms intended for the remote center. This arrangement makes it possible to alert the nursing staff of the remote center in the event, for example, of a failure of one of the monitored elements, device or sensor, or of movement of a data item relative to a set point or program.

Given the importance of this alarm triggering function, the invention provides in particular that the remote assistance module constantly checks for the presence of an available line on the telephone link, and that the emission of alarms has priority over the telephone link. In this sense, it is preferable that the telephone link has a line permanently available for the transmission of alarms to the remote center.

Finally, another advanced version of the terminal of the invention consists in that it includes an additional remote consultation module capable of receiving medical diagnostic tools and means for recording data supplied by said tools. According to one embodiment, the remote consultation module is connected to the remote assistance module and comprises means of permanent self-identification with the remote assistance module with installation in the remote assistance module of reserves necessary for the operation of the remote consultation module. As a variant, the remote consultation module is connected to the remote surveillance module and includes means of permanent self-identification with the remote surveillance module with the establishment in the remote assistance module of functional reserves necessary for the operation of the remote consultation module.

It should also be pointed out that an improvement has been made to the modular terminal, which is the subject of the invention, consisting in that the remote assistance module includes means for assisting nursing staff at the patient's home. In particular, said assistance means include a scanner head, electronic messaging, data entry means, photographic shooting means.

The description which follows with reference to the appended drawing, given by way of nonlimiting example, will make it clear what the invention consists of and how it can be implemented. Figure 1 is a diagram of a modular home medical service terminal according to the invention.

In Figure 1 is shown a modular terminal installed in a patient wishing to benefit from the services of a home medical service, such as nursing or any other medical assistance function. This terminal is connected to a remote center, not shown in FIG. 1, located in a hospital environment for example, and allowing a practitioner responsible for the remote monitoring of the patient at home to exchange information or data with various materials equipping said terminal.

More specifically, the modular terminal of FIG. 1 comprises a basic module 100 equipped with a telephone link 1 and which, in general, is capable of receiving at least one additional module dedicated to at least one functionality of home medical service. , and to exchange information with the remote center via telephone link 1.

As will be seen in detail below, said additional module can be a remote monitoring module 200, a remote consultation module 300, or even a module 400 for assisting nursing staff in the patient's home.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the basic module 100 is a remote assistance module whose essential function is to offer an audio-visual communication service between the practitioner located in the center patient and patient at home. To this end, the remote monitoring module 100 comprises means for receiving images and sound from the remote center via the telephone link 1, these means possibly being the monitor 111 and a speaker 112 of a connected personal computer 110 to the telephone link 1 and the central unit of which contains the memories and the programs necessary for the operation of the module 100. Likewise, the practitioner receives images and sound from the patient's home by means of transmission which are, in particular, a camera 121 remotely controlled and a microphone 122. It will be noted that the remote assistance function is ensured at minimal cost since it is performed by a basic module 100 strictly dedicated to this function, without the presence of equipment intended for other functions that would be unused in this case.

Taking advantage of the fact that most patients have a television set at their home, it is possible to propose a simpler version of the remote assistance module 100 in which said reception means consist of a television set 113. The images and the sound are received from the central unit 110 of the module 100 by the scart socket of the television. The central unit 110 only has to manage on its own that the camera 121 and the microphone 122.

A certain number of improvements can be provided as a means of signaling, for example by overlay on the reception means, a call coming from the distant center, or even the presence of a radio-frequency device to initiate or accept a telephone call coming from remote center and end it.

As shown in FIG. 1, the basic module 100 can receive an additional module 200, called remote monitoring module, making it possible to monitor a patient remotely by managing means of controlling medical devices 210 or biomedical sensors 220. This control is carried out for example by a radio-frequency link with the remote surveillance module 200, that is to say wireless.

As medical devices 210, there may be mentioned oxygen concentrators for oxygen therapy and parenteral nutrition pumps, and, as bio-medical sensors 220, electro-cardiogram recorders, spirometers, cardiac scales, tensiometers, etc. . The installation of the remote monitoring module 200 is done simply by connection to the basic module 100. As soon as the connection is made, the module 200 is automatically powered. At this time, the remote monitoring module 200 self-identifies with the basic module 100 with the establishment of functional reserves necessary for the operation of the module 200. Similarly, the devices 210 and the bio-medical sensors 220 s '' self-identify with the remote monitoring module 200 when they are switched on. This can be done, either automatically by connection to the remote monitoring module 200, or directly from the mains if the connection with the module 200 is of the radio frequency type. In general, self-identification is done by sending a specific identification message recognized by the identifying entity. Of course, any modification occurring on the terminal of FIG. 1 is transmitted to the remote center so that the latter is always informed of the current configuration of the terminal. Naturally, these self-identification and referencing actions are carried out without the intervention of the operator who puts the terminal into service.

The management program for the remote assistance module 200 is loaded either by the operator in charge of the installation by means of floppy disks or CD-ROMs prepared by authorized personnel, or by download from the remote center. Once the entire terminal is operational, the module 200 manages the data from the devices 210 or the sensors 220 independently.

The management program makes it possible to remotely modify the operating points of the assistance devices, to read remotely and download data to the remote center through the basic module, to retrieve the data, manage it and compare it with set points, and generate alarms, in the sense that the program verifies the state of the remote monitoring module, devices and sensors transparently and in the event of a fault triggers an alarm towards the remote center. The alarm criteria are: too great a variation of a value compared to a set point, the detection of a failure of an assistance device or a sensor, a failure of the remote monitoring module itself, in this case it is the basic module which issues the alarm to the remote center. Finally, since an alarm must be able to reach the center in all circumstances, it is imperative that the telephone link has a permanently available channel for the transmission of alarms to the remote center, and, in addition, the alarm transmission has priority over the telephone link. Also, the program constantly checks that a line is available, and, if this is not the case, an alarm is generated towards the remote center.

In practical terms, in the case of a link through the ISDN network for example, the D channel normally dedicated to signals may be used as the line reserved for the transmission of alarms.

In order to allow the practitioner of the remote center to remove the doubt in the event of an alarm, it is provided that an alarm automatically unlocks the means 121, 122 for transmitting images and sound from the patient's home. The practitioner then has access to all the information and data he needs to establish a diagnosis.

For security, the remote assistance module 200 includes a buffer memory capable of recording data after an alarm is triggered.

FIG. 1 also shows the presence in the terminal of an additional remote consultation module 300 intended to receive tools 310 of medical diagnosis, stethoscope or thermometer for example, and record data supplied by these tools. The purpose of this module 300 is to give a doctor, by implementing different functionalities, the possibility of gaining an intimate conviction. The list of functionalities cannot be exhaustive because it essentially depends on the pathology of the patient, the doctor, the availability of integrated tools allowing to perform a given function.

As already mentioned above, the connection between the various diagnostic tools 310 and the remote consultation module 300 is carried out by radio frequency, except for the photographing function.

The remote consultation module 300 can be installed in several configurations in the modular terminal of FIG. 1.

In a first configuration, the remote consultation module 300 is connected to the remote assistance module 100 and self-identifies with the remote assistance module with establishment in the remote assistance module 100 of functional reserves necessary for operation of the remote consultation module 300. In a second configuration, the remote consultation module 300 is connected to the remote surveillance module 200 and self-identifies with the remote surveillance module with the establishment in the remote assistance module 100 of the functional reserves necessary for operation of the remote consultation module 300.

Finally, in a third configuration, said teleconsultation module 300 is autonomous with recording of the data supplied by the medical diagnostic tools 310.

Given that this remote consultation module 300 is not necessarily intended to remain permanently with the patient, but rather to be installed there punctually by nursing personnel at the request of the practitioner, it is advantageous to provide that the remote consultation module 300 provided with diagnostic tools 310 is portable, in a suitcase for example. Several operating modes can be envisaged for the remote consultation module 300, namely:

the data supplied by the medical diagnostic tools 310 are transmitted in direct reading mode, by taking images and transfer to the remote center,

the transmission of the data supplied by the medical diagnostic tools 310 is carried out in indirect reading mode, by taking images, viewing on the remote assistance module 100 and transfer to the remote center

the data transmission is carried out in direct data acquisition mode, by input and transfer to the remote center, the data transmission is carried out in indirect data acquisition mode, by recording on a consultation terminal 320 for reading at the remote center. This consultation terminal is for example a portable device of the personal assistant type.

Finally, we can see on the terminal of Figure 1 the presence of a module 400 for assisting nursing staff in the patient's home. This module makes it possible to modify the basic module 100 to incorporate functions which are useful for the activity of nursing staff and, more particularly, for nurses who travel at home.

Among these functions, we find the electronic messaging intended to write messages for other people who go to the patient, be it the home medical service personnel or the attending physician, or write a message to transfer it to the remote center or to another modular home service terminal. Electronic messaging also makes it possible to read messages coming from the remote center intended for nursing staff passing by at home, the attending physician, or the patient himself.

Another function concerns photographic shooting. In this case, the nursing staff at home disengages the remote control of the camera 121, frames the aiming on the patient or any other object, records the photo and transmits it to the distant center.

The module 400 is also used for data entry carried out in writing to transfer to the remote center, either information which will be entered in the patient's file, or information (memo) to prepare the next home visit. As shown in Figure 1, the help module 400 includes a head

410 scanner allowing the copying of documents (prescriptions, analysis results, etc.) with viewing before transfer to the remote center. Similarly, the taking of photographs can be controlled from the basic module 100 with viewing of the photograph on the screen 111 before transfer to the remote center and the patient file.

Claims

1. Modular terminal for home medical service, characterized in that it comprises a basic module (100), installed in the home of a patient, equipped with a telephone link (1) with a remote medical service center in domicile, said basic module (100) being able to receive at least one complementary module (200, 300, 400) dedicated to at least one functionality of home medical service, and to exchange information with said remote center via the telephone link (1).

2. Terminal according to claim 1, characterized in that said basic module is a remote assistance module (100) comprising means (111, 112) for receiving images and sound from said center via the telephone link ( 1) and means (121, 122) for sending images and sound from the patient's home to the remote center via the telephone link (1).

3. Terminal according to claim 2, characterized in that said transmission means consist of a camera (121) controlled remotely from the remote center, and a microphone (122).

4. Terminal according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said reception means are constituted by a television set (113).

5. Terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the means for receiving images and sound include means signaling a call from the remote center.

6. Terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises a radio-frequency device capable of initiating or accepting a telephone call originating from the remote center and of terminating it.

7. Terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that it further comprises an additional module (200) for remote monitoring connected to said module (100) for remote assistance, said module (200) for remote surveillance comprising means for controlling assistance devices (210) and / or biomedical sensors (220).

8. Terminal according to claim 7, characterized in that said control is carried out by radio-frequency link between the remote monitoring module (200) and the assistance devices (210) and / or the biomedical sensors (220).

9. Terminal according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that the remote surveillance module (200) also includes means for triggering alarms intended for the remote center.

10. Terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that the module (100) tele-assistance permanently checks the presence of an available line on the telephone link (1).

11. Terminal according to claim 10, characterized in that the telephone link (1) has a line permanently available for the transmission of alarms to the remote center.

12. Terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the emission of alarms has priority over the telephone link (1).

13. Terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that an alarm automatically unlocks said means (121, 122) for transmitting images and sound from the patient's home.

14. Terminal according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the remote assistance module (200) comprises a buffer memory capable of recording data after triggering an alarm.

15. Terminal according to any one of claims 7 to 14, characterized in that said assistive devices (210) and / or said biomedical sensors (220) include means of permanent self-identification with the module ( 200) of remote surveillance.

16. Terminal according to claim 15, characterized in that the remote monitoring module (200) independently manages and constantly checks the state of the assistive devices (210) and biomedical sensors (220).

17. Terminal according to one of claims 7 to 16, characterized in that the remote surveillance module (200) comprises means of permanent self-identification with the remote assistance module (100) with installation in the functional reserves remote assistance module (100) necessary for the operation of the remote surveillance module (200).

18. Terminal according to claim 17, characterized in that the remote assistance module (100) manages autonomously and constantly checks the state of the remote surveillance module (200).

19. Terminal according to any one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that it comprises an additional module (300) for remote consultation able to receive medical diagnostic tools (310) and record data provided by said tools (310).

20. Terminal according to claims 19, characterized in that the remote consultation module (300) is connected to the remote assistance module (100) and comprises means of permanent self-identification with the remote assistance module with establishment in the remote assistance module (100) of functional reserves necessary for the operation of the remote consultation module (300).

21. Terminal according to claim 19, characterized in that the remote consultation module (300) is connected to the remote surveillance module (200) and includes permanent self-identification means with the remote surveillance module with establishment in the remote assistance module (100) of functional reserves necessary for the operation of the remote consultation module (300).

22. Terminal according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the transmission of the data supplied by the medical diagnostic tools (310) is carried out in direct reading mode, by taking images and transfer to the remote center .

23. Terminal according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the transmission of the data supplied by the tools

(310) medical diagnosis is carried out in indirect reading mode, by taking images, viewing on the remote assistance module (100) and transfer to the remote center.

24. Terminal according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the transmission of said data is carried out in direct data acquisition mode, by input and transfer to the remote center.

25. Terminal according to any one of claims 19 to 21, characterized in that the transmission of said data is carried out in indirect data acquisition mode, by recording on a consultation terminal (320) for reading at the remote center.

26. Terminal according to claim 25, characterized in that said remote consultation module (300) is autonomous with recording of the data supplied by the medical diagnostic tools (310).

27. Terminal according to any one of claims 18 to 26, characterized in that the module (300) remote consultation provided with tools (310) for medical diagnosis is portable.

28. Terminal according to any one of claims 2 to 27, characterized in that the remote assistance module comprises a module (400) for assisting nursing staff at the patient's home.

29. Terminal according to claim 28, characterized in that said aid module (400) comprises a scanner head (410), an electronic messaging system, data entry means, photographic shooting means.