Medical Tele-Robotic System

Abstract

A robotic system that includes a remote controlled robot. The robot may include a camera, a monitor and a holonomic platform all attached to a robot housing. The robot may be controlled by a remote control station that also has a camera and a monitor. The remote control station may be linked to a base station that is wirelessly coupled to the robot. The cameras and monitors allow a care giver at the remote location to monitor and care for a patient through the robot. The holonomic platform allows the robot to move about a home or facility to locate and/or follow a patient.

1 - 85 . (canceled) 
   
   
       86 . A robotic system, comprising:
 a robot that includes a camera and a monitor; and, a control station that can control said robot and allow a service personnel to remotely service said robot.   
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 86 , further comprising an arbitrator that controls access to said robot, said arbitrator has a plurality of arbitration mechanisms, different mechanisms are invoked for a plurality of different user types. 
   
   
       88 . The system of  claim 87 , wherein said arbitration mechanisms include a notification, a timeout, a queue and a call back. 
   
   
       89 . The system of  claim 88 , wherein the user types include a local operator, a caregiver, a doctor, a family member and a service personnel. 
   
   
       90 . The system of  claim 89 , wherein a request for robot access from said service personnel user type invokes said callback mechanism if a current user is said local operator, said caregiver, said doctor or said family member user type. 
   
   
       91 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein said robot monitor is coupled to a camera of said remote station. 
   
   
       92 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein said robot includes a mobile platform. 
   
   
       93 . The system of  claim 86 , wherein said robot includes a microphone coupled to a speaker of said control station and a speaker coupled to a microphone of said control station. 
   
   
       94 . A method for servicing a remote controlled robot, comprising:
 moving the robot in response to the commands transmitted from a control station;   accessing the robot from a service personnel at a service personnel control station; and, servicing the robot remotely through the service personnel control station.   
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the servicing includes setting operational parameters. 
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 94 , further comprising arbitrating access to the robot with arbitration mechanisms that include a notification, a timeout, a queue and a call back. 
   
   
       98 . The method of claim  95 , wherein request for robot access can be generated by different user types that include a local operator, a caregiver, a doctor, a family member and a service personnel. 
   
   
       99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein the request for robot access from the service personnel user type invokes the callback mechanism if a current user is the local operator, the caregiver, the doctor or the family member user type. 
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 94 , further comprising capturing an image of an operator with a control station camera, transmitting the captured operator image to the robot and displaying the transmitted captured operator image on a robot monitor. 
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the robot includes a mobile platform that moves the robot input device relative to a surface.