DE102006019162A1 - Medical support providing method for e.g. diagnostics problem, involves exchanging information via geographically distributed network, and assigning center computer to expert team for exchanging audio, video and control signal data - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves exchanging information through a geographically distributed network e.g. peer-to-peer network (1) such as wire-bound, portable radio network and Internet. A set of center computers (4-14) is connected with each other by a front-end computer (2). Each center computer is assigned to an expert or an expert team for exchanging audio, video and control signal data. An independent claim is also included for a device for providing a medical support in diagnostics, therapy and scientific problems.

Description

object The invention is a method and apparatus for providing medical support in diagnosis, therapy and scientific issues the preamble of claim 1.

An initially mentioned method is, for example, with the subject of DE 100 50 087 A1 known. In this known method, certain therapeutic measures after diagnosis are organized by coordinating all diagnostic and therapeutic measures with each other via a locally available database so as to create the possibility that individual treatment steps can be performed by different persons. Disadvantage of the known method, however, is that only one single local database and the information stored there can be used.

With the subject of DE 10 2004 059 713 A1 Another method has become known in which traffic accident victims at the scene of the accident undergo telemedicine care.

To For this purpose, a network - type system is used in which a telemedical emergency kit has a number of information modules and transmitting and receiving devices so as to interfere with other telecommunication systems to communicate.

disadvantage This procedure is, however, that it is a decreed Network that communicate only with specially assigned participants can.

Of the The invention is therefore based on the object, a method for Providing medical support in diagnostics, therapy and further develop scientific questions in such a way that with Help of a computer-aided Database system ensures worldwide medical support is.

to solution The object is the invention by a method according to the subject matter of claim 1.

essential Feature of the invention is that existing worldwide database-based computer systems proposed to which experts and / or expert teams connected with these there each associated center computers are.

Of the Because of the simpler description will be in the following description only from an "expert", though this can also be present as a "team of experts" and accordingly also on different people can provide distributed knowledge.

core The invention is thus the exploitation of the advantages of a worldwide Network (eg in the form of the Internet) to which a variety of Center computers are connected, and at each central computer each "one" expert is connected, the over a set of diagnostic and therapeutic devices, as well as associated databases features.

On this way, for the first time ever, the world-wide knowledge of countless Center computers connected to the geographically distributed network for each made available to any participant on his central computer.

The However, the invention is not limited to providing the "knowledge" of a plurality of central computers limited, because in a development of the invention, it is provided that the respective experts connected to the central computers are able to use the diagnostic and / or therapy devices at the other To read the central computer, to recognize their status and from each connected center computer via a Control and manipulation unit, to manipulate the devices connected to the other center computer.

In A preferred embodiment of the invention is intended that the distributed network is designed as a peer-to-peer.

One such PTP network has significant advantages over conventional ones Networks.

It is characterized by the fact that after the registration of each participant on a management computer all participants on an equal basis via appropriate Node computers are interconnected.

In addition is It is possible with a special software, in the respective field of application the invention, a "communication software" with appropriate Database to apply. This software manages the previous data and rejects the request of each online working remote station automatically.

A typical PTP network had been provided by the American company Kazaa. In this known network, however, participants connected there could only access the files of all other participants online grab when certain filter and search terms have been specified. The associated software therefore only allowed targeted access to specific digital files of other participants.

About these known technical teaching goes far beyond the present invention, because the invention not only sees the mutual exchange of Diagnostics and therapy data and the exchange of scientific Questions, but about it in addition, the mutual manipulation of those existing in the other place Diagnostic and therapy devices.

In order to A worldwide distributed expert system will be created in which a team of experts by exchange of control and information data of for example, learn the operation data of the other team. The operation of the one team or the diagnosis of the one Teams are made directly accessible to the other team, and the respective team Expert team can provide the "learning" team with the appropriate Lead and set up diagnostic and surgical instruments and devices.

Consequently The invention provides a group-wise linking of expert centers Users. It is preferred if the composition of the expert group is given in a 4-constellation, although the invention thereto is not limited.

Consequently can worldwide expert centers from all directions of science, z. B. from medicine, knotted together and their knowledge (also with Non-experts) change.

there Preference is given to an exchange of experience in diagnostics and therapy immediately during the operation or examination on the patient.

In order to is the first opportunity a disease that suddenly Acutely occurs, with world wide in the most different places To discuss expert teams. It is thus created a globalized, medical institution, with For the first time in the world, the global expertise is used can be.

Of the Novelty value is that you can not only in a variety of areas of ophthalmology, but in all medical areas an information exchange with experts allows.

Of the Information exchange is based on the interdisciplinary support of diagnostics and therapy directed to medical disorders.

you can of course not just medical data or knowledge or findings worldwide discuss and submit data online, but everything in the sense of a worldwide exchange forum between Experts.

In order to There is a huge network in which the experts work in groups are permanently attainable and these have now due to the present Measurement data an exchange of knowledge among each other.

It is a worldwide, stationary network, which is simply established like a search engine. This network includes worldwide the experts in different fields as knowledge carriers and as a decision maker together.

When Example of the application can be executed that a patient at an ophthalmologist A sits and this the findings in the eye of the patient raised by means of a microscope. The expert group I at the place of the Ophthalmologist A still consists of a bacteriologist B who has a Smear of the cornea for clarification has made a bacterial infection and from a pharmacologist C, which uses the funds previously used as a table in digital data format ready.

doctor A microscopically raises the finding that the patient has a striking red Eye has. This finding is generated as an audio signal. This audio signal gets along with the video image of the microscopic examination field to another, about Network lead associated expert group II (Ophthalmologist D, bacteriologist E, pharmacologist F).

Next the online broadcast The voice and video data will also be digital data and control signals transferred to Expert Group II. The transferred Control signals relate, for example, to a time synchronization, a transmission of Position of the video camera and status messages about the examination environment and / or the anamnesis, the patient and the like, e.g. in the form of digital files.

doctor D (Expert Group II) evaluates the video image under consideration of the audio signal and gives the doctor A treatment suggestions. kind A should e.g. investigate if the lens surgery is scarring has left behind and this is the cause of the reddened eye. He can over the Control the video camera at the location of the expert group I, to gain other insights into the patient's eye.

At the same time, the bacteriologist E (Expert Group II) asks about the bacterial status given to him by Bacteriologist B (Expert Group I) as a digital file was transmitted. He gives after consultation with the pharmacologist F (Expert Group II) treatment proposals and the pharmacologist C (Expert Group I) for further use of medication.

Out This example shows that a comprehensive knowledge - won video, audio, and digital data between the two expert groups I and II is exchanged. The transmission of Control signals leaves accordingly, a reciprocal Control of surgical and / or diagnostic instruments between The two teams of experts I and II to It is accordingly a audiovisual knowledge system that provides digital, visual and audio information can be exchanged.

The Invention is self-evident not limited to wired, geographically distributed networks. As well can Mobile networks are used, in particular, the GSM network preferred is because over additional Additional service channels Data can be exchanged.

Of the Subject of the present invention does not arise only from the subject matter of the individual claims, but also from the combination the individual claims among themselves.

All in the documents, including Summary of information and features, in particular the spatial training shown in the drawings as claimed essential to the invention, as far as they individually or in Combination opposite the prior art are new.

in the Below, the invention will be described with reference to only one embodiment illustrative drawings closer explained. Here are more from the drawings and their description Essential to the invention features and advantages of the invention.

It demonstrate:

1 : schematizes the representation of a PTP network with connected central computers

2 : a section of the net after 1 with further details

3 : a data stream as transmitted from a central computer to the node computer

4 : a first example of the communication between the individual central computers

5 a second embodiment of the communication among the participants

6 a third embodiment of the communication between the participants

7 A fourth embodiment of the communication among the participants

In 1 is a so-called PTP network 1 shown, which essentially consists of a management computer 3 exists, via dedicated lines, optionally with one or more of the central computer 4 . 5 or with one or more of the node computers 2 can be connected.

The administrative computer 3 is only used to manage the dial-in of individual subscribers to the center computers 4 - 14 used. He then no longer controls the network because every center computer 4 via the connected node computer 2 on any other central computer 4 can access.

The node computers 2 are not own servers, but every center computer 4 - 14 can also be used as a node computer 2 act. Such a technique is known from the PTP network of Kazaa.

Importantly, every center calculator 4 - 14 is assigned to a single expert or team of experts and that all the central computers can communicate with each other and also control and manipulation intervention by each central computer 4 - 14 on all other center computers 14 - 4 is possible.

Of course it will provided by a management software in the distributed network, that not inadmissible Interventions from one team of experts to the equipment of the other expert team can take place not wanted and wanted.

The necessary authorization and administration structure is not Subject of the present invention.

In 2 are more details of a center calculator 4 - 14 shown. It can be seen that at every center computer 4 - 14 a number of modules are connected, which are only exemplified here a database 15 containing diagnostic and therapeutic data. Further, in the database 15 contain the patient's medical history and other status information. Furthermore, each center calculator 4 - 14 a number of diagnostic tools 16 and one or more therapy devices 17 assigned.

The findings are preferably collected via one or more video cameras 18 and audiovisual sources 19 ,

It is important that even a control and manipulation unit is assigned to each team I-IV, so that each team I-IV on the devices and instruments 15 - 19 of the respective other team and can influence them in the sense of a teacher-pupil system.

One from a center calculator 4 generated data stream 21 is in 3 exemplified. It contains status data 22 including, for example, the person, the devices and the time information. Furthermore, control data 23 transmit and receive, as well as audio and video data 24 . 25 and the input and output data of the connected devices 26 ,

Likewise, the data of the digital file 27 transmitted and possibly influenced.

The 4 shows a first communication scheme in which it can be seen that a number of therapy centers 29 - 34 over the distributed network - here the Internet 28 - communicate.

In addition to the therapy centers 29 . 34 are also the aforementioned center calculator 4 - 14 to which one or more experts or expert groups are assigned.

In this way, it becomes clear that this applies to the different therapy centers 29 - 34 and the different center calculators 4 - 14 Distributed knowledge is made available to all others in the form of a PTP network.

In 5 is a modification of the scheme 4 shown. Here is shown, for example, to a single therapy center 33 a number of experts on the associated center computers 4 - 7 are connected and they can retrieve the knowledge from the central computer of the therapy center (for ophthalmology).

Likewise, the experts mentioned can also transfer their knowledge to the computer of the therapy center 33 feed them and enrich them with their own knowledge, which in turn will be made available to the other experts.

In the variant 2 according to this scheme 6 is recognizable that different therapy centers 29 - 34 Communicate with individual experts or expert groups, so that the individual experts or expert groups the required knowledge from the various therapy centers 29 - 34 can call. Likewise, the knowledge gained by the experts is then exchanged with each other - as in the form of horizontal arrows in 6 is shown - and incidentally on the different therapy centers 29 - 34 distributed.

In 7 a third variant (multiplication variant) is shown in which it can be seen that any number of experts and expert groups with the associated center computers 4 - 14 with a variety of therapy centers 29 - 34 communicates.

requirement for all Variants is that a uniform data transmission protocol is used and that a single language for the therapy and the diagnosis Application finds. In this way it is possible for the first time worldwide the knowledge accumulated at various sources over a PTP network arbitrary other experts in terms of diagnosis and / or therapy and / or scientific question.

1

PTP network

2

node computer

3

management computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

8th

center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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center computer

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Database

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diagnostic instruments

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therapy equipment

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video camera

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audiovisual sources

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Tax- and manipulation unit

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data stream

22

state data

23

control data

24

Audio data

25

video data

26

device data

27

files

28

Internet

29

therapy center

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therapy center

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therapy center

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therapy center

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therapy center

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therapy center

Claims (13)

Method for providing medical support in diagnostics, therapy and scientific questions with a computer-aided database system, characterized in that the exchange of information takes place in a geographically distributed network that each expert or team of experts at least one central computer ( 4 - 14 ) is assigned, that the central computer via node computer ( 2 ) and that with the intervention on one central computer the devices connected to another central computer ( 16 - 19 ) and files ( 15 ) with a control and manipulation unit ( 20 ) are controllable. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the distributed network has a peer-to-peer network ( 1 ), in which all central computers ( 4 - 14 ) after logging on to a management computer ( 3 ) are constantly connected to each other (online) and exchange data. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that the PTP network is wired. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that that the PTP network is a mobile network. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the distributed network ( 1 ) the Internet ( 28 ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the respective one central computer ( 4 - 14 ) exchange audio, video and control signal data. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the respective one central computer ( 4 - 14 have at least one or more of the following devices and facilities and make the data of these facilities available to any other expert or expert team: 1. one or more databases ( 15 ) 2. one or more diagnostic tools ( 16 ) 3. one or more therapy devices ( 17 ) 4. one or more video cameras ( 18 ) 5. one or more audio sources ( 19 ) 6. one or more control and / or manipulation units ( 20 ) Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the participants individually with the therapy center ( 29 - 34 ) communicate. Method according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the participants in groups with the therapy center ( 29 - 34 ) communicate. Device for carrying out the method according to one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the information provided by the respective central computer ( 4 - 14 ), digital data stream ( 21 ) as multiplexed data packets over the distributed network ( 1 ) is sent to all other central computers. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the data stream ( 21 ) contains at least one or more data blocks of the following type: 1. Status data 22 (Persons, devices, date, time) 2. Control and / or manipulation data ( 23 ) 3. Audio data ( 24 ) 4. Video data ( 25 ) 5. Input and output data of the diagnosis and therapy devices ( 26 ) 6. Digital files ( 27 ) Device according to one of claims 10 or 11, characterized in that the control inputs and outputs of the connected diagnostic and therapy device ( 16 . 17 ) all participants ( 4 - 14 ) and, if applicable, the status of these devices ( 16 . 17 ) is visually presented to all participants. Device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterized that only selected Participants over the associated control and manipulation unit the remotely located, control other control and manipulation unit of the other participants can.