Patents Assigned to Intouch Technologies
  • Patent number: 8401275
    Abstract: A robotic system that includes a mobile robot and a remote input device. The input device may be a joystick that is used to move a camera and a mobile platform of the robot. The system may operate in a mode where the mobile platform moves in a camera reference coordinate system. The camera reference coordinate system is fixed to a viewing image provided by the camera so that movement of the robot corresponds to a direction viewed on a screen. This prevents disorientation during movement of the robot if the camera is panned across a viewing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Keith P. Laby, Jonathan Southard, Marco Pinter, Brian Miller
  • Publication number: 20130066469
    Abstract: A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8384755
    Abstract: A tele-presence system that includes a portable robot face coupled to a remote station. The robot face includes a robot monitor, a robot camera, a robot speaker and a robot microphone. The remote station includes a station monitor, a station camera, a station speaker and a station microphone. The portable robot face can be attached to a platform mounted to the ceiling of an ambulance. The portable robot face can be used by a physician at the remote station to provide remote medical consultation. When the patient is moved from the ambulance the portable robot face can be detached from the platform and moved with the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Kevin Hanrahan
  • Patent number: 8340819
    Abstract: A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Amante Mangaser, Jonathan Southard, Marco Pinter, John Cody Herzog, Charles Steve Jordan, Yulun Wang, James Rosenthal
  • Publication number: 20120191464
    Abstract: A proctoring system that includes a communication device coupled to a remote station. The remote station has a visual display that displays first information relating to an action that causes an effect on an object, and simultaneously displays second information relating to the effect on the object. The remote station includes at least one input device that allows a communication to be transmitted by an operator to the communication device. By way of example, during the deployment of a heart stent, a specialist doctor may remotely view real-time fluoroscopy imagery and patient hemodynamics. The specialist can remotely proctor medical personnel on the proper orientation and timing requirements for installing the stent.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Stuart, Michael C. Chan, Timothy Wright, Yulun Wang, Fuji Lai
  • Patent number: 8209051
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Keith Phillip Laby, Charles S. Jordan, Steven Edward Butner, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 8179418
    Abstract: A robotic system that can be used to treat a patient. The robotic system includes a mobile robot that has a camera. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote station that has a monitor. A physician can use the remote station to move the mobile robot into view of a patient. An image of the patient is transmitted from the robot camera to the remote station monitor. A medical personnel at the robot site can enter patient information into the system through a user interface. The patient information can be stored in a server. The physician can access the information from the remote station. The remote station may provide graphical user interfaces that display the patient information and provide both a medical tool and a patient management plan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy C. Wright, Fuji Lai, Marco Pinter, Yulun Wang
  • Patent number: 8170241
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote control station. The robot includes a binaural microphone system that is coupled to a speaker system of the remote control station. The binaural microphone system may include a pair of microphones located at opposite sides of a robot head. The location of the microphones roughly coincides with the location of ears on a human body. Such microphone location creates a mobile robot that more effectively simulates the tele-presence of an operator of the system. The robot may include two different microphone systems and the ability to switch between systems. For example, the robot may also include a zoom camera system and a directional microphone. The directional microphone may be utilized to capture sound from a direction that corresponds to an object zoomed upon by the camera system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David Bjorn Roe, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Marco Pinter, Derek Walters, Charles S. Jordan
  • Patent number: 8116910
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote controlled station. The robot includes a camera and a printer coupled to a mobile platform. The remote control station may display one or more graphical user interfaces with data fields. The graphical user interfaces allow a user to enter information into the data fields. The information is then transmitted to the robot and printed by the robot printer. The information may include a medical prescription and the name of the patient. Providing a robot printer allows the user to directly provide a medical prescription while remotely observing and interacting with the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Intouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Walters, Marco Pinter, Jonathan Southard, Charles S. Jordan
  • Publication number: 20110190930
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a remote control station and a robot that has a camera, a monitor and a microphone. The robot includes a user interface that allows a user to link the remote control station to access the robot. By way of example, the user interface may include a list of remote control stations that can be selected by a user at the robot site to link the robot to the selected control station. The user interface can display a connectivity prompt that allows a user at the robot site to grant access to the robot. The connectivity prompt is generated in response to a request for access by a remote control station. The robot may include a laser pointer and a button that allows a user at the robot site to turn the laser pointer on and off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin Hanrahan, Marco Pinter, Daniel Steven Sanchez, Blair Whitney, David Bjorn Roe, Charles S. Jordan, Yulun Wang
  • Publication number: 20110187875
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a robot face with a monitor, a camera, a speaker and a microphone. The system may include a removable handle attached to the robot face. The robot face may be controlled through a remote controller. The handle can be remove and replaced with another handle. The remote controller can be covered with a sterile drape or sterilized after each use of the system. The handle and remote controller allow the robot to be utilized in a clean environment such as an operating room without requiring the robot face to be sterilized after a medical procedure. The robot face can be attached to a boom with active joints. The robot face may include a user interface that allows a user to individually move the active joints of the boom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2010
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Steven Sanchez, Kevin Hanrahan, Charles S. Jordan, David Bjorn Roe, Yulun Wang, Marco Pinter, Blair Whitney
  • Patent number: 7813836
    Abstract: A robotic system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station can generate control commands that are transmitted to the robot through a broadband network. The control commands can be interpreted by the robot to induce action such as robot movement or focusing a robot camera. The robot can generate reporting commands that are transmitted to the remote station through the broadband network. The reporting commands can provide positional feedback or system reports on the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 7769492
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a mobile robot and a portable control station that communicate through a cellular network. Utilizing a cellular network allows the control station to be a portable device such as a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Greg Brallier, Jon Mears
  • Patent number: 7761185
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a robot and a remote station. The robot and remote station contain monitors, cameras, speakers and microphones that allow for two-way videoconferencing between a physician at the remote station and a patient in the vicinity of the robot. The system also includes a patient monitor that displays patient information such as an x-ray. The patient monitor can be seen by the patient, and by the physician through the robot camera. The system allows for a physician to remotely review the medical information with the patient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Michael C. Chan
  • Publication number: 20100131103
    Abstract: A robot system with a robot that has a camera and a remote control station that can connect to the robot. The connection can include a plurality of privileges. The system further includes a server that controls which privileges are provided to the remote control station. The privileges may include the ability to control the robot, joint in a multi-cast session and the reception of audio/video from the robot. The privileges can be established and edited through a manager control station. The server may contain a database that defines groups of remote control station that can be connected to groups of robots. The database can be edited to vary the stations and robots within a group. The system may also allow for connectivity between a remote control station at a user programmable time window.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Cody Herzog, Blair Whitney, Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter
  • Publication number: 20100070079
    Abstract: A remote control station that controls a robot through a network. The remote control station transmits a robot control command that includes information to move the robot. The remote control station monitors at least one network parameter and scales the robot control command as a function of the network parameter. For example, the remote control station can monitor network latency and scale the robot control command to slow down the robot with an increase in the latency of the network. Such an approach can reduce the amount of overshoot or overcorrection by a user driving the robot.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Applicant: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Amante Mangaser, Jonathan Southard, Marco Pinter, John Cody Herzog, Charles Steve Jordan, Yulun Wang, James Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 7593030
    Abstract: A business to business mobile teleconferencing system. The system includes a mobile robot that can be remotely operated from a remote station. Both the robot and the remote station may have a camera, a screen, a microphone and a speaker to conduct a teleconference between a user at the remote station and personnel located in viewing proximity of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Jonathan Southard, Marco Pinter
  • Patent number: 7289883
    Abstract: A method for remotely monitoring a patient. The method includes generating and transmitting input commands to the robot from a remote station. The remote station may include a personal computer that is operated by a doctor. The input commands can move the robot so that a video image and sounds of the patient can be captured by a robot camera and microphone, respectively, and transmitted back to the remote station. The robot may also have a monitor and a speaker to allow for two-way videoconferencing between the patient and a doctor at the remote station. The robot can move from room to room so that a doctor can make “patient rounds” within a medical facility. The system thus allows a doctor visit patients from a remote location, thereby improving the frequency of visits and the quality of medical care.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Louis Kavoussi
  • Patent number: 7262573
    Abstract: A robot system that includes a robot and a remote station. The remote station includes a head worn device worn on the head of a user. The head worn device senses movement of the user's head and generates corresponding input signals. The input signals are processed into robot movement commands and transmitted to the robot, typically through a broadband network. The robot movement commands move a camera of the robot. The camera movement tracks movement of the user's head so that the user can scan the visual field without having to generate separate input commands for the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Keith Phillip Laby, Jonathan Southard
  • Patent number: 7222000
    Abstract: A remote controlled robot system that includes a robot and a remote control station. A user can control movement of the robot from the remote control station. The remote control station may generate robot control commands that are transmitted through a broadband network. The robot has a camera that generates video images that are transmitted to the remote control station through the network. The user can control movement of the robot while viewing the video images provided by the robot camera. The robot can automatically stop movement if it does not receive a robot control command within a time interval. The remote control station may transmit a stop command to the robot if the station does not receive an updated video image within a time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: InTouch Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yulun Wang, Charles S. Jordan, Marco Pinter, Jonathan Southard