WO2000003633A1

WO2000003633A1 - Device for medical emergencies on board aircraft

Info

Publication number: WO2000003633A1
Application number: PCT/EP1999/000508
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markus RÖMMEN
Original assignee: Vidair Avionics Ag
Priority date: 1998-07-18
Filing date: 1999-01-27
Publication date: 2000-01-27
Also published as: JP2002520217A; CA2317781A1; AU2519499A; CN1274268A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for medical emergencies on board aircraft, especially passenger aircraft. Said device comprises a communication unit (1) located on board the aircraft (7) with inputs for at least one mobile image acquisition apparatus (K7) and a mobile sound or speech acquisition apparatus (17, 20); a stationary communication unit (6) which exchanges image and sound signals with the communication unit (1) located on board the aircraft (7), comprising devices (10, 11, 12, 13) for processing and reproducing image and sound data; transmission and receiving devices positioned in the signal path between the communication units, for transmitting the image and sound signals between the on-board and the stationary communication unit; a mobile monitor (18) which is connected to the on-board communication unit (1) for reproducing the transmitted image signals; and a mobile loudspeaker (19) and/or mobile headphones (17) which are connected to the on-board communication unit (1) for reproducing the transmitted sound signals. A device of this type makes it possible to administer emergency first aid if there is no trained medical personnel on board an aircraft.

Description

Aircraft medical emergency facility

The invention relates to a device for medical emergencies on board aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft. While medical emergencies in the countryside are usually on the spot quickly, the problem of rapid medical emergency assistance arises especially in situations in which an expanded medical infrastructure cannot be used, or cannot be accessed sufficiently quickly. Such situations can e.g. B. in shipping, or on remote oil rigs. However, while a ship's doctor usually travels on a ship, the problem frequently arises in international aviation, and in particular in passenger aviation, that medical help is not available or is not available quickly enough due to the lack of medical specialists on board.

The invention is therefore based on the objective of creating a device which, in the absence of medical specialists on board an aircraft, nevertheless makes it possible to provide first medical assistance.

For this purpose, a device for medical emergencies on board aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft, is proposed

- A communication unit on board the aircraft with signal inputs for at least one mobile image capture device and also a mobile sound or. Voice recording device, a stationary communication unit with devices for processing and reproducing image and sound data with the communication unit on board the aircraft in the exchange of image and sound signals,

transmitting and receiving devices arranged in the signal path between the communication units for transmitting the image and sound signals from the on-board to the stationary communication unit and from the stationary to the on-board communication unit,

- A mobile monitor connected to the on-board communication unit for reproducing the image signals and transmitted from the stationary to-board communication unit

- A mobile loudspeaker and / or headphones connected to the on-board communication unit for reproducing the sound or speech signals transmitted by the stationary on-board communication unit.

Such a facility enables optimization of emergency medical care on board aircraft during the flight. In particular, communication with doctors on the ground can be established. The doctor can establish direct visual contact with the patient or a helper of the patient via the mobile video camera on board. In this way, the doctor is able to contact the patient and assess his condition. Helpful instructions to the on-board staff or another helper can be given directly. Furthermore, the pilot in charge can be given competent advice in the event of emergencies on board aircraft, for example with regard to the decision to be made as to whether a stopover has to be made due to the medical emergency or whether the flight can be continued to the destination. The signals to be exchanged between the aircraft and the ground can be transmitted using the existing stationary transmitting and receiving devices, which are mostly available at international airports. The transmission of the signals and data is preferably carried out using satellite technology, so that accessibility is ensured from any point on earth. In addition to the possibility of transmitting image and sound data, the stationary communication unit can be provided with means for generating control data for the operation of the communication unit located on board, the transmitting and receiving devices also for transmitting this control data from the stationary to the board located Communication unit are set up.

To control the on-board communication unit and for image and sound data processing and playback, a personal computer with a monitor and loudspeaker / headphones is preferably connected to the stationary communication unit.

While the existing land or satellite-based devices of the ground stations that are used worldwide can serve as stationary transmitting and receiving devices, the existing on-board antenna can serve as the transmitting and receiving device of the aircraft. Above all, however, data and signals can be exchanged directly via the global satellite network of telecommunications.

If the image and sound data and, if applicable, the control data for the on-board communication unit are transmitted together with the flight data exchanged between the aircraft and the tower, this special data must first be filtered out from the general communication connection, usually from the radio beacon information.

With a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention it is proposed that the on-board communication unit has a control unit which, depending on the control data received, influences the functions of the mobile image capture device, e.g. B. by actuating a zoom for the lens of the image capture device or by motorized pivoting of the image capture device.

In order to be able to align the image capture device as best as possible to the patient or the helper at the location of the emergency, it is further proposed that the housing of the mobile image capture device be detachable with means for this Attachment to furnishings in the passenger compartment of the aircraft is provided. These means are preferably clamping elements.

In a further preferred embodiment it is proposed that the monitor be arranged in an emergency case and that the emergency case also offers space for the transport of the mobile image capture device connected via a flexible cable. Furthermore, it is proposed that the emergency case also offer space for the transport of the mobile sound or speech detection device, preferably in the form of a microphone combined with a headphone.

In many medical emergencies, it makes sense to first carry out standard examinations of the patient in order to gain information about cardiac activity, blood pressure or the proportion of oxygen in the blood. In order to be able to carry out such examinations in spite of the lack of medical specialists, it is further proposed that the device on board the aircraft also include

- a mobile electrocardiogram (EKG)

- And / or a mobile blood pressure monitor

- and / or a mobile oxygen meter,

and that the EKG or the blood pressure measuring device or the oxygen measuring device is connected via an interface to the communication unit located on board the aircraft, which is provided with means for transmitting the medical measuring signals thus obtained via the transmitting and receiving device to the stationary communication unit, wherein ECG, blood pressure meter or oxygen meter are preferably part of the portable emergency case.

Finally, it is proposed that the emergency case for power supply can be connected to the electrical system of the aircraft and that the emergency case is additionally provided with an integrated power supply.

Further advantages and details emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing Invention. The drawing shows a predominantly schematic representation of various devices for emergencies on board passenger aircraft using a first communication unit on board the aircraft and a second, stationary communication unit.

The upper part of the drawing shows the interior layout of a passenger aircraft with a passenger compartment and cockpit. The cargo or cargo space of the aircraft is located below the passenger compartment. Image capture devices, preferably digital video cameras, are located at various locations within the passenger aircraft.

Image acquisition devices K1, K2, K3 and K4 monitor individual zones of the passenger compartment with the aim of increasing the safety in the aircraft in the event of unexpected events. In an emergency, the images captured in this way are sent to the floor and can be evaluated by experts there so that image documents from before and during an unexpected event are available. Security for passengers is increased, and a contribution is made to better answer the question of human or technical failure in the event of a serious malfunction, including catastrophe. The documented situation in the passenger compartment can be important for this. In order to ensure that the image capturing devices K1, K2, K3 and K4 are unobtrusively accommodated in the passenger compartment, these video cameras are equipped with bottleneck lenses.

Another image capture device K5 covers the cockpit area and in particular the immediate area of activity of the pilot and co-pilot.

Another image capture device K6 is arranged in the cargo and loading space of the aircraft and is used to monitor the processes there.

The image capture devices K1 to K6 are connected to an on-board communication unit 1 via fiber optic cables. This is located at a point on the aircraft that cannot be easily reached by unauthorized persons. Several alarm buttons T1 to T3 are also connected to the on-board communication unit 1 via fiber optic cables. Automatic operations within the communication unit 1 can be carried out via the alarm buttons T1 to T3 are triggered, e.g. B. an automatic transmission of the video images recorded in the interior to a ground station.

In addition to emergencies such as technical malfunctions and kidnappings, medical emergencies also represent an unexpected event on board a commercial aircraft. For medical emergencies there is another, however, mobile image capture device K7, which, like a mobile monitor, is part of a portable emergency case. Using the data exchange between the on-board communication unit and the stationary communication unit 6, a video conference can be conducted in this way with the ground station, so that it is possible for an emergency doctor in the ground station to obtain visual information about the situation on board and to show medical aid measures.

Part of the communication unit 1 housed in a closed, watertight and shockproof housing 2 is a storage unit 3 for the image data supplied by the image capture devices K1 to K6. The processing of the image and sound data supplied by the mobile image capture device K7 can also take place via the communication unit 1.

The capacity of the storage unit 3 is sufficient to store all image data even for the duration of a longer flight, e.g. B. completely save an intercontinental flight. A method for image data compression with a compression rate greater than 1: 100 can be used to save memory space.

In addition to the storage unit 3, the on-board communication unit 1 also consists of a control unit. This is e.g. B. able to select individual of the image capture devices, transfer image data to a monitor 4, which is arranged in the cockpit in the viewing area of the pilot and co-pilot, and to influence the individual image capture devices K1 to K7 with regard to their function, for. B. by zooming or panning the relevant video camera. In particular, the functions of the on-board communication unit can be influenced from outside, as will be described in more detail below. The monitor 4 arranged in the cockpit in the pilot's field of vision is connected to an operating panel 5, via which individual video cameras can be selected. The monitor 4 is provided with an automatic dark switching by automatically deactivating the monitor 4 in certain alarm cases so as to act as a monitoring instrument, for. B. not to fall into the hands of an aircraft hijacker.

The image capture device K5 mounted in the cockpit is aligned with its lens so that a record of all activities of the pilot and / or the copilot is possible. The display of the on-board instruments arranged in front of the pilot is also recorded. In order to display the scaling of the instruments sufficiently clearly, the image capture device K5 is a high-resolution video camera, the image signals of which arrive at the on-board communication unit 1 via a glass fiber cable.

The communication unit 1 on board the aircraft is in data exchange with a stationary communication unit 6, which ideally can be assigned to the major air traffic control center and installed there. However, the stationary communication unit 6 can also be located centrally in an international center for flight safety.

The wireless signal connection between the on-board communication unit 1 and the stationary communication unit 6 can take place via the existing transmitting and receiving devices in the air and on the ground. These are e.g. B. the on-board antenna of the aircraft 7 or the ground antenna 9 connected to the closest ground station 8, usually an airport tower, for the regular radio beacon information. However, the signal connection can also be made indirectly from the aircraft via satellite to the ground and back.

The data exchanged between the on-board and the stationary communication unit are processed in the stationary communication unit 6 to the extent that the processing of the resulting data can take place in a personal computer 10, on which in turn a monitor 11 and, if appropriate, a modem 12, a fax machine 13 or even more Peripherals can be connected. The video image on the monitor 11 can reproduce further information in addition to the image itself, for B. the number of the selected image capture device K1 to K7, an identification number for the aircraft, the flight coordinates in length and width, the speed of the aircraft, its course and the flight altitude. Suitable loudspeakers are provided for the reproduction of sound or speech signals.

By connecting the personal computer 10 to the stationary communication unit 6, it is possible to transmit all image data of the storage unit 3 and, alternatively, in real time the image data currently supplied by the image capturing devices K1 to K7, as well as additional sound data to the floor and to edit, display and print them there etc. By controlling the on-board communication unit 1 by means of the stationary communication unit 6 in data and signal exchange, control processes can also be triggered by the personal computer 10 in the on-board communication unit 1. For this purpose, control data is exchanged from the stationary to the on-board communication unit. For example, all of the image and possibly audio data already stored for the image capture devices K1 to K7 can be called up in order to then save them in the personal computer 10 and to call them up later. The image data can be compressed so that it can also be transmitted at a high transmission speed. Furthermore, the current image signals can be called up from any of the image capture devices K1 to K6 and displayed on the monitor 11, possibly also together with sound signals. This opens up the important possibility of "looking" into the aircraft from the outside, retrospectively on the basis of the image data already stored in the storage unit 3 or in real time and thus up to date.

Of course, this option is not used continuously, but only in certain emergency situations. The transmission of the image data captured by the image capture devices K1 to K6 to the airport tower can take place automatically in certain situations, triggered by a certain technical event, e.g. B. a particularly strong vibration of the aircraft or with a strong pressure drop in the cabin. The triggering of the image data transmission can also be triggered by the on-board personnel using the alarm buttons T1 to T3. The type and scope of the data transferred therefore depends on the nature of the triggering event. In an extreme case, ie in the event of an impending crash of the aircraft, the on-board communication unit 1 will transmit as much image data as possible and in the shortest possible time to the stationary communication unit 6, with the compression of the already incurred image data in the storage unit 3 resulting in short transmission times from the on-board unit the stationary communication unit leads.

Essential part of the above

Monitoring device is a portable emergency case 14, which is always within reach on board the aircraft. Part of the emergency case 14 is u. a. the digital video camera K7. For transportation, the video camera K7 is located in a compartment 15 of the emergency case 14, from which it can be easily removed. The housing of the video camera K7 is provided with a clamping element 16 or another fastening device, with the aid of which the video camera K7 can be fastened at a suitable point in the interior of the aircraft and in particular on furnishings there. The compartment 15 of the emergency case 14 also offers space for a headphone 17 with a combined microphone.

The emergency case 14 also includes a monitor 18 and, for use as an alternative to the headphones 17 with a microphone, a built-in loudspeaker 19 and a built-in microphone 20.

The emergency case 14 can be connected to the communication unit 1 of the aircraft via a data line 21. The data line 21 can be an electrical cable or a glass fiber cable. However, the data and signal exchange between the components of the emergency case 14 and the on-board communication unit 1 is preferably wireless.

Alternatively, it is also possible to provide the emergency case 14 with its own communication unit 1, which in medical emergencies takes over the functions described above of the communication unit 1 permanently installed on board and is also able to communicate with the stationary communication unit 6 in data via satellite. and signal exchange. If the communication unit 1 is already integrated in the emergency case 14, can the data line 21 shown in the drawing to the communication unit 1 permanently installed on board the aircraft is eliminated.

Finally, components of the emergency case 14 are still important medical measuring and examination devices, e.g. B. an electrocardiogram (EKG) 22, a blood pressure measuring device 23 and an oxygen measuring device 24. These measuring devices are connected directly via an interface to the communication unit 1, so that the medical measurement signals obtained from an emergency patient can be sent to the emergency devices in the shortest possible time pass on stationary communication unit 6 so that their evaluation and medical assessment can then be carried out by a doctor on the ground.

The doctor's instructions are also given to the patient on board the aircraft or to a patient's helper using the transmitting and receiving devices described above. To facilitate communication, the patient or his assistant can use the headphones 17 with a microphone. Likewise, the language instructions and aids can also be provided via the loudspeaker 19 built into the emergency case 14. For the visual contact between the doctor and the patient or helper, the transmitted image signals are projected on the monitor 18, so that the treatment of the emergency patient can take place in a dialog of image and sound similar to a video conference.

The emergency case 14 can be connected to the electrical system of the aircraft for the power supply. It is also equipped with an integrated power supply so that it can also be used to supply emergency patients at points on the aircraft where the existing electrical system cannot be used.

If, as described above, the communication unit 1 is already part of the emergency case 14 and also has its own power supply, the emergency case 14 can be used not only on board aircraft, but also in other places where an immediate care of an emergency patient is not possible is, e.g. B. on ships, remote oil rigs, when traveling to remote areas etc. Reference list

1 communication unit on board 20 microphone

2 housing 21 data line

3 memory unit 22 electrocardiogram (EKG)

4 Monitor 23 blood pressure monitor

5 control panel 24 oxygen meter

6 stationary communication unit

7 aircraft K1-K7 image capture devices,

Video cameras

8 ground station (airport tower) T1-T3 button

9 floor antenna

10 personal computers

11 monitor, speaker

12 modem

13 fax machine

14 emergency case

15 compartments

16 clamping element

17 headphones with microphone

18 monitor

19 speakers

Claims

Patent claims

1. Facility for medical emergencies on board aircraft, in particular passenger aircraft, with

- a communication unit (1) on board the aircraft with signal inputs for at least one mobile image capture device (K7) and a likewise mobile sound or speech capture device (17, 20),

a stationary communication unit (6) with the communication unit (1) on board the aircraft in the exchange of image and sound signals, with devices (10, 11, 12, 13) for image and sound data processing and reproduction,

transmitting and receiving devices arranged in the signal path between the communication units (1, 6) for transmitting the image and sound signals from the on-board to the stationary communication unit and from the stationary to the on-board communication unit,

- A mobile monitor (18) connected to the communication unit (1) on board for reproducing the image signals and transmitted from the stationary (6) to the onboard communication unit (1)

- A mobile speaker (19) and / or headphones (17) connected to the communication unit (1) on board for reproducing the sound or speech signals transmitted by the stationary (6) to the on-board communication unit (1).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the stationary communication unit (6) is provided with means for generating control data for the operation of the on-board communication unit (1), and that the transmitting and receiving devices for transmitting this control data from the stationary (6) to the on-board communication unit (1) are set up.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that for controlling the on-board communication unit (1) and for image and Sound data processing and playback a personal computer (10) with monitor (11) and speakers / headphones is connected to the stationary communication unit (6).

4. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the on-board communication unit (1) has a control unit which, depending on the control data received, influences the functions of the mobile image capture device (K7), for. B. by operating a zoom for the lens of the image capture device (K7) or by motorized pivoting of the image capture device (K7).

5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing of the mobile image capturing device (K7) is provided with means for its releasable attachment to furnishings in the passenger compartment of the aircraft.

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means are clamping elements (16).

7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the monitor (18) is arranged in a portable emergency case (14), and that the emergency case (14) also has space for the transport of the mobile image capture device (K7.) Connected via a flexible cable ) offers.

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the emergency case (14) also offers space for the transport of the mobile sound or speech detection device, preferably in the form of a microphone combined with a headphone (17).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is further on board the aircraft

- a mobile electrocardiogram (EKG) (22)

- And / or a mobile blood pressure monitor (23)

and / or a mobile oxygen measuring device (24), and that the EKG (22) or the blood pressure measuring device (23) or the oxygen measuring device (24) is connected via an interface to the communication unit (1) on board the aircraft, Which is provided with means for transmitting the medical measurement signals thus obtained via the transmitting and receiving devices to the stationary communication unit (6), the ECG (22), blood pressure measuring device (23) or oxygen measuring device (24) preferably being part of the portable emergency case (14) .

10. Device according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the emergency case (14) for power supply to the electrical system of the aircraft (7) can be connected, and that the emergency case (14) is additionally provided with an integrated power supply.