RP-Vita, a telepresence robot for hospitals

The companies iRobot and InTouch Health have collaborated to develop Remote Virtual Presence + Independent Telemedicine Assistant, o RP-Vita, that combines telepresence with automation to create an easy-to-use system that allows doctors to care for patients remotely without needing to be in the same location.

The companies iRobot e InTouch Health have presented their new telepresence robot, RP-Vita, that aims to facilitate medical care, allowing a doctor to review a patient's condition without necessarily being in the room with them. The project arises at the beginning of the year, when iRobot (creator of the popular Roomba robot vacuum cleaner) made an investment of US$ 6 million in InTouch, after which product development began, which was finally presented this week at the Clinical Innovations Forum in Santa Barbara (EU)

The robot is equipped with a series of sensors, including PrimeSense technology (used on Kinect) and two cameras, that allow the doctor to feel as if he were in the room with the patient. To access the system, The doctor must have a computer with a WiFi connection and a webcam (an iPad or a computer).Once connected, the RP-Vita screen shows it, and he sees what the robot's cameras capture. A centralized medical records system allows the doctor to review his or her patient's record and, if there is another person in the room (like a nurse), can use one of Vita's remote tools to view the patient's vital signs.

Robot technology allows it to be easily located within hospitals, having a map of the facilities incorporated. This allows, For example, the doctor can indicate which room you have to go to, and the robot moves automatically. Besides, when the doctor disconnects, RP-Vita automatically returns to its charging station.

The system is not designed for all types of medical care. For now it is only used in emergency care and intensive care units.. Tests are already being carried out with it in several hospitals in the United States and the FDA is expected to grant its approval at the end of the year., with which it could begin to be used massively.

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