| 摘要 |
A device is disclosed that enables a physician to remotely perform a physical examination of a patient. The device includes a hand control unit (100) that is shaped to accommodate a physician's hand, and includes a number of sensory modulation subunits (140) that can simultaneously detect applied pressure and exert pressure back to the physician. The hand control unit (100) connects through a computer (160) to a remote patient examination module (200) interfaces with a remotely located patient, preferably by wrapping around the portion of the patient's body that is to be examined. The patient examination module (200) includes a plurality of sensory modulation subunits (240) arranged in an array forming a flexible pad (202). In operation the sensory modulation subunits (240) of the patient examination module (200) receive a signal from the hand control unit (100) that indicates the location and magnitude of pressure's applied to the hand control unit (100) by the physician, and replicates that pressure in the patient through the sensory modulation subunits (240), which simultaneously detect the responsive pressures exerted by the corresponding portions of the patient's body. The magnitude and location of these responsive pressures are converted to a digital signal that is fed back to the hand control unit (100) sensory modulation subunits (140), providing the physician with a tactile response simulating direct contact with the patient. |
