Category: News

Phoenix, AZ, USA February 7, 2012 : LifeBot, LLC announced that it introducing the world’s first Multi-Function Telemedicine Emergency Crash Cart system at HIMSS 12 in Las Vegas February 20-23 with Hewlett Packard. LifeBot will also be displaying the DREAMS™ Digital Ambulance Emergency EMS telemedicine system at the Gathering of Eagles meeting in Dallas the same week on February 24-25th.

The World’s First “Virtual Ambulance”

The LifeBot “Virtual Ambulance” cart design begins with the concept of Multi-Function, that a mobile telemedicine cart should be versatile enough to handle routine day-to-day procedures but capable enough to manage unexpected emergencies. One should be able to save money, ease budgets and not have to purchase multiple carts to fit multiple needs. Most importantly, it should save lives. One cart should “do-it-all” or be an “all-in-one” solution.

Featured is a flashing light system to clear the hallways similar to the way an ambulance clears the street. Its patent pending Boot In-Route™ feature means it is ready when you need it. Not only is the cart the most advanced, but it is also the very first Emergency Crash Cart with telemedicine, a “virtual ambulance” that may be easily deployed facility-wide.

LifeBot mobile telemedicine carts are the first and only carts designed to transmit “live” voice, video and full patient physiological data. This is the data usually acquired by complete physiological monitoring systems that are connected directly to the patient. Such parameters include ECG, Pulse Ox, NIBP, Invasive BP, and much much more. LifeBot carts utilize DREAMS™ technologies developed with the U.S. Military making them the most advanced in the world.

Physicians, intensivists, tele-nurses, or any specialist may use LifeBot lightweight tablet or desktop PCs to login to carts for instant remote “tele-presence”. The same PCs may be used to login and be “virtually” on-the-scene to LifeBot equipped ambulances as well.

Physicians utilizing the LifeBot Slate tablet or Desktop PCs have remote control of the pan, tilt, zoom cameras next to the patient. This is just one of the many features of the LifeBot® DREAMS™ telemedicine system. The LifeBot robotic telemedicine crash cart system has numerous automated features so one may worry less about operating the cart system and focus more upon the quality of patient care.

DREAMS™ Ambulance to be Displayed at Gathering of Eagles

The same week LifeBot is displaying one of the original DREAMS™ Project Digital Ambulances at the Gathering of Eagles meeting in Dallas, TX February 24-25, 2012. 

Both the ambulance and the cart systems utilize DREAMS™. LifeBot has acquired the exclusive world-wide rights to key telemedicine technologies including DREAMS™, a $14 million research project that has built the first Digital Telemedicine Ambulances. The project was the brain child of renowned Texas surgeon, Dr. James “Red” Duke, Jr. and was funded by the Telemedicine and Technology Research Center (TATRC) and U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command (USAMRMC), Department of Defense agencies.

The Community Paramedicine Technology Guide

According to LifeBot CEO Roger Heath, “Entire states and nations internationally wish to deploy LifeBot DREAMS™ systems now. They know these advanced technologies can save lives, reduce workloads, and reduce risks and healthcare costs.” Much of this has focused upon Community Paramedicine and delivery of primary care using mobile telemedicine. Both the cart and ambulance systems merge to form one uniform comprehensive system to meet both clinical and pre-hospital needs.

About LifeBot: LifeBot, a telemedicine solutions company, provides exclusive patented and military developed technologies for healthcare. These systems are used to send and receive live video, voice and patient vital-sign data transmissions primarily in support of heart, trauma and stroke victims. 

LifeBot systems are also designed for management of major crises, disasters and emergencies by hospital and field based public safety emergency professionals and for the U.S. Military in battlefield operations. LifeBot integrates capabilities not inherent in today’s telemedicine systems, allowing the benefits of telemedicine, telehealth, and emergency preparedness objectives to be fully realized. 

 Download the Multi-Function Crash Cart Brochure

 Download the Community Paramedicine Technology Guide

“Multi-Function” to Save Both Money-Budgets and Lives.

A mobile telemedicine cart should be versatile enough to handle routine day-to-day procedures but capable enough to manage unexpected emergencies as well. One should not have to purchase multiple carts to fit multiple needs. One cart should “do-it-all“
..it should be an “all-in-one” solution.

The First “Virtual Ambulance™”.

Now with the world’s most advanced Emergency Crash Cart, hospital Crash Cart Teams may deploy a cart where specialists may respond in seconds no matter where they are. They may simply login remotely to the cart system to be “virtually” on-the-scene.

Video-Conferencing is Not Telemedicine.

If one looks at the prominent telemedicine cart suppliers today, you may be shocked to find out most have little or no experience in the healthcare field at all; little knowledge of medical devices and acquiring critical life-saving physiologic information. Most are dedicated to performing video teleconferencing only and have a history as only audio visual specialists. view more..

Exclusive Telemedicine Technologies Developed with the U.S. Military.

LifeBot mobile telemedicine carts are the first and only carts designed to transmit “live” voice, video and full patient physiological data. This is the data usually acquired by complete physiological monitoring systems that are connected directly to the patient. Such parameters include ECG, Pulse Ox, NIBP, Invasive BP, and much much more. LifeBot carts utilize DREAMS™ technologies developed with the U.S. Military making them the most advanced in the world. view more..

The DREAMS™ system was conceived by renowned trauma surgeon James “Red” Duke, Jr. Dr. Duke and S. Ward Cassells, M.D, former Assistant Secretary of Defense (Medical Affairs, received the General Maxwell Thurman Award for these designs at the national meeting of the American Telemedicine Association.

LifeBot announced it has certified Odyssey Decision Support Software (DSS), the most advanced patient assessment system for Emergency EMS use, for use on it’s LifeBot® Slate tablet PC. The software may also run simultaneously the the tabelt PC with the LifeBot DREAMS telemedicine client.

Odyssey and DREAMS™ Telemedicine Integrated

Odyssey is a critical component for Community Paramedicine and Mobile Healthcare delivery. It provides for fast, safe, more accurate patient assessments in just minutes. LifeBot has issued a new technology guide entitled “Responding to the Needs of Community Paramedicine”. The guide details how the DREAMS telemedicine system, developed with the U.S. Military, is combined with Odyssey to form a powerful combination. Now each may run on the 1.5 pound portable Hewlett Packard Slate 2.

Odyssey may be utilized at the priority dispatch level, in emergency departments, clinical patient non-emergency calls centers, and in telemedicine tele-hub operations. Extremely successful, it now occupies more than sixty percent of the market for General Practitioners in the U.K. handling more than 18 million calls over a 15 year period without any major legal issues. No other clinical decision support software can make these claims. Average patient assessment times may be as little as 5 or 6 minutes, virtually eliminating ‘over-triaging’. While simultaneously increasing efficiencies, it significantly reduces the risks associated with medical errors.

Why Decision Support Software?

The Odyssey DSS performs real-time patient assessments referencing over one million words of clinical data. The human brain simply cannot perform this function. But Odyssey can, and it can do this in just a few minutes. It provides a vivid list of differential diagnoses in just seconds. This not only speeds assessments and care, but significantly lowers risks and errors.

Fast accurate pre-hospital patient assessments are also required in the design of an EMS Mobile Healthcare System. So Odyssey is not just for use in dispatch tele-nursing. The use of DSS at both the dispatch and on-board pre-hospital vehicles provides for an early alert system for discerning whether one is dealing with an emergent or non-emergent situation. Errors and risk may be significantly reduced in both areas of use.

Odyssey is the first integral component for forging a pathway to millions in healthcare delivery savings in the EMS Mobile Healthcare model; to demonstrate significant savings similar to those already produced in the UK over many years.

view more..

download Free Community Paramedicine Guide..

Responding to the
Needs of Community Paramedicine ^sm

EMS Mobile Healthcare Systems
LifeBot Technology Design Guide Kit

This is a comprehensive guide to the deployment of the Mobile Primary Care Unit (MPCU) for delivering primary care via EMS providers. This guide also is a detailed presentation on EMS Telemedicine and the prospects for using these technologies for substantially reducing healthcare costs.

Crucial to these systems is the use of Decision Support Software (DSS) to triage callers at the dispatch, call-center, and in actual field operations to determine if a call or a patient is an actual emergency (emergent) or non-emergency (non-emergent). Also reviewed is the crucial nature of EMS Telemedicine to “look inside” and acquire critical physiological data and transmit this to hospital physicians and specialists to save lives.

 Download Free Paramedicine Technology Guide

The Role of Triage in Electronic Health Records (EHR)

The first step in building patient records is triage or teletriage. This is the start of initializing the whole process of managing electronic patient records. EHR (Electronic Health Record), EMR (Electronic Medical Record), and ePCR (electronic Patient Care Record) all need to be merged, but currently lack data interoperability or compatibility, particularly between hospital and prehospital based systems. Look to LifeBot® to be the first to fully integrate all of these and meet the NEMSIS 3.0 telemedicine multimedia integration standards. Stay tuned to this page for major developments in this area. This is why we are concentrating our efforts in this area at the beginning.

Triage and TeleTriage clinical Decision Support Software (DSS) are necessary ‘front ends’ to properly and safely manage health care patient record systems. A triage system is only as good as the amount of accurate clinical information it contains and how easily and quickly patient assessments may be executed. That’s why our teletriage systems, Odyssey, have the most highly developed databases for this purpose. This highly developed system contains more than one million words of clinical triage information for safe and accurate assessments. It can substantially lower risks and more clearly determine emergent or nonemergent status of a patient at the earliest stages of patient record management. Data may be transferred into ambulance or hospital record systems once responsive triage is executed.

by Dan White – LifeBot® Slate allows for the live transmission of patient physiological vital signs and trended video, voice, and data..

One thing that many of the new medical products hitting the market nowadays have in common is that they are often electronic. However, it can be the case that they lack compatibility and the functionality to talk to your destination facility.

There have only been a few and limited technology tests of pre-hospital telemedicine projects. Proprietary algorithms and hardware limitations have thus far prevented it. But this month, we can take a sneak peek at a potentially groundbreaking solution to this problem, the LifeBot® Slate.

The new LifeBot Slate is a Hewlett-Packard-based Windows Tablet PC, powered by the DREAMS telemedicine software. DREAMS (Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services) telemedicine software was developed with trauma surgeon, James ‘Red’ Duke, and the U.S. Military.

This system allows for the live transmission of patient physiological vital signs and trended video, voice, and data. Everything is recorded and selectively stored in an on-board SQL database server. This data may then be forwarded or ported to an EHR (Electronic Health Record) system.

LifeBot functions as a seamless integrator for all your digital data into a hand-held device, and then feeds it onward. You can hook up your ECG to it, hook up your vital signs monitor and pulse oximeter, even hook up your electronic stethoscope.

You can also stream video of all this data, your picture, and video of the patient — all at the same time. For the first time, all these machines can “talk” to the ER, and we can stop “talking through” all of this basic data ourselves.

LifeBot has the potential to redistribute hundreds if not thousands of man-hours. Instead of taking two minutes to talk through a patient report, which is typically incomplete, you could see everything almost instantly. On patients with less than critical injuries, this feature will save a lot of wasted time.

The LifeBot® physical package is surprising ergonomic, and somehow intuitive. It feels natural, like grabbing the steering wheel of a car. LifeBot® only weighs 1.5 pounds, and it is a little smaller form factor than an Apple I-Pad.

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Lateral thinking is solving problems through an indirect and creative approach, using reasoning that is not immediately obvious and involving ideas that may not be obtainable by using only traditional step-by-step logic. . Lateral thinking is concerned with the movement of ideas.

A person would use lateral thinking when they want to move from one known idea to creating new ideas. Edward de Bono defines four types of thinking tools:

• Idea generating tools that are designed to break current thinking patterns—routine patterns, the status quo
• Focus tools that are designed to broaden where to search for new ideas
• Harvest tools that are designed to ensure more value is received from idea generating output
• Treatment tools that are designed to consider real-world constraints, resources, and support.

A person would use lateral thinking when they want to move from one known idea to creating new ideas. Dr. Richard Reese

November 6, 2011 – When I received the following email from Roger Heath, a biomedical engineer who is CEO of www. emstelematics.com, I thought immediately of the concept of “lateral thinking,” arriving at innovation through direct and creative thinking.

Edward de Bono, MD, founder of a thinking institute in Malta, says the medical system is comprised of a horizontal landscape full of vertical holes with a specialists at the bottom of each hole. The problem is the vertical holes do not always intersect. The Internet, social media, and IT Techologies are in the process of connecting the holes. This is especially true in business-friendly environments, where entreprenuers and venture capitalists actively talk to each other.

The medical system is comprised of a horizontal landscape full of vertical holes with a specialists at the bottom of each hole. Edward de Bono, MD

The E-Mail:

We are focused on the ‘front door’ of the hospital, the Emergency Department, where roughly 80% of admissions occur. This is also where most medical record systems are initialized. We are working with Chief Dennis Murphy of the International Association of Fire Chiefs in this area. This is the “eye of the storm” of our projects, you might find this perspective fascinating because this may save cities tens of millions right away, even during healthcare reforms.

Simply put, this involves the prioritizing calls as emergent or non-emergent. Then non-emergency calls (30-60% at the 911 level) may be responded to with a lower cost Mobile Primary Care Unit (MPCU) that can elevate care, lower risks, and save substantial monies. To do this, one needs Decision Support Software (DSS) and mobile telemedicine. In the middle of healthcare reforms, major cities can respond by significantly lowering costs while providing higher levels of care at the same time. It’s a win-win situation, for both providers and patients.

I saw you reporting on Skype being used to qualify ED visits. I view this as potentially very risky, when done without Decision Support Software, like our Odyssey systems. Nurse teletriage was started in major U.S. city some years ago and resulted in a patient lawsuit that was successful and resulted in the complete over-haul of the fire department administration. This set back this concept for some years. Many are experimenting in this area without a great deal of understanding of the inherent risks. I did a post on our site that addresses this issue about using video conferencing only. See: Video Tele-Conferencing is NOT Telemedicine!

I brought the Odyssey DSS software from the UK because I could not find this in the US. It has done over 20 million assessments without a lawsuit. It has been developed over 15 years now. East Midlands Ambulance service has already been saving $11 million annually using the software for some years. I recently was at the Cleveland Clinic reviewing all of this at a very special meeting there regarding call center management. Triage and qualifying patients needs is becoming a central focus. See: DSS Tele-Triage

Prioritizing and coordinating care is the name of the game. It involves very carefully, and safely, matching patient needs to exactly the level of care required.

Reposted from Dr. Richard Reese’ “Medinnovation Blog” view full article

LifeBot has just been advised that R. Lee Heath will have his 33rd patent issue from the U.S. Patent Office. The new patent integrates crucial call management, Personal Emergency Response Systems (PERS) and resuscitation technologies that will only be available from LifeBot.

According to CEO, Roger Heath, “This new patent has major ramifications when applied to managing emergencies during telemedicine home remote monitoring. The majority of these patients are chronic and they are going to have an emergency arise. The patented system does away with the old mantra, “Hang up and dial 911.” because the last thing patients wish to do is disconnect a doctor or nurse during an emergency. There is no reason to hang-up on high-level life-saving medical expertise in the midst of an emergency. This could cost human lives.”

“Most very large telemedicine firms have been investing billions in home remote monitoring and this undoubtedly will reduce healthcare costs. But, they seem to have “skipped over” or completely forgotten that most of these patients are going to have an emergency. This is inevitable.”, states Heath, “So emergency management is critical to saving more lives and LifeBot® holds the exclusive patented technologies to make this possible.”

When this patent is combined with Heath’s patented resuscitation technologies, this forms the basis for the most advanced home remote monitoring systems with emergency management “built-in” says, Heath.

view more…

What do you get when you invest $14 million and 6 years of field tests in an emergency medical services telemedicine system? You get DREAMS™ – Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services – described as the most advanced EMS telemedicine system in the world. The $14 million came from the U. S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command and the Telemedicine and Technology Research Center (TATRC) through a Congressionally Funded military research project. The six years of field tests were done in Liberty County Texas. LifeBot® is the company bringing DREAMS™ to the public safety, EMS, and hospital emergency medicine markets. I had the pleasure to interview Dr. James “Red” Duke and Roger Heath recently about DREAMSTM and what this solution can do for emergency medicine.

What do you get when you invest $14 million and 6 years of field tests in an emergency medical services telemedicine system? You get DREAMS™ Bob Pessemier

DREAMS™ is a complete telemedicine system to connect EMS field units to hospitals and doctors who may be hundreds of miles away and spread out across the country or across the globe. You can transmit voice, video, patient data, and even instruct field personnel on medical procedures. The system integrates voice, video, data, wireless networking, and radio-telephone communications systems. 

The solution can be installed in ambulance or EMS units to create a Super Ambulance or Mobile Primary Care Unit and can also be used by field personnel on an HP Slate 500 tablet PC. Hospitals can connect the emergency department with the field units using the HP TouchSmart 9100 in the hospital.

The goal of the system is to provide better triage, diagnosis, and treatment on the scene. DREAMS™ is designed to help public safety agencies and hospitals save lives, lower liability risk, and reduce costs.

Solution Overview:

DREAMS™ is a complete telemedicine system to connect EMS field units to hospitals and doctors who may be hundreds of miles away and spread out across the country or across the globe. You can transmit voice, video, patient data, and even instruct field personnel on medical procedures. The system integrates voice, video, data, wireless networking, and radio-telephone communications systems. 

The solution can be installed in ambulance or EMS units to create a Super Ambulance or Mobile Primary Care Unit and can also be used by field personnel on an HP Slate 500 tablet PC. Hospitals can connect the emergency department with the field units using the HP TouchSmart 9100 in the hospital.

The goal of the system is to provide better triage, diagnosis, and treatment on the scene. DREAMS™ is designed to help public safety agencies and hospitals save lives, lower liability risk, and reduce costs.

For Example:

Let’s say you have a Medic unit set up with the DREAMSTM solution and they respond to a car accident that is 100 miles from the nearest hospital. Doctors will be able to view the patient and their injuries with one of the three cameras mounted in the unit and the even view the scene so they can determine method and extent of injuries. They can look up patient records from a hospital database and consult in real time with a hospital trauma department. Patient vital signs and other telemetry data are transmitted to the hospital. A doctor in the trauma center could help the paramedics close a large laceration (something they are not trained to do) that is critical to a patient’s survival. Triage and patient care becomes much more effective and efficient. They can also communicate with anyone they need to even if they are on a cell phone, land line, or a completely different radio system.

What Sets Them Apart:

A major differentiator of DREAMSTM is that it is an all-in-one integrated system designed to work seamlessly from the field to the hospital in any technology environment. This system was used for six years in Liberty County Texas and is the only telemedicine system used in actual disasters (Katrina, Rita, Ike).

The people behind this solution are also unique. Dr. James Duke is a renowned trauma surgeon, introduced the first helicopter life flight program in the U.S., attended to Governor Connally’s wounds during the JFK assassination, and hosted the former PBS series, “Bodywatch”. His credentials and involvement in EMS is on the scale of legendary.

Roger Lee Heath is an entrepreneur and inventor who is credited with bringing the Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the EMS world. Mr. Heath is another legendary figure in telemedicine technology.

Dr. S. Ward Cassells received the General Maxwell Thurman Award for his participation in the design of the DREAMS Digital Ambulance telemedicine system, is the former Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs), and is the John E. Tyson Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Public Health, and Vice President for External Affairs and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Houston, and Senior Scholar at the Texas Heart Institute. 

The contribution these three have made to health care and telemedicine over the years is very impressive. They should know what they are doing with LifeBot and DREAMS.

Client Quote:

“Through our close collaboration with innovative technology leaders like LifeBot, HP mobile technology products bring physicians closer to the point of care, regardless of their location. In the back of an ambulance where every second counts, this type of technology is particularly critical, said Chris Mertens, vice president, Healthcare, Personal Systems Group, HP. “Combining our HP Slate 500 and HP TouchSmart PCs with Lifebot’s DREAMS™ ambulance teletriage system is revolutionizing speed of care in emergency health situations and truly saving lives.”

From Roger Heath: “DREAMStm has many applications beyond ambulance telemedicine – the software can be used on hospital mobile telemedicine carts and desktops, or by neurologists on LifeBot’s hub and spoke system to meet American Heart Association recommendations for telestroke. DREAMStm can expand those capabilities to include teletrauma, e-ICU, and disaster management. With the 1.5 pound HP Slate tablet PC, a physician or intensivist can remotely connect hospital-to-hospital or hospital-to-ambulance from almost anywhere, and at any time, to save lives. Call centers, or “telemedicine hubs” may quickly triage and dispatch higher levels of care. Improved communications and care coordination provides for new efficiencies significantly lowering healthcare delivery costs.”

View full Article on Emergency Management

Phoenix, AZ, USA September 8, 2011 : Cardiac defibrillators, used to shock heart arrest victims back to life, are in widespread use throughout the world today. They are in virtually all hospitals, most ambulances, at airports and major public gatherings, aboard airplanes and sea going vessels. They are implanted similar to pacemakers. But, what if defibrillators could use 80% less energy? Could they be much smaller lighter and cost less? Would there be less pain and heart tissue damage?

LifeBot® announced today that founder, R. Lee Heath, has received Notice of Allowance from the U.S.P.T.O. of his 32nd patent focusing on integration cardiac defibrillation and telemedicine robotics.

Most of this is possible according to CEO and founder R. Lee Heath. With his 32nd patent issuing, LifeBot® is even better positioned to deliver these exclusive resuscitation and telemedicine technologies. LifeBot® is focused on the use of remote telemedicine to manage critical emergency life saving procedures.

New Reports: Successful Defibrillation with 80% Less Energy:

Researchers in the U.S. and Germany surprised everyone just a few weeks ago announcing the results of their extraordinary studies showing that defibrillation may be performed using counter-shocks with almost 80% less energy. The studies were done on internal procedures with electrodes connecting directly to the heart. But, according to Heath, it is just a matter of time before this area of research will have an impact on external procedures as well. Each study demonstrated that a series of small shocks could produce similar results to that of a large single counter-shock or the conventional method most commonly utilized by all defibrillators today.

According to Science Daily, “An international team of scientists — from the Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Göttingen, Germany), Cornell University (Ithaca, New York) the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon (France), the University Medicine Göttingen (Germany), the Rochester Institute of Technology (USA), and the Institut Non-Linéaire de Nice (France) — has developed a new low-energy method for terminating life-threatening cardiac fibrillation of the heart. They have shown that their new technique called LEAP (Low-Energy Anti-fibrillation Pacing) reduces the energy required for defibrillation by more than 80% as compared to the current conventional method. Their discovery opens the path for the painless therapy of life threatening cardiac fibrillation.”

The LifeBot® – A Telemedicine Robot to Keep You Alive™:

According to Heath, the methods used in the above studies are the same methods reflected within his patent already issued by the USPTO. ( US Patent # 7,672,720 , Domestic and International Patents Pending. ) Heath was very gratified to see the research by such esteemed institutions affirming his already patented methods. Heath also stated that, in his opinion, this research only “scratches the surface”. There is more work to do to carry this into widespread use for both implantable ( Internal Cardiac Defibrillators or “ICD” ) and external ( Automatic External Defibrillators or “AED” ) systems. Either way, Heath’s already awarded patent is designed to apply to both instances of use.

Smaller size and weight with reduced cost? “Yes”, says Heath, “The external defibrillator prototypes we have constructed and tested some time ago are only about one and one-half inches square.” This has given rise to speculation that these systems could be integrated or added to a PC, tablet, or even a cell phone. This has already been the subject of additional patent documentation on file at LifeBot® for some time.

The patent covers the unique concept of a “Telemedicine Robot” or “LifeBot®” or life support communications system that any one may use under very adverse circumstances. Integrated is the ability to trigger remote telemedicine so a doctor or nurse is virtually “on-the-scene” to aid the patient and/or rescuers. Contact with 911 or 999 dispatch may also be independently initiated as well. Electronic or Personal Medical Record ( EHR or PCR ) may be immediately shared as well as GPS and common location records.

The “robot” may even initiate emergency calls for help if the owner is alone and collapses or becomes completely disabled. Some have termed the LifeBot® as, “OnStar® for your home or business”, but the system goes much further. The product will be made available to consumers for personal use “over-the-counter” the same as existing AEDs.

It goes without question the LifeBot® will be an invaluable life-saving tool for use by paramedics and lay rescuers. It should also be noted that the patented system is the first and only design to fully integrate and automate the American Heart Association’s recommended “Chain of Survival” which says dial 911 first before deploying an AED. There is no easy breakdown in this chain when using the LifeBot®. No doubt, paramedics and rescuers will love carrying substantially smaller more cost effective defibrillators.

Sending patients that may be at risk home is a difficult and potentially very risky prospect for both hospitals and physicians. The concerned physician can send the patient home with a LifeBot® knowing that an emergency system has been put in place should the most dire of consequences arise.

Many patients are in denial and very hesitant to dial 911, but with the LifeBot® most agree that patients will likely call much earlier for a telemedicine consult to assess whether symptoms are potentially serious. The prospect of patients calling with the earliest symptoms is an idea readily embraced by members of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Association and the Chest Pain Society.

32nd Patent Notice of Allowance – A Legacy Continued:

R. Lee Heath is best known as the inventor making possible the modern Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) through his patented electrode defib-pads ( R2-Pads or Combo-Pads ) that are placed on the chest to shock cardiac arrest victims. He was recommended for the Lemelson MIT Prize by American Heart Association officials and other peers. The first use of his earliest inventions has placed him in cardiac electrophysiology labs around the world, where he has conversed with the most prominent cardiologists about procedural and theoretical treatment methods for more than thirty years. “This is how it happened”, says Heath.

Now that legacy is continued with the Notice of Allowance for his 32nd patent now issuing. This patent specifically addresses his latest defib-pad electrode designs. The designs are not only corrective of many serious problems that exist, but it is also complimentary to the LifeBot® Telemedicine Robot™ already patented. The two patents form the basis of a complete comprehensive end-to-end personal life support system and advanced paramedic or lay rescuer system design. Integration of the two preserves features for delivering quality and continuity of patient care.

Priorities and Long Term Goals:

On August 17th, LifeBot® acquired the exclusive world-wide rights to the most advanced emergency telemedicine technologies called DREAMS™ ( Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services) developed by Texas A&M University, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, UTHealth Houston, and the U.S. Department of the Army. The Digital EMS Project was funded by more than $14 million from the Telemedicine and Technology Research Center (TATRC) an office of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Defense Department agencies.

LifeBot® is currently pursuing accounts that represent the potential for immediate military use of DREAMS™, whole state’s and whole nation’s standardization on DREAMS™ for use primarily for hospital to ambulance telemedicine. So the number one priority of the Company is the marketing and deployment of the DREAMS™ telemedicine systems. Those who use existing LifeBot® products, including DREAMS™, will save money by easily launching the more advanced patented solutions in the future.

Long-term the plan is to pursue deployments of the LifeBot® Telemedicine Robot™. Market research indicates the annual defibrillation markets exceed $10 billion annually. LifeBot® estimates that the total consumer markets for the robot exceed $70 billion. The Company may consider an additional equity financing to accelerate this to the fore-front. This is especially true in light of the results demonstrated by the very recent research in Germany and the U.S. supporting the Company’s patented methodologies.

“Most very large telemedicine firms have been investing billions in home remote monitoring and this undoubtedly will reduce healthcare costs. But, they seem to have “skipped over” or completely forgotten that most of these patients are going to have an emergency. This is inevitable.”, states Heath, “So emergency management is critical to saving more lives and LifeBot® holds the exclusive patented technologies to make this possible.”

References and Links:

1. Science Digest, “A LEAP in Controlling Cardiac Fibrillation: Researchers Develop a New Low-Energy Defibrillation Method”, http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110714072907.htm
2. Nature.com, “Cardiovascular disease: Several small shocks beat one big one” http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v475/n7355/full/475181a.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20110714
3. Nature.Com, “Low-energy control of electrical turbulence in the heart” http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v475/n7355/full/nature10216.html?WT.ec_id=NATURE-20110714
4. About R. Lee Heath and LifeBot – Numbers List of Awarded Patents view more..
5. LifeBot: “LifeBot Acquires World-Wide Rights to DREAMStm “Super Ambulance” and Emergency Telemedicine Technologies”
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6. mobihealthnews.com, “Interview: Roger Lee Heath’s LifeBot and Super Ambulances”
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7. LifeBot Commentary by R. Lee Heath , “Video Teleconferencing is NOT Telemedicine!”
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8. Hewlett Packard, “Ambulance 2.0: Bringing Doctor-Quality Care to Ambulances” view more..

Related Media Download Links:
a. High Resolution Image LifeBot Telemedicine Robot: LifeBotTelemedicineRobot.jpg

LifeBot® announced today it has exercised its Option Agreement securing the exclusive worldwide licensing rights to DREAMS™ Digital EMS, the $14 million advanced EMS ambulance and hospital telemedicine system developed by Texas A&M University, Texas Engineering Experiment Station, UTHealth, and the U.S. Department of the Army.

Phoenix, AZ, USA August 17, 2011 : LifeBot, LLC acted today to secure its leading technology position in emergency telemedicine systems. Considered by many to be the most highly developed ambulance to hospital EMS telemedicine system ever deployed, DREAMS™ Digital EMS is the first and only system to provide interactive simultaneous “live” transmissions of critical patient data, audio, and video. The system, in essence, brings hospital specialists to the scene giving to doctors and nurses a virtual tele-presence to collaborate in saving lives and managing disasters in real time, on the “battlefield”, at home or abroad.

Not Just a Concept : Proven in Use for Over Six Years:

The DREAMS™ Digital EMS system is the most highly developed field tested and proven emergency telemedicine system in the world. Developed with over $14 million in funding from the Telemedicine and Technology Research Center (TATRC) an office of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, the Digital Ambulance System has been deployed in actual use for over six years in five prototype ambulances in Liberty County, Texas.

The project was headed by renowned surgeon, James “Red” Duke, Jr. who utilized the system to triage and treat victims in New Orleans “live” during Hurricanes Katrina from the Memorial Hermann emergency room in the Texas Medical Center in Houston. DREAMS family products were also used to support remote clinics during the Katrina and Rita disasters.

Both Dr. Duke, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) Dr. S. Ward Cassells, received the distinguished General Maxwell R. Thurman Award, presented at the American Telemedicine Association, for participation in the design of these advanced telemedicine systems.

“Most attempts at ambulance based telemedicine systems have had extremely limited success, but DREAMS™ has actually delivered on its promise to get the job done and over a number of years.” says LifeBot CEO, R. Lee Heath, who is also best known as the inventor making possible the Automatic External Defibrillator (AED), recommended for the Lemelson MIT Prize by American Heart Association officials and others.

The “Super Ambulance™” System utilizes multiple remote controlled cameras to provide hospital based emergency specialists invaluable live intelligence, emergency preparedness or “situational awareness” so prompt, objective, and safe life-saving assessments and treatments may be made. The hospital knows more precisely “what”s coming in the door” and can accurately prepare the appropriate assets accordingly to both reduce costs and loss of life.

The patient’s physiologic vital signs, data, and medical record reporting (EHR or e-PCR) are updated dynamically between the hospital and the scene. The system is especially valuable for treatment of cardiac, trauma, stroke victims and is important in remote areas where transport times may be prolonged. And, the system may actually act to protect ambulance personal and providers during sensitive difficult situations. It may enhance critical decisions during disasters and mass casualty events. DREAMS™ Digital EMS can make the difference in saving thousands of lives, reducing medical errors and their associated risks further lowering costs.

Not Just for the Ambulance, but Hospitals too:

The DREAMS™ system is not solely for use in ambulances, but also for tele-cardiology, tele-stroke, intensive care (e-ICU tele-ICU) and many additional hospital-to-hospital and physician-to-hospital applications as well. LifeBot mobile telemedicine cart and desktop systems will also utilize the DREAMS™ Digital EMS system as well.

The Most Advanced Telemedicine Tablet Solution:

LifeBot has signed a Joint Marketing Agreement with Hewlett Packard. The DREAMS™ Digital EMS solution has been tested on the 1.5 pound portable Slate Tablet PC as well. This means intensivists, cardiologists, neurologists, trauma and emergency disaster specialists can login and achieve tele-presence from almost any location and at any time to save lives.

Additional Solutions for Telemedicine:

Other major technology projects for LifeBot are included in the licensing signed today. “The DREAMS™ Digital EMS system is really a family of solutions”, according to CEO Heath, “and this makes this technology licensing even more exciting.” This includes a stand-alone system called a Deployable Telemedicine System (DTS). This may be used by hospitals to expand their facilities during disasters or dropped into the battlefield to deliver telemedicine as well.

Included is the Back-Pack Telemedicine System, in which battlefield, mobile or tactical medics can actually wear telemedicine systems to save lives in remote or difficult to access locations. It is ideal for medics using motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, mountain rescue, and helicopter transport, for example. Ultimately, it may even be used by private and municipal providers to deliver telemedicine into homes and businesses to save lives. “When you combine these with our LifeBot patented technologies”, Heath said, “it sets the stage for a roll-out of multiple critical solutions that will only be available from LifeBot.”

Care Coordination and Telemedicine Hubs:

If the ultimate objective is to lower healthcare costs, provide for efficiencies of care, and elevate the quality of care, then LifeBot can accomplish all of these things too. Important is prioritization of patient”s needs and connecting the right medical expertise or using care coordination. This becomes the central “the name of the game”. To accomplish this LifeBot now has the experience and solutions to build full call centers or telemedicine hubs, at the dispatch, hospital, or battlefield levels.

These centers can use LifeBot triage solutions and telemedicine to intelligently coordinate and safely determine if patient needs are emergent, non-emergent; send ambulances to “real” emergencies and match the needed medical expertise into each particular situation. This is absolutely key to both lowering healthcare provider costs and responding with comprehensive disaster management. This may also fulfill the objectives of the Mobile Healthcare Project of the International Association of Fire Chiefs by providing for “treat and release” and reimbursement for non-emergent calls which may rescue financially distressed Fire and EMS services.

“We will be making more announcements soon as this roll-out of these solutions unfolds.”, said Heath.

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About DREAMS™: The DREAMS™ (Disaster Relief and Emergency Medical Services) digital emergency medical services (Digital EMS) program is led by famed trauma surgeon and educator, Dr. James H. “Red” Duke, Jr. Dr. Duke is professor of surgery, holder of the John B. Holmes Professorship and chief of surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth), as well as medical director of Memorial Hermann Life Flight.

The software, hardware, and telecommunications aspects of this program are led by Texas A&M University Researcher Larry Flournoy, and Texas Engineering Experiment Station researcher James Wall, Ph.D. The digital EMS program has developed and deployed wireless video communications and combining AVL/GPS (Automatic Vehicle Location/Global Positioning System) technology and advanced software to enable ambulances and helicopters to reach the victim sooner, begin triage, diagnosis and treatment on the scene, and coordinate helicopters and ambulances to minimize transport time to the nearest appropriate facility, using continuous “live” communication with these facilities.

DREAMS™ Digital EMS has already been successfully deployed and tested aboard “Super Ambulances™” in multiple counties of Texas. In addition, these “Super Ambulances™” also have aided with rescue efforts during the aftermath of the Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. DREAMS™ is a tested and proven “battlefield” application.

The development of this system was in conjunction with U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC) through its Telemedicine & Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). TATRC performs medical reconnaissance and special operations to address critical gaps that are underrepresented in DoD medical research programs. Versions of DREAMS™ also include field and disaster deployable versions that may be dropped into combat theaters and a HMMWV 9978A2 (Humvee) prototype for in-the-field use by the U.S. Military.

About LifeBot®: LifeBot provides exclusive patented and military developed telemedicine solutions for emergency management of hospital-to-ambulance and hospital-to-home communications. These systems are used to send and receive live video, voice and patient vital-sign data transmissions primarily in support of heart, trauma and stroke victims in ambulances. The company’s patents focus on extension of these life-saving systems into consumer use in the home and business.

The company was founded by R. Lee Heath, who is best known as the inventor businessman making possible the life-saving Automatic External Heart Defibrillator (AED) now in common use throughout the world. Mr. Heath was recommended for the Lemelson MIT Prize by American Heart Association officials and other peers. His experience spans almost four decades in the design and deployment of emergency life-support and their communications systems.