Abstract:
The invention relates to a control system ( 100 ) for an ambient light environment in a room in a hospital environment. The control system is configured to time and synchronize light effects of the ambient light environment ( 170, 190 ) in response to sensor signals ( 111 - 113 ) from patient location sensors ( 121 ) or other sensors ( 122,123 ) for detecting if a clinical instrument is activated, moved or taken into use or for detecting heart rate. Light effects may be used by the clinical personnel to improve quality and speed of the examination and to create a calming atmosphere for the patient. However, different light effects are required at different times and for different durations. Therefore, timing of the light effects relative to sensor signals may improve workflow and patient comfort.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application is the U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application Ser. No. PCT/IB2012/050383, filed on Jan. 27, 2012, which claims the benefit of European Application Ser. No. 11152935.0, filed on Feb. 1, 2011. These applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a control system for controlling lighting and visual effects, in particular to such a system for use within a hospital environment. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The workflow during an uptake period immediately before a PET (positron emission tomography) scan is very important for the quality of the scan. During this uptake period the patient is injected with a radioactively labeled sugar, often FDG, and subsequently scanned with either a standalone PET scanner or a combination of PET with either CT or MR for anatomical information. A number of steps have to be performed by the clinical personnel several of which require a high level of patient compliance. There is a need to make this workflow run more smoothly. 
     Patient relaxation is of crucial importance in the time period immediately before and after the injection. If the patient is stressed in this period then the uptake will not be successful with FDG or radioactively labeled sugar being excessively consumed by overly stressed muscles and brain activity. Patients often get anxious during this uptake period due to the fact that they are in unfamiliar surroundings, are unsure about the examination and may have previous negative associations with clinical devices and or environments. Accordingly, there is a need to improving patient comfort and reducing anxiety before and during the examination. 
     Furthermore, patients are often of advanced age and have narrow veins that are difficult to locate. The injection is therefore often a difficult procedure which may increase patient anxiety and may prolong the examination. Thus, there is a need to improve the injection process. 
     US 2010060726 discloses a medical surgery or examination room and a method for illuminating such a room, wherein a substantial part of the room or the entire room is illuminated with colored lighting different from white lighting in order to achieve beneficial psychological effects or, primarily, to improve working conditions. For example, green light may be provided behind the monitors used by a surgeon during operation and red light in a zone behind a surgeon during operation or examination. The lighting may be controlled by a computer with a touch screen interface. 
     Whereas US 2010060726 discloses a lighting system for use within a hospital environment, the inventors of the present invention has appreciated that an improved lighting control system is of benefit, and has in consequence devised the present invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It would be advantageous to achieve improvements of light control systems for controlling lighting within a hospital environment. It may be seen as an object of the present invention to provide a method and a system that solves the above mentioned problems relating to the examination workflow, patient anxiety, difficulty in locating veins or other problems of the prior art. 
     To better address one or more of these concerns, in a first aspect of the invention a light control system for controlling lighting in a room within a hospital environment is presented where the control system comprises
         a controller having an input for receiving a first sensor signal indicative of a location of a patient or a clinical instrument or device, and an output for outputting at least a first control signal to a controllable light, where the controller is configured to generate the first control signal in response to the first sensor signal,   a time-scheduler configured to delay the outputting or generation of the first control signal, where the delay is set relative to a time of receipt of the first sensor signal.       

     The first sensor signal could be generated by a pressure sensor placed so that when a patient sits or lies on a bed then a signal indicative of the location of the patient is generated. Other patient location sensors may be used such as a video surveillance system that determines the location of a patient. A controllable light could be a light, e.g. a LED light, capable of being controlled via a control signal to emit light of different colors and intensities. 
     The time-scheduler is able to delay the generation or outputting of the first control signal. For example, the time-scheduler may be configured so that a sequence of different light effects (i.e. different colors and intensities) are generated in response to the first input signal where the time-scheduler controls the delay between the first input signal and the light effects, possibly the duration of each light effect, and possibly gradual changes of light effects. In this way, the controllable light may be controlled so that firstly light which reduces patient anxiety is generated, secondly light which improves visibility of veins is generated so that the injection with radioactively labeled sugar can be performed accurately and without discomfort, and thirdly light which reduces patient anxiety and calms the patient is generated to ensure that the radioactively labeled sugar is only taken up by the tumor and not by stress induced muscle or brain activity. Thus, the timing of the generation of the control signal or different control signals may be beneficially for one or more of reducing patient anxiety, improving vein visibility and improving the workflow of the examination by tailoring the lighting settings to the specific stages of the examination procedure. 
     The amount of delay between receipt of the first input signal to outputting or generating the first control signal may be stored in a storage medium or unit being accessible by the control system for retrieval of suitable delay values. 
     In an embodiment the controller is configured for generating a time dependent first control signal, where a value of the first control signal changes over time so as to enable a gradual change of a color or an intensity of the controllable light. Accordingly, when the controllable light is controllable to change color or intensity in response to its input signal value, changing the analogue or digital value of the control signal from the controller enables the color and/or intensity to be gradually adjusted. In this way seamless transitions between different light effects may be achieved as well as gradual variations in light color and intensity in order to increase or reduce the calming effect of the lighting. 
     In an embodiment the controller is configured for generating a second control signal for controlling a visual stimulation device, where the controller is configured for generating the second control signal in response to the first sensor signal and/or in response to a second sensor signal, where the first signal is indicative of a location of a patient and the second signal is indicative of a movement or a location of a clinical instrument or device, and where the time-scheduler is configured to time outputting of the second control signal relative to receipt of the first input signal or the second input signal. 
     A visual stimulation device may be a monitor or a projector capable of displaying images. Accordingly, the controller may be able to output different images via the second control signal to the stimulation device for displaying images which provides e.g. a calming effect to the patient. The generation or outputting of the second control signal may be timed by the time-scheduler in response to receipt of the same first sensor signal as in the first aspect being indicative of a location of a patient or in response to a different sensor signal being indicative of a movement or a location of a clinical instrument or device. 
     Accordingly, the controller may have inputs for receiving first and second input signals and respective outputs for making first and second control signals available for a light and a visual stimulation device, respectively. 
     In an embodiment the controller has an input for receiving a second sensor signal indicative of a movement or a location of an intravenous needle, where the controller is configured to generate the first control signal in response to the first or the second sensor signal. 
     The second sensor signal may be provided to the controller via the same input which is connected to receive the first sensor signal or via a separate input. The first control signal may be generated in response to the first or the second sensor signal, i.e. the first control signal is generated both when the first sensor signal is received and when the second sensor signal is received. 
     The second sensor signal may be generated by an RF tag situated within a lead box storing the intravenous needle containing the radioactive fluid. Thus, when the needle with the attached RF tag is removed from the lead box or when the box is opened, the RF tag is detectable and the second sensor signal can be generated. Alternatively, the second sensor signal may be generated by a radioactive sensitive detector which is able to detect when the needle is removed from the lead box. 
     In an embodiment the control system comprises a storage including a number of selectable control schemes, where each control scheme defines the delay of outputting the first control signal relative to the first sensor signal and/or a time dependence of a change of a value of the first control signal, and where each control scheme is selectable via a user input device. 
     For example, a first control scheme may be configured to control the light in a way which is suitable for the uptake period before subsequent brain scans and a second control scheme may be configured for to control the light in a way which is suitable for breast scans. The brain scan control scheme may exclude high light intensities and rapid color changes as to reduce neurological stimulation as much as possible. Thus, the clinical personnel is able to select a control scheme which is suited for a particular examination. 
     In an embodiment the first sensor signal is generated by a pressure sensor capable of detecting the presence of a patient in a bed or a sensor capable of detecting the presence of a radioactively labeled fluid to be injected into a vein of the patient. 
     Thus, the first sensor may be an RF type sensor or a radiation sensor capable of sensing when the lead box storing the intravenous needle containing radioactive fluid is opened or when the needle is removed from the box. 
     In an embodiment the controller further comprises an input for receiving a signal indicative of the heart rate of the patient, where the controller is configured for generating the second control signal for controlling the visual stimulation device in dependence of the signal indicative of the heart rate of the patient. Accordingly, by controlling the visual stimulation device in dependence of the heart rate, the visual stimulation device may be used to effectively affect the heart rate of the patient, for example by displaying calming images if a too high hart rate is detected. Alternatively or additionally, the controller may be configured for generating the time dependence of the first control signal in dependence of the detected heart rate, e.g. for ensuring slow changes in intensity or color of the controllable light if a too high heart rate is detected. Alternatively the breathing rate may be determined by a device and the controller. The controller is configured to first register the breathing rate and feedback this to the patient in the form of a breathing exercise, e.g. changing the light parameters with the breathing frequency. The rate is then slowly decreased to approximately 6 times per minute. This breathing rate is optimal for paced breathing and induction of a relaxed state in the patient. 
     In an embodiment the controller is configured for generating a third control signal in dependence of the first input signal for controlling a computer controlled pointing device capable of locating the position of veins in a patient and pointing at a vein location suitable for injection of a fluid, where the time-scheduler is configured to delay outputting the third control signal relative to the time of receipt of the first sensor signal. Thus, the receipt of the first sensor signal triggers a delayed generation of the third control signal for starting detection of a vein location and pointing at a vein location suitable for injection of the radioactive fluid. The detection of vein locations may be performed by analyzing images of the arm of a patient and the pointing towards a suitable vein location may be performed by a laser pointing device. Thus, the third control signal may be generated in response an input signal indicative of a location of a patient or a clinical instrument or device. 
     A second aspect of the invention relates to a light unit for use within a hospital environment, where the unit comprises
         a light control system according to the first aspect, and   a monitor for displaying images and/or a controllable light.       

     Additionally, the unit may comprise an audio device for generating music or other sounds. 
     The control system and one or more of the monitor, the light and the audio device may be integrated into a single unit which may be mounted onto a wall. The light unit may also comprise any sensor for generating any of the first, second and third input signals. 
     A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for controlling lighting in a room within a hospital environment, where the method comprises,
         receiving a first sensor signal indicative of a location of a patient or a clinical instrument or device,   generating a first control signal to a controllable light by use of a controller configured to generate the first control signal in response to receipt of the first sensor signal,   where the generation or outputting of the first control signal is delayed relative to a time of receipt of the first sensor signal, where the delay is controlled by a time-scheduler.       

     In general the various aspects of the invention may be combined and coupled in any way possible within the scope of the invention. These and other aspects, features and/or advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiments described hereinafter. 
     In summary the invention relates to a control system for an ambient light environment in a room in a hospital environment. The control system is configured to time and synchronize light effects of the ambient light environment in response to sensor signals from patient location sensors or other sensors for detecting if a clinical instrument is activated, moved or taken into use or for detecting heart rate. Light effects may be used by the clinical personnel to improve quality and speed of the examination and to create a calming atmosphere for the patient. However, different light effects are required at different times and for different durations. Therefore, timing of the light effects relative to sensor signals may improve workflow and patient comfort. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which 
         FIG. 1  shows a control system  101  for controlling ambient light in a hospital room, 
         FIG. 2  illustrates relationship between input signals and delayed generation of control signals, 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a method according to the invention, and  FIG. 4  shows an ambient light unit  400  comprising the control system  100  and lights  170 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Imaging of tumors via PET has become an important part of diagnosing and prognosing oncology patients. PET imaging involves injecting patients with a radioactively labeled sugar, FDG, which is metabolized by the tumor at a faster rate than other muscles and organs. This highlights the tumor location and allows the tumor mass to be assessed by the clinician. To improve this assessment, PET images are often combined with either a CT or MR scan to allow anatomical information to be fused together with the PET contrast. 
     Since the uptake of the FDG tracer by the human body is essentially non-specific, the tracer will gather at any location in the body that utilizes sugar. The patient is therefore required to remain as calm as possible (both mentally and physically) during the uptake period. This minimizes the sugar being consumed by non-tumor related features. 
     Avoiding anxiety, however, may be very challenging for a patient since the patient is about to receive a medical prognosis regarding a possibly life-threatening disease, since the patient has to be injected with a radioactive material, since the patient will be inserted into a scanner which may cause claustrophobia feelings, and since the patient is located in an unfamiliar and very clinical environment. 
     Since the patient has to remain calm at least during part of the examination, it is often not possible to distract the patient by use of distractive means such as a TV during the full uptake period of the radioactive fluid. 
     In a typical PET examination the patient is initially introduced to the uptake room where the radioactive fluid will be injected, then the patient is instructed to remain still, quiet and calm for a period up to the injection, then the injection is given, and then the patient is again instructed to remain calm during the uptake until the scanning can be performed. 
       FIG. 1  shows a light control system  100  for controlling lighting in a room within a hospital environment in response to input signals  111 - 113  from sensors  121 - 123 . The lighting may include controllable lights  170  and possibly visual stimulation devices  190  such as TV monitors. The control system includes a controller  101  having an input  110  for receiving one or more sensor signals indicative of a location of a patient or a clinical instrument or device. The control system may have separate inputs  110  for receiving first, second and third sensor signals  111 - 113 , respectively. The sensor signals are generated by sensors  121 - 123  such as sensors for detecting a location of a patient and for detecting position, removal, motion or use of clinical instrument or device. Location of a patient may be detected by a pressure sensor located in the mattras of a bed or a chair, an optical sensor or with camera and image analysis software. Detection of the location of clinical instruments such as intravenous needles and hypodermic needles and devices such a hand held scanners may be enabled by acceleration sensors or RF tags connected to the instrument or device. As a special example, an intravenous or hypodermic needle containing a radioactively labeled fluid is stored in a lead box to avoid radioactive emissions. The opening of the lead box or removal of the needle from the box can beneficially be detected by exploiting that the lead box stops or reduces radioactive and electromagnetic emissions. Accordingly, a radiation sensor located outside the box can be used to detect the opening of the box. Similarly, it is possible to detect if the box is open by an RF tag attached to the inside of the box. Opening the lid of the box allows the electromagnetic sense waves to reach the RF tag and thus generate a presence, or box open, signal. 
     The room lighting is controlled by one or more control signals provided via one or more outputs  130 . The controller generates the control signals in response to one or more of the sensor signals, e.g. in response to the first sensor signal  111 . A time-scheduler is configured to delay or time the outputting of the one or more control signals. The delay is set relative to the time of receipt of one of the sensor signals, e.g. the first sensor signal  111 . 
     The time-scheduler  180  may be a separate component or integrated with the controller  101 . The controller  101  and the time-scheduler  180  may be implemented as analogue or digital electronic circuits, as a computer program stored on a tangible media, e.g. a CD, designed to be executed by a processor or a computer, or they may be implemented as a combination of electronic circuits and a computer program. The inputs  110  and outputs  130  may be configured as input and output terminals of an electronic circuit which possibly is connectable to a computer, or by terminals of a computer. 
       FIG. 2  provides an example of the function of the light control system  100 . At time t 1  a patient lies on a bed and a first sensor signal is generated from the bed sensor. In response to the first sensor signal  111 , the controller generates a first control signal  131  for controlling the controllable light  170  into a first state to provide a comfortable light intensity and color. The first state may be invoked during the first period from t 1  to t 2 . During the first period the value of the first control signal  131  may change over time so as to generate a gradual change of the color or the intensity of the controllable light. The gradual change may provide seamless transitions between different states of the controllable light or provide more interesting, yet calming light effects. 
     Alternatively or additionally, during the first period from t 1  to t 2 , a second control signal  132  may be generated in response to the first input signal  111  for controlling a monitor  190  for displaying images or videos, where the time-scheduler is configured to time outputting or generation of the second control signal  132  relative to receipt of the first input signal  111 . 
     At time t 2 , in response to the first sensor signal  111  the controller generates a first control signal  131  for controlling the controllable light into a second state to provide a green light which helps the clinical personnel to locate veins of the patient. The green light is maintained for a preset period up to time t 3  or until the clinical personnel manually provides an input to the controller  101  via a user input device to force the controller to end this second light state. 
     Alternatively, the generation of the first control signal  131  at time t 2  for controlling the controllable light into a second state to provide a green light may be done in response to a second sensor signal  112  indicative of a movement or a location of a clinical instrument. The second sensor signal may be generated when the intravenous or hypodermic needle containing radioactively labeled fluid is removed from its lead box, e.g. by a radiation sensor. The radiation sensor may be located near the place where the injection is to be performed so that light changes to green light just before the injection. 
     At time t 3 , the injection is completed and the patient should remain calm for a third period up to time t 4 . During the third period the light  170  or the monitor  190  is controlled to generate light effects or images which have a calming effect on the patient. The first or second control signal for controlling the controllable light  170  or the controllable monitor  190  into a third state during the period from t 3  to t 4  may be generated in response to the first input signal  111  or preferably in response to the second input signal  112  generated in response to the movement of a clinical instrument. 
     It is understood that different values of the first or second control signals  131 , 132  invoke different states of the light  170  or the monitor  190 , i.e. different intensity and color states or images. 
     It is also understood that the first sensor may be a sensor capable of detecting the location of a patient, the presence of a patient in a bed, detecting the location or movement of clinical instruments, detecting the presence of a radioactively labeled fluid, or other sensors capable of detecting various changes in the environment within a room of a clinical environment. 
     The time-scheduler generates the required delays necessary to obtain the correct timing for maintaining a given light state and changing between light states. 
     In an embodiment the light controller  101  comprises an input for receiving a third input signal  113  indicative of the heart rate of the patient. A sensor  123  for detecting the heart rate may be conventional finger or breast pulsation detectors or a camera with an associated image analysis processor for detecting variations in blood flow. The third input signal may also be the breathing rate of the patient (sense either by a band or camera) and which allows the anxiety level of the patient to be assessed. The first or second control signal for controlling lights  170  or a monitor  190  may be generated in response to the third input signal  113  so that colors and light intensity or images from the monitor can be adjusted in response to the heart rate of the patient. For example, if the heart rate starts increasing the light intensity may be reduced or more relaxing images or music may be reproduced. 
     In an embodiment the controller is configured for generating a third control signal  133  for controlling a computer controlled pointing device  192  capable of detecting location of veins of a patient and pointing at a vein location suitable for injection of a fluid. The third control signal may be generated in response to the first sensor signal in which case the time-scheduler delays outputting or generation of the third control signal relative to receipt of the first control signal. Alternatively, the third control signal  133  may be generated in response to the second sensor signal  112  indicative e.g. of the removal of an instrument for injecting radioactive labeled fluid. 
     The control system  100  may comprise a storage  140  which may be integrated with the controller  101  where the storage is for storing a number of selectable control schemes. Each control scheme defines how any one or more of the first, second and third control signals  131 - 133  will be generated in response to any of the first, second or third input signals  111 - 113 . Thus, each control scheme defines which of the first, second and third control signals  131 - 133  should be generated in response to any of the first, second or third input signals  111 - 113 , and defines the delay from receipt of any of first, second or third input signals  111 - 113  to generation or outputting of any of the first, second or third control signals  131 - 133 . The delay may be a time from zero up to several minutes and hours. Furthermore, the control scheme may define if and how values of the control signals should vary over time and the duration of any state of the light  170  or the monitor  190 . 
     Each of the control schemes may be selectable by a user of the control system  100  via a user input device  150  such as a touch pad or a keyboard. Accordingly, depending on the type of examination to be performed or the sex or age of the patient the most suitable control scheme can be selected. For example, for a brain scan examination a control scheme which excludes very bright light and rapid color changes may be selectable so as to reduce neurological stimulation as much as possible, whereas a for breast scan examination more stimulating light effects and images may be defined by a control scheme suitable for this type of examinations. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a method according to an embodiment of the invention which comprises the following steps:
     Step  301 : Receiving a first sensor signal  111  indicative of a location of a patient or a clinical instrument or device.   Step  302 : Generating a first control signal  131  to a controllable light  170  by use of a controller  101  configured to generate the first control signal in response to receipt of the first sensor signal.   Step  303 : Generating a delay between the time of receipt of the first sensor signal and the generation or outputting of the first control signal by use of a time-scheduler  180 .   

     It is understood that step  303  is not necessarily performed after generation of the control signal, but may be performed when or after the first sensor signal or other sensor signals is received and before or at the time of generation of the control signal. Thus, the control signal may be generated when the input signal is received, but the outputting of the generated control signal may be delayed. Alternatively, when the input signal is received a delay may have to lapse before the control signal is generated. 
       FIG. 4  shows an ambient light unit  400  which comprises the light control system  100  and a monitor  190  for displaying images and/or a controllable light  170 . The unit may be fixedly mounted in the hospital room, e.g. on a wall, so that the monitor  190  is visible for the patient lying on a bed and facing the ceiling. One or more lights  170  may be integrated in the unit  400  for background illumination of the room and for providing light directed towards the patient for situations where the patient is examined or where an injection is performed. The light unit  400  may be placed in the uptake room where the radioactive labeled fluid is injected. The scanning may be performed in the same room or in an adjacent room. Also a recovery room may be used in connection with the examination which is used for the patient to recover after the examination. The recovery room may have a separate light unit  400  installed. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. 
     A single processor or other unit may fulfill one or more functions of several items recited in the claims, e.g. the generation and timing of the generation or outputting of the control signals in response to input signals. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the Internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. 
     Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.