MUMBAI, India, March 13 -- Intellectual Property India has published a patent application (202641025605 A) filed by Palani Subiramanian, Tiruvannamalai, Tamil Nadu, on March 4, for 'autonomous smart stretcher system for intra-hospital patient transportation using image processing and sensor fusion.'
Inventor(s) include Palani Subiramanian; Dr. J. Rejina Parvin; Dr. Antonitta Eileen Pious; Ms. Anitha G; Ms. D. Darling Jemima; Ms. N. Logeshwari; Ms. Sherlin Andrews J; Ms. C. Umarani; Ms. C. Sheemona Joseph; and Ms. M. Akshayaa.
The application for the patent was published on March 13, under issue no. 11/2026.
According to the abstract released by the Intellectual Property India: "In modern hospitals, the increasing demand for timely and efficient intra-facility patient transportation poses a significant challenge due to manpower limitations and rising operational costs. Conventionally, hospital staff manually operate stretchers to move patients between wards, diagnostic units, or surgical rooms. This manual approach is labor-intensive and may lead to inefficiencies, especially in large-scale hospital settings. This project introduces an Autonomous Smart Stretcher System designed to reduce the dependency on human intervention by employing image processing, multi-camera setups, and sensor-based motor control for dynamic and safe movement within hospital corridors. The proposed stretcher is equipped with strategically placed fisheye and wide-angle cameras to capture a 360-degree field of view, enabling real-time environmental analysis and navigation. Image recognition techniques allow the system to detect textual signs, directional arrows, and warning indicators for autonomous route decision-making. Additionally, ultrasonic and infrared proximity sensors placed on either side of the stretcher prevent collisions by adjusting movement when obstacles or walls are detected. To manage stretcher-to-stretcher interaction in narrow hallways, a wireless communication system facilitates inter-stretcher signalling. This enables dynamic path negotiation when two autonomous stretchers approach each other. Upon arrival at the target location, a soft audio alert is triggered, signalling nearby staff to open doors or prepare for patient handling. This system significantly improves operational efficiency, reduces the need for human workers, and ensures safer, more intelligent patient transport. With scalable potential, this solution aligns with smart hospital automation and healthcare robotics goals, ensuring a seamless blend of technology and care."
Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.
