Health monitoring system

• US 20020032384A1
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Published: 03/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pacesetter Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Daniel B. Singer, Geoffrey E. Gordon, Stephen A. Raymond
• Inventors: Singer, Daniel B., Raymond, Stephen A., Gordon, Geoffrey E.
• Granted Patent: US 6,440,069 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/513
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0257 using atmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0295 adapted for recording user messages or annotations
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/332 Portable devices specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/349 Detecting specific parameters of the electrocardiograph cycle
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/366 Detecting abnormal QRS complex, e.g. widening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7275 Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 : User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 : Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 31/002 : Devices for releasing a drug at a continuous and controlled rate for a prolonged period of time artificial gland structures or devices A61F2/022; intra-uterine contraceptive devices A61F6/14; tampons for introducing into the vagina A61F13/20, A61L15/00; suppositories or bougies for intra-vaginal or intra-uterine application A61K9/02; physical forms of medicinal preparations for sustained or differential drug release A61K9/20, A61K9/50
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 : for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

A health monitoring system that monitors the health of a patient includes an ingestible capsule containing a medication to be consumed by a subject. A signal generator located within the capsule outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined characteristic indicative of said medication, said capsule and said medication being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the stomach acid of a subject. A signal detector, preferably having an input in electrical contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin, is used to detects the electrical signal. This allows the ingestion of the medication to be tracked.

Claims

1. A medication consumption monitoring system comprising:

an ingestible capsule containing a medication to be consumed by a subject;

a signal generator located within the capsule which outputs an electrical signal having a predetermined characteristic indicative of said medication, said capsule and said medication being liberated by dissolution of the capsule in the stomach acid of a subject; and

a signal detector having an input in electrical contact with a portion of the subject'"'"'s skin and which detects the electrical signal transmitted through the subject'"'"'s tissues.

2. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 further comprising a memory storage device in communication with the signal detector and in which a representation of said medication is stored.

3. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator comprises an elastic member which, when free of the capsule, enables the transfer of power from an energy storage device in the capsule to the signal generator.

4. A medication consumption monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein said signal generator comprises a plurality of electrodes which, when free of the capsule, extend away from one another in a dipole configuration.