System and method using medical information-containing electronic devices

• US 20020097159A1
• Filed: 01/15/2002
• Published: 07/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter Hooglander
• Original Assignee: Peter Hooglander
• Inventors: Hooglander, Peter
• Application Number:
  US10/044,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20020097159A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0021 for reading/sensing record carriers having surface contacts
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0034 the connector being capable of simultaneously receiving a plurality of cards in the same insertion slot
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD

Abstract

A system and method for providing medical information in an emergency comprises a pair of cards, each having an electronic device thereon. One large card is used both for home and medical visits, with a smaller card carried on one'"'"'s person for medical emergencies. Readers are provided at home and at places where medical services may be provided to maintain both cards in a current state. Other portable readers are provided for reading in at least emergency situations, including reading both types of cards and transmitting signals as part of the reading step.

Claims

1. A method of providing medical information in emergency and non-emergency situations comprising:

a) providing a first medical information-containing electronic device;

b) providing a second medical information-containing electronic device, and a means for carrying the second device such that the second device can be accessed by medical personnel if a user is incapacitated;

c) maintaining the same medical information on each of the first and second devices;

d) simultaneously reading or writing non-medical information or medical information on the first and second devices in a non-emergency situation, and reading information on the second device in an emergency or non-emergency situation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for carrying includes a bracelet for the wrist, a necklace for the neck, and a locket to be carried in a shoe or other clothing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is read using a medical personnel reader when the user is incapacitated and cannot product the first device, and the information read is one of displayed, played aloud, or transmitted to a remote source for reading or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second device is attached to a person'"'"'s wrist, the medical information on the second device relating to the person, and the information is read using a medical personnel reader in a non-emergency or emergency situation.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein a medical personnel reader is used in the step for the reading the second device, the medical personnel reader capable of reading the first device, the second device, or both.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading of information on the second device is performed by transmitting information using a signal.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the means for carrying is one of a foldable locket, a locket with an extendable support, and a metal capsule having a lid.

2. A system for providing medical information in emergency and non-emergency situations comprising:

a) a first medical information-containing electronic device;

b) a second medical information-containing electronic device, and a means for carrying the second device such that the second device can be freely accessed by medical personnel if a user is incapacitated; and

c) at least a pair of read/write devices for simultaneously reading and/or writing information on each of the first and second devices so that each device has the same medical information thereon, and a computer system for each read/write device for controlling the type of information that can be read and/or written on the read/write devices, one read write device and computer system designed to allow for writing of non-medical information only, and the other read/write device and computer system designed to allow for writing both medical and non-medical information.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for carrying includes a bracelet for the wrist, a necklace for the neck, and a locket to be carried in a shoe or other clothing.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second device is read using a medical personnel reader when the user is incapacitated and cannot produce the first device, and the information read is one of displayed, played aloud, or transmitted to a remote source for reading or a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the second device is attached to a person'"'"'s wrist, the medical information on the second device relating to the person, and the information is read using a medical personnel reader in a non-emergency or emergency situation.

11. The system of claim 2, further comprising a medical personnel reader capable of reading the first device, the second device, or both.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the medical personnel reader is a cell phone capable of transmitting the read information, a portable reader with a display for displaying read information, or a reader than employs a spring loaded reading head.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the medical personnel reader is a cell phone capable of transmitting the read information, a portable reader with a display for displaying read information, or a reader than employs a spring loaded reading head.

17. The system of claim 4, wherein the reading using the medical personnel reader is performed using a signal from the second device.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein the means for carrying is one of a foldable locket, a locket with an extendable support, and a metal capsule having a lid.

6. A system for providing medical information in emergency and non-emergency situations comprising:

a) a medical information-containing electronic device and a carrier for storing the medical information-containing electronic device, the medical information pertaining to one of an the inanimate object or a patient; and

c) a read/write device for reading and/or writing information on the medical information-containing electronic device, and a computer system for the read/write device for controlling the type of information that can be read and/or written on the read/write devices,

d) a read device for reading information on the medical information-containing electronic device; and

e) a means for attaching the carrier to one of the inanimate object or patient so that medical information about either the inanimate object and/or the patient can be obtained by using the read device.

7. The system of claim 6, comprising at least a pair of medical information-containing electronic devices, one to be worn by the patient, and one attached to the inanimate object, each containing the same information about the patient.

16. The system of claim 6, wherein the medical-information containing device transmits the information to the read device for reading using a signal for transmission.

20. The system of claim 6, wherein the means for carrying is one of a foldable locket, a locket with an extendable support, and a metal capsule having a lid.

21. The system of claim 7, wherein the inanimate object is a tag associated with one of a medical record and a medical sample container.