Adaptive interactive preceptored teaching system incorporating remote image monitoring

• US 20020188477A1
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic), Novo Nordisk A/S
• Original Assignee: Mayo Foundation For Medical Education And Research (Mayo Clinic), Novo Nordisk A/S
• Inventors: Aspe, Henrik, Ackermann, Ralf W., Gates, Geoffrey S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,077,806 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method for providing a patient with an analysis result which the patient uses to determine a dosage of a drug for self-administration when the patient is unable to obtain the analysis result themself. The method involves gathering by the patient of information which affects the dosage, forwarding the information to an advisor who analyzes the information to obtain the analysis result, sending the analysis result to the patient, and determining by the patient of the dosage using the analysis result. The information can be gathered by the patient by using a digital camera to photograph an item of food, and the analysis result can be an amount of food. Preferably, the information and analysis result are exchanged via the Internet.

Claims

1. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result which the patient uses to determine a dosage of a drug for self-administration when the patient is unable to obtain the analysis result themself, comprising the steps of:

gathering information which affects the dosage, the gathering being performed by the patient;

forwarding the information to an advisor who analyzes the information to obtain the analysis result;

sending the analysis result to the patient; and

determining the dosage using the analysis result, the determining being performed by the patient.

2. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 1, wherein the step of gathering comprises taking a photograph of an item of food.

3. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 2, wherein the photograph is a digital image.

4. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 1, wherein the analysis result is a size of a portion of an item of food.

5. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 4, wherein the photograph shows at least a part of a meal to be eaten by the patient.

6. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 4, wherein the dosage in the determining step reflects an amount of insulin.

7. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the analysis result for use in a future evaluation of the patient.

8. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the forwarding of the information and the sending of the analysis result is performed using the Internet.

9. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 2, further comprising, before the step of sending the patient the analysis result, a step of prompting the patient to estimate a size of the item of food.

10. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 9, wherein the step of prompting is performed for more than one item of food in a meal.

11. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 1, wherein the step of gathering information is performed using a digital camera.

12. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 11, wherein digital camera is a part of a device used by the patient to monitor themselves.

13. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 12, wherein the device is a blood glucose monitor.

14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program for performing at least some of the steps of the method of claim 1.

16. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 15, further comprising the step of comparing the analysis result obtained by the patient to a reference analysis result determined by the advisor.

17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program for performing at least some of the method of claim 15.

19. A system for providing a patient with an analysis result as in claim 18, wherein the information gathered by the patient and the analysis result are transferred using the Internet.

15. A method for providing a patient with an analysis result which the patient uses to determine a dosage of a drug for self-administration, comprising the steps of:

gathering information which affects the dosage, the gathering being performed by the patient;

asking the patient whether the patient is able to obtain the analysis result themself and, if the patient is unable to obtain the analysis result themself, forwarding the information to an advisor who analyzes the information to obtain the analysis result; and

returns the analysis result to the patient; and

determining the dosage using the analysis result, the determining being performed by the patient.

18. A system for providing a patient with an analysis result which the patient uses to determine a dosage of a drug for self-administration when the patient is unable to obtain the analysis result themself, comprising:

a data input section which receives from the patient gathered information which affects the dosage;

a data transfer section which transfers the information gathered by the patient to an advisor who analyzes the information to obtain the analysis result; and

a data output section which sends the analysis result to the patient.

20. A method for monitoring a condition of a patient, comprising the steps of:

taking a digital photograph of a part of the patient'"'"'s body;

forwarding the digital photograph to an advisor who analyzes the digital photograph to determine a course of action; and

advising the patient of the determined course of action.

21. A method for monitoring a condition of a patient as in claim 20, wherein at least one of the step of forwarding of digital photograph and the step of advising the patient is performed using the Internet.

22. A computer-readable storage medium comprising a program for performing at least some of the steps of the method of claim 20.

23. A system for monitoring a condition of a patient, comprising:

an input section for receiving a digital photograph taken by the patient of a part of the patient'"'"'s body;

a data transfer section which forwards the digital photograph to an advisor who analyzes the digital photograph to determine a course of action; and

an advice section which informs the patient of the course of action determined by the advisor.