Remote patient monitoring system with garment and automated medication dispenser

• US 20030023146A1
• Filed: 05/06/2002
• Published: 01/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shusterman D.O. Larry
• Original Assignee: Shusterman D.O. Larry
• Inventors: Shusterman, D.O., Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,122,005 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/226 comprising means for identifying the connector, e.g. to prevent incorrect connection to socket
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0084 for multiple medicaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0427 with direct interaction with a dispensing or delivery system
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0481 working on a schedule basis
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/049 automatically changing in response to a schedule deviation by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

The invention provides an integrated remote patient monitoring system that includes a garment, a monitoring device, and a medication dispensing unit. The garment is adapted for wearing by a patient, and is adapted to house at least one sensor that is in communication with the patient'"'"'s body. The garment includes a connector communicating with the sensor. The monitoring device communicates with the sensor through the connector, and is configured to record signals from the sensor. The monitoring device is also configured to exchange signals representing patient status with a central station. The medication dispensing unit communicates with the monitoring device to receive commands from the monitoring device, and to transfer signals representing the status of medication doses to the monitoring device.

Claims

1. A remote patient monitoring system comprising:

a central station having;

a first data storage means for storing patient data, and a first data communication means for receiving and transmitting data, a first audio/visual communication means for receiving and transmitting audio/visual information;

a remote site unit having,

a patient monitoring unit for receiving patient data from at least one sensor,

a second data storage unit for temporary storage of the patient data from the patient monitoring unit,

a second data communication means for receiving and transmitting patient data to and from the first communication means,

a second audio/visual communication means for receiving and transmitting audio/visual information to and from the first audio/visual communication means,

a sensor garment having,

the at least one sensor for collecting the patient data, positionably mounted in the sensor garment for obtaining desired patient data from the patient through the at least one sensor,

a connector connected to the sensor and removably connected with the patient monitoring unit.

2. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a biosensor and an environmental sensor.

3. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the garment comprises a torso portion adapted to fit the torso of the patient.

4. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 3, wherein the sensor is housed in the torso portion of the garment, and the sensor is positioned in the torso of the patient to obtain patient data from the torso of the patient.

5. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising at least one sleeve portion connected to the torso portion, the sleeve portion to fit at least one arm of the patient and the sensor is positioned in the sleeve portion to obtain patient data from the arm of the patient.

6. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 3, further comprising a signal transmission conduit attached to the garment to connect the sensor to the connector.

7. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the signal transmission conduit is an electrical conductor.

8. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 6, wherein the signal transmission conduit is a blood pressure tube.

9. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a medication dispenser connected to the remote site for dispensing medication at least one predetermined time interval to the patient.

10. The remote patient monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a security system connected to the remote site for generating an alert signal to send to the central station if a predetermined alert condition occurs.

11. A garment comprising:

at least one sensor;

a torso portion adapted to fit the torso of a patient and defining at least one aperture to house the sensor;

a sleeve portion adapted to fit the arm of the patient;

a connector communicating with the sensor; and

a signal transmission conduit attached to the garment to couple the sensor to the connector.

12. The garment of claim 11, wherein the torso portion is configured to position the sensor in communication with the torso of the patient.

13. The garment of claim 11, wherein the signal transmission conduit is an electrical conductor.

14. The garment of claim 11, wherein the signal transmission conduit is a blood pressure tube.

15. The garment of claim 11, wherein the sleeve portion is configured to position the sensor in communication with the arm of the patient.

16. The garment of claim 11, further comprising a speaker, a microphone, and at least one conductor connecting the speaker and the microphone to the connector.

17. A medication dispensing unit comprising:

a carousel defining a plurality of compartments, each of the compartments adapted to store a dose of medication;

a housing including a surface adapted to receive the carousel, the housing defining a receptacle and an access aperture communicating between the receptacle and the surface adapted to receive the carousel, a first one of the compartments positioned to communicate with the receptacle through the access aperture;

a dosing drawer being positionable within the receptacle and in communication with the access aperture to receive the dose of medication from the first compartment through the access aperture, the dosing drawer including a normally-closed trapdoor that when opened, allows the dose of medication in the drawer to drop out of the dosing drawer;

a recovery drawer being positionable within the receptacle and in communication with the dosing drawer through the trapdoor to receive the dose of medication from the dosing drawer when the trapdoor is opened;

means for rotating the carousel to position a second one of the compartments to communicate with the receptacle through the access aperture;

a microcontroller coupled to control the opening of the trapdoor and the operation of the rotation means, the microcontroller being programmed to;

define a dosing period during which the patient may access the medication in the dosing drawer;

determine that the patient has not accessed the dosing drawer within the dosing period and to open the trapdoor at the end of the dosing period to drop the dose of medication from the dosing drawer into the recovery drawer; and

lock the recovery drawer.

18. The medication dispensing unit of claim 17, further comprising audio means coupled to the microcontroller for alerting the patient to take the dose of medication during the dosing period, and visual means coupled to the microcontroller for alerting the patient to take the dose of medication during the dosing period.

19. The medication dispensing unit of claim 18, wherein at least one of the audio means and the visual means are configured to provide medication dose instructions to the patient.

20. The medication dispensing unit of claim 17, wherein the microcontroller is programmed to log data representing a missed dose of medication when medication is dropped into the recovery drawer.

21. The medication dispensing unit of claim 17, further comprising clock means coupled to the microcontroller.

22. The medication dispensing unit of claim 17, further comprising a port coupled to the microcontroller to allow an external computer to access the microcontroller.

23. The medication dispensing unit of claim 17, wherein the microcontroller is linked to a central station, and wherein the microcontroller is configured to contact the central station if a dose is missed.

24. A medication dispensing system, comprising:

a medication dispensing unit;

a medication holding device adapted to hold medication to be dispensed and allow said medication to be dispensed under control of said medication dispensing unit; and

a medication filling device for loading medication into said medication holding device, remote from said medication dispensing unit.

25. The medication dispensing system of claim 24, further comprising communication means for allowing remote communication with said medication dispensing unit.

26. The medication dispensing system of claim 24, further comprising an identification system to control access to and delivery of said medication held in said medication holding device.

27. The medication dispensing system of claim 24 wherein said medication holding device comprises a cassette having at least two rings of a plurality of medication dosing compartments, each of said compartments adapted to store a dose of medication, and a controlled opening to allow medication to leave a particular one of said medication dosing compartments at a predetermined time.

28. The medication dispensing system of claim 27 wherein said medication holding device further comprises a cartridge having a base adapted to contain said cassette and a cover to securely engage said base and maintain said medication in said cassette until a predetermined time to dispense said medication.

29. The medication dispensing system of claim 28 wherein said medication holding device further comprises a rotatable disc having two openings, one each adapted to interact with one each of said at least two rings.

30. The medication dispensing system of claim 28 wherein said medication holding device further comprises an information system to store information concerning dispensing of said medication.

31. The medication dispensing system of claim 24 wherein said medication filling device comprises a base adapted to contain said medication holding device and a cover to engage said base and align with said medication holding device.

32. The medication dispensing system of claim 31 wherein said cover of said medication filling device comprises a loading wheel having loading slots disposed therein for defining at least one medication dose for loading into said medication holding device.