Health-related devices and methods

• US 20030130567A1
• Filed: 01/08/2003
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microlife Corporation
• Original Assignee: Microlife Corporation
• Inventors: Kilbourn, Thomas, Mault, James R., Sandys, Christopher L., Moyer, Geoffrey G.
• Application Number:
  US10/338,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20030130567A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0276 Determining malfunction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A device, comprises an electrical circuit, comprising a processor, a memory, and a clock, operable to determine a physiological parameter of a user from a physiological signal; a counter, having a count number decremented by an operation of the electrical circuit to determine the physiological parameter; and a software program, executable by the processor, operable to receive an authorization code, to determine an increment number from the authorization code, and to change the count number by the increment number, wherein the device can be used a greater number of times by the user after receipt of the authorization code.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an electrical circuit, comprising a processor, a memory, and a clock, operable to determine a physiological parameter of a user from a physiological signal;

a counter, having a count number decremented by an operation of the electrical circuit to determine the physiological parameter; and

a software program, executable by the processor, operable to receive an authorization code, to determine an increment number from the authorization code, and to change the count number by the increment number, wherein the device can be used a greater number of times by the user after receipt of the authorization code.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the software program is further operable to prevent operation of the device if the count number is less than a predetermined value.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a data communications device, providing a communications links with an electronic apparatus, wherein the authorization code is received from the electronic apparatus.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a computer.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the electronic apparatus comprises a wireless telephone.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the device further comprises a data communications device, providing a communications link with a communications network, wherein the authorization code is received from a remote computer over the communications network.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a data input mechanism whereby a user of the device can enter an authorization code into the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the data input mechanism comprises a plurality of user operable keys.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the physiological parameter is a metabolic rate of a user, and the physiological signal is correlated with the metabolic rate of the user.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the physiological signal comprises an oxygen consumption signal correlated with an oxygen consumption of the user.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the physiological signal comprises a carbon dioxide production signal correlated with a carbon dioxide production of the user.

12. A device, comprising:

a flow path, through which a subject breathes;

a respiratory gas analyzer, providing gas analysis data at least containing flow rate data correlated with a flow rate of respired gases through the flow path;

electrical circuitry, comprising a processor, a memory, and a clock, receiving the gas analysis data and operable to provide a determination of a metabolic parameter of the subject;

a data input mechanism, operable to receive an authorization code; and

a software program, executable by the processor, operable to receive the authorization code, and to enable operation of the device a number of times, the number of times being contained within the authorization code.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer comprises a flow rate meter.

14. The device of claim 12, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer comprises an oxygen sensor.

15. The device of claim 12, wherein the respiratory gas analyzer comprises a carbon dioxide sensor.

16. The device of claim 12, wherein the data input mechanism comprises a keypad.

17. The device of claim 12, wherein the data input mechanism comprises a communications link to an electronic apparatus.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein the data input mechanism comprises a communications link to a communications network.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein the metabolic parameter is a metabolic rate of the subject.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein the metabolic parameter is an oxygen consumption of the subject.

21. A system for providing a service to a subject, the system comprising:

a device, comprising a processor and a memory, operable to determine a health-related parameter of the subject;

a communications link between the device and a computer;

computer software, running on the computer, operable to receive identifying data, to generate an authorization code, and to transmit the authorization code to the device over the communications link; and

device software, executed by the processor within the device, operable to receive the authorization code from the computer over the communications link, and to enable one or more operations of the device after receipt of the authorization code.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the computer is a remote computer associated with a health services provider.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the health-related parameter is the metabolic rate of the subject.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the health-related parameter is the oxygen consumption of the subject.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the communications link comprises a communications network.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the communications link comprises a wireless link.

27. The system of claim 21, wherein the identifying data comprise a serial number of the device.

28. A method for obtaining at least one operation of a medical device, the medical device providing a health-related service to a subject, the method comprising:

providing an identifier to a supplier of the medical device;

receiving an authorization code from the supplier of the medical device;

providing the authorization code to the medical device; and

operating the respiratory analyzer a number of times, the number of times being encoded within the authorization code, and the number of times being at least one.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the identifier is a serial number of the medical device.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the identifier is an identification of the subject.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the health-related service is the determination of a metabolic rate of the subject.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein providing the identifier to the supplier of the medical device comprises transmitting the identifier to a computer associated with the supplier of the medical device over a communications network.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein receiving the authorization code from the supplier of the medical device comprises receiving the authorization code over a communications network.

34. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

decrypting the authorization code so as to determine an increment number;

incrementing a count number associated with the medical device by the increment number;

decrementing the count number on each successful operation of the device; and

disabling the device if the count number falls below a predetermined value.

35. A method of obtaining a health-related service using a medical device, comprising:

purchasing an authorization code;

providing the authorization code to the medical device, wherein a count number associated with the medical device is incremented by an increment number contained by the authorization code;

operating the medical device, so as to obtain the health-related service, wherein the count number is decremented each time the medical device is operated, and wherein the device does not operate after the count number falls to a predetermined value.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the medical device is an indirect calorimeter, and the health-related service is a determination of a metabolic rate using the indirect calorimeter.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the count number is only decremented after a successful operation of the device.

38. The method of claim 35, wherein purchasing an authorization code comprises:

communicating with a remote computer over a communications network;

providing an identifier to the computer; and

receiving the authorization code from the computer over the communications network.

39. The method of claim 35, wherein purchasing the authorization code comprises providing financial information to a seller of the authorization code.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein providing the authorization code to the medical device comprises entering the code into a numeric keypad in communication with the medical device.

41. The method of claim 35, wherein providing the authorization code to the medical device comprises connecting the medical device to an electronic apparatus.

42. The method of claim 35, wherein providing the authorization code to the medical device comprises storing the authorization code on a token, and providing the token to a token reader in communication with the medical device.