Health monitoring and diagnostic device and network-based health assessment and medical records maintenance system
First Claim
1. A test medium for use with a health monitoring device, comprising:
- a test strip for receiving and carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue;
the test strip carrying the sample of biological fluid or tissue being readable by the health monitoring device to obtain test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
the test strip corresponding to a memory device readable by the health monitoring device, the memory device storing a code number and the calibration data;
the test strip having an associated test strip identification number that is mathematically derivable from the code number;
the test strip identification number being receivable by the health monitoring device through a user input device; and
the test strip identification number being usable to activate the health monitoring device for use with the test strip only if the received test strip identification number corresponds to a test strip identification number mathematically derived by the health monitoring device based on the code number read from the memory device.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A health monitoring and diagnostic device (LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter) configured as a self-contained testing and diagnostic unit in a clam-shell type case. One side of the case includes a spring-loaded finger stick and a compartment for carrying one or more packages of disposable items including a test strip, a needle for the finger stick, and an alcohol swipe. The other half of the case includes a test strip reader, a key pad, and a liquid crystal display. The meter reads a test strip carrying a droplet of blood and receives additional diagnostic information from the patient, such as age, gender, weight, and family history of heart disease. Within minutes, the meter displays test results, including total cholesterol levels. The meter also displays additional diagnostic results, such as the patient'"'"'s “cardiac age,” recommended weight loss, and a cardiac risk assessment. The meter also works in connection with a network-based comprehensive health analysis and reporting system. The meter writes patient data to a smartcard. This patient data typically includes patient identification information, the test results, the diagnostic information, and the diagnostic results. A computer station reads the smartcard and establishes a network connection with a health report server over the Internet. The computer then downloads the patient data to the health report server, which prepares a comprehensive health report. Within minutes, this report is transmitted back to the computer station, where it is printed out and delivered to the patient.
-
Citations
49 Claims
-
1. A test medium for use with a health monitoring device, comprising:
-
a test strip for receiving and carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue;
the test strip carrying the sample of biological fluid or tissue being readable by the health monitoring device to obtain test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
the test strip corresponding to a memory device readable by the health monitoring device, the memory device storing a code number and the calibration data;
the test strip having an associated test strip identification number that is mathematically derivable from the code number;
the test strip identification number being receivable by the health monitoring device through a user input device; and
the test strip identification number being usable to activate the health monitoring device for use with the test strip only if the received test strip identification number corresponds to a test strip identification number mathematically derived by the health monitoring device based on the code number read from the memory device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A hand-held health monitoring device, comprising:
-
an enclosure for housing a disposable test strip for use with the health monitoring device;
a holder for removably supporting a device for gathering a sample of biological fluid or tissue;
a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying the sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device;
a user input device operable for receiving user input commands;
a display device operable for displaying information;
a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the user input device, and the display device, the processor containing a program module operable for obtaining the test results from the test strip reader and causing the display device to display the test results; and
a data drive functionally connected to the processor and operable for writing the test results to a removable memory storage device. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A health monitoring device, comprising:
-
a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining health-related test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device;
a user input device operational for receiving user input commands;
a display device operable for displaying information; and
a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the user input device, and the display device, the processor containing a diagnostic program module operable for;
obtaining the test results from the test strip reader, causing the display device to prompt the user to enter diagnostic information using the user input device, performing a diagnostic analysis to produce diagnostic results based on the test results and the diagnostic information, and causing the display device to display the diagnostic results. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. A health monitoring device for use with a disposable test strip, comprising:
-
a test strip reader operable for reading the test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue to obtain test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip;
a memory device readable by the health monitoring device and storing a code number and the calibration data specific to the test strip;
a user input device operable for entering a test strip identification number into the health monitoring device; and
a processor functionally connected to the test strip reader, the memory device, and the user input device, the processor operable for;
reading the code number from the memory device, mathematically deriving a test strip identification number corresponding to the code number, comparing the received test strip identification number to the derived test strip identification number, and activating the health monitoring device for use with the test strip only if the received test strip identification number corresponds to the derived test strip identification number. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A system for remotely producing health reports, comprising:
-
a health monitoring device including;
a test strip reader operable for reading a test strip carrying a sample of biological fluid or tissue and obtaining test results based on the sample of biological tissue or fluid and calibration data specific to the test strip, a memory reading device functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for reading the calibration data from a memory device, and a data drive functionally connected to the test strip reader and operable for writing the test results to a memory storage device;
a health report server operable for;
receiving the test results and additional diagnostic information, compiling a health report based on the test results and the additional diagnostic information, and transmitting the health report; and
a computer station operable for;
reading the test results from the memory storage device, establishing a network connection with the health report server, receiving the additional diagnostic information, transmitting the test results and the additional diagnostic information to the health report server, receiving the health report from the health report server, and printing the health report. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
-
-
34. A secure medical records maintenance system, comprising:
-
a plurality of removable memory storage devices, each operable for storing medical data for an associated patient, a patient-specified personal identification number, and a medical records identification number secured by the patient-specified personal identification number;
a first remote server operable for storing patient identification information indexed patient identification numbers;
a second remote server operable for storing patient medical data indexed by the medical records identification numbers; and
the medical data maintained in the second remote server cannot be correlated to the associated patient identification information maintained in the first remote server based on the information contained in the first and second remote servers. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
-
-
45. A health monitoring device operable for:
-
obtaining medical data associated with a patient;
reading an initial monetary balance stored on a removable memory storage device;
determining whether the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay a monetary value assigned to performance of a test involving the medical data to be performed by the testing device; and
if the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay for the test, computing a revised monetary balance by deducting the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the initial monetary balance, replacing the initial monetary balance with the revised monetary balance on the removable memory storage device, and activating the health monitoring device for performance of the test. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
-
-
48. A system operable for performing diagnostic health tests, comprising:
-
a removable memory storage device;
an network-based server operable for remotely charging a cost to a payment source and crediting the cost to an initial balance stored on the removable memory storage device; and
a health monitoring device, operable for;
obtaining medical data associated with a patient;
reading an initial monetary balance stored on a removable memory storage device;
determining whether the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay a monetary value assigned to performance of a test involving the medical data to be performed by the testing device; and
if the initial monetary balance is sufficient to pay for the test, computing a revised monetary balance by deducting the monetary value assigned to performance of the test from the initial monetary balance, replacing the initial monetary balance with the revised monetary balance on the removable memory storage device, and activating the health monitoring device for performance of the test. - View Dependent Claims (49)
-
Specification