Remote health monitoring apparatus using scripted communications

• US 20050172022A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen J Brown
• Original Assignee: Stephen J Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual'"'"'s response to the questions.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing a healthcare professional with health-related information about an individual, the apparatus comprising:

a processor for executing a script, received from a remote location, to present one or more health condition related queries to the individual, ; and

a user interface through which the individual can input one or more responses to the one or more queries,

wherein the apparatus is configured to

receive the script transmitted from a remote server and

transmit one or more of the responses to at least one remote server.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein executing the script further presents on one or more response choices in connection with at least one of the one or more queries.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes a display for use in displaying the one or more queries to the individual.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface has one or more user input buttons.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the user interface has a touch-sensitive display screen.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the individual is a patient and the received script is assigned to the individual.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the received script is generated based on information entered by a healthcare provider.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a memory in which the one or more responses are stored prior to transmission to the server.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising an audio transducer for audibly notifying the individual when unanswered queries exist.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a visual indicator for visually notifying the individual when unanswered queries exist.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more monitoring devices are further connected thereto.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein execution of the script prompts the individual to connect at least one monitoring device to the remote apparatus.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein execution of the script facilities collection of measurements with at least one monitoring device.

14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood glucose meter;

peak flow meter; and

EKG.

15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure cuff;

electronic weight scales;

pulse rate monitors.

16. A method for providing a healthcare professional with health-related information about an individual, comprising:

receiving a script transmitted from a remote server;

executing the received script to cause presentation one or more health condition related queries to the individual, and

receiving from that individual, through a user interface, one or more responses to the one or more queries, and

transmitting data related to one or more of the responses to at least one remote server.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein executing the script provides on one or more response choices in connection with at least one of the one or more queries.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the queries are presented on a display.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the responses are received through user input buttons.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the responses are received through a touch-sensitive display screen.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the script is generated by the server from which it is received.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of the queries presented to the user is based on a query entered into a remote workstation networked with the server.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the individual is a patient and the script is assigned to the individual.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the script is generated based on information entered by a healthcare provider.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the healthcare provider is the patient'"'"'s physician.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing the one or more responses are stored prior to transmission to the server.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising audibly notifying the individual when unanswered queries exist.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising visually notifying the individual when unanswered queries exist.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising connecting one or more monitoring devices to the apparatus.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein execution of the script prompts the individual to connect at least one monitoring device to the remote apparatus.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein execution of the script facilities collection of measurements with at least one monitoring device.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising using the one or more monitoring devices to collect patient health related measurements.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood glucose meter;

peak flow meter; and

EKG.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure cuff;

electronic weight scales;

pulse rate monitors.

35. The method of claim 16 wherein more than one individual is monitored.