Wrist-worn data recorder

• US 20050228698A1
• Filed: 04/05/2005
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cambridge Neurotechnology Limited
• Original Assignee: Cambridge Neurotechnology Limited
• Inventors: Curtis, Ronald, Smith, Howard Edward
• Application Number:
  US11/099,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20050228698A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A wrist-worn data recorder is provided that enables the recording of a subjective diary of a user'"'"'s medical condition. It comprises a processor that receives a clock signal from a clock-signal generator and receives user inputs from a plurality of user-input buttons. Each button corresponds to a predefined condition of the user and is operable by the user to input data relating to their medical condition. The user'"'"'s inputs are recorded in a memory, from which they are downloadable through an interface. The data recorder further comprises a prompt-signal generator for generating prompt signals at predetermined times, to prompt the user to input data relating to their medical condition.

Claims

1. A wrist-worn data recorder for recording a subjective diary of a user'"'"'s medical condition, the data recorder comprising;

a processor;

a clock-signal generator coupled to the processor;

a memory coupled to the processor;

a user interface having a plurality of user-input buttons, each button corresponding to a predefined condition of the user for enabling the user to input data relating to the user'"'"'s medical condition into the memory under the control of the processor;

a prompt-signal generator for generating a prompt signal in response to an output of the processor to indicate to the user to enter data relating to the user'"'"'s medical condition; and

an interface means for reading the data from the memory.

2. The recorder according to claim 1, comprising between 2 and 5 user-input buttons.

3. The recorder according to claim 1, in which the user-input buttons are color-coded.

4. The recorder according to claim 1, in which each user-input button has to be pressed twice in order to record data relating to the user'"'"'s medical condition to the memory.

5. The recorder according to claim 1, in which each user-input button has a surface area of greater than 0.5 cm².

6. The recorder according to claim 1, comprising three user-input buttons corresponding respectively to the following three subjective conditions of the user;

1) No Symptom

2) Mild Symptom

3) Severe Symptom.

7. The recorder according to claim 1, comprising two user-input buttons corresponding respectively to the following two subjective conditions of the user;

1) No Symptom

2) Symptom Present

8. The recorder according to claim 1, in which the prompt signal produced by the prompt-signal generator is audible.

9. The recorder according to claim 1, in which the prompt signal produced by the prompt-signal generator is visual.

10. The recorder according to claim 1, in which the prompt signal produced by the prompt-signal generator is vibratory.

11. The recorder according to claim 1, wherein the prompt signal generator produces both audible and visual prompt signals simultaneously.

12. The recorder according to claim 1, additionally comprising an accelerometer for recording activity data to the memory under the control of the processor.

13. The recorder according to claim 1, in which the prompt signal is generated for a predetermined time period and is terminated in response to a valid user input or at the end of the predetermined time period.

14. The recorder according to claim 1, which is programmable to generate a prompt-signal at any predetermined time or time interval.

15. A method of producing a subjective diary of a user'"'"'s medical condition comprising the steps of;

arranging for a wrist-worn recorder comprising a prompt-signal generator to produce prompt-signals at predetermined times;

in response to each prompt-signal, the user pressing one of a plurality of user-input buttons of the recorder to record data relating to the user'"'"'s medical condition to a memory of the recorder; and

,

subsequently reading the data.

16. The method according to claim 15, in which the recorder comprises between 2 and 5 user-input buttons.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein any one of the plurality of user-input buttons must be pressed twice in response to a prompt-signal in order for data to be stored.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein in response to the user experiencing no symptom a first button is pressed, in response to the user experiencing a mild symptom a second button is pressed and in response to the user experiencing a severe symptom, a third button is pressed.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein a prompt-signal is terminated when the recorder receives a user-input.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein a prompt-signal is produced for a predetermined period and if no user-input is provided within that period, this lack of input is logged to the memory and the signal is terminated.