Method for providing a remote diagnostic

• US 20060074709A1
• Filed: 09/29/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: PHD Medical, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PHD Medical, Inc.
• Inventors: McAllister, John
• Application Number:
  US10/951,713
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• 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 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment in a patient'"'"'s home to permit remote assessment by a medical practitioner is described. A need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up in the patient'"'"'s home is identified. a request is placed for diagnostic equipment to be allocated to the patient. The diagnostic equipment is dispensed to the patient together with instructions as to how to set up the equipment. The diagnostic equipment is set up in the patient'"'"'s home according to the instruction and is used for recording physiological data allowing a remote assessment of the patient. The diagnostic equipment is returned after use and the physiological data is validated by a technician. The physiological data is then analyzed and an assessment of the patient is provided.

Claims

1. A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment in a patient'"'"'s home to permit remote assessment by a medical practitioner, said method comprising:

identifying a need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up in said home;

requesting that said diagnostic equipment be allocated to said patient;

dispensing said diagnostic equipment according to said request to said patient and providing instructions on how to set up said equipment;

setting up said diagnostic equipment in said patient'"'"'s home in accordance with said instructions;

using said diagnostic equipment for recording diagnosis data allowing said remote assessment of said patient;

returning said medical diagnostic equipment after use as prescribed by said medical practitioner; and

validating said recorded data by a technician at a remote location, before said remote assessment is performed by said medical practitioner.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said validating said recorded diagnosis data comprises an authentication of said patient by analysis of said recorded diagnosis data.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said validating said recorded data comprises verifying that said diagnostic equipment was set up by said patient according to said instructions.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said requesting allocation of said equipment comprises said medical practitioner placing an electronic request for said diagnostic equipment to be dispensed to said patient.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said remote assessment is an assessment of a sleep disorder.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recorded data is patient physiological data.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein said recorded physiological data is blood oxygen level information and pulse rate information.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said medical practitioner performing said identifying a need and said requesting diagnostic equipment is a generalist medical practitioner and wherein said medical practitioner performing a remote assessment is a specialist medical practitioner.

6. A method as claimed in claimed 1, wherein said diagnostic equipment comprises a pulse oximeter device.

10. A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment in a patient'"'"'s home to permit remote assessment by a medical practitioner, said method comprising:

identifying a need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up in said home;

providing diagnostic equipment and instructions on how to set up said equipment;

setting up said diagnostic equipment in said patient'"'"'s home in accordance with said instructions;

setting up a camera in said patient'"'"'s home for recording video information;

using said camera to record said video information on a video recording medium;

using said diagnostic equipment for recording physiological data of said patient;

encoding said recorded physiological data onto an audio channel of said video recording medium such that said physiological data is synchronized with said video information;

returning said diagnostic equipment after use as prescribed by said medical practitioner; and

using said recorded physiological data from said audio channel together with said recorded video information to index events, so that said medical practitioner may view them without scanning through all said recorded information.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said medical practitioner performing said identifying a need and said requesting diagnostic equipment is a generalist medical practitioner and wherein said medical practitioner performing a remote assessment is a specialist medical practitioner.

12. A method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

recording audio information on another channel of said video recording medium.

13. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said camera is an infrared camera for recording in low lighting conditions.

14. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said step of providing diagnostic equipment comprises:

requesting that said diagnostic equipment be allocated to said patient; and

dispensing said diagnostic equipment according to said request to said patient and providing instructions on how to set up said equipment.

15. A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein said requesting allocation of said equipment comprises said medical practitioner placing an electronic request for said diagnostic equipment to be dispensed to said patient.

16. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said remote assessment is an assessment of a sleep disorder.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said diagnostic equipment comprises a pulse oximeter device.

18. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein said recorded physiological data is blood oxygen level information and pulse rate information.

19. A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment in a patient'"'"'s home to permit remote assessment by a medical practitioner, said method comprising:

identifying a need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up in said home;

using said diagnostic equipment for recording video information and physiological data allowing said remote assessment of said patient;

providing said recorded video information to a codec for digital encoding;

reading a codec signal indicating a degree of motion in said recorded video information; and

using said codec signal together with said physiological data thresholds to index events to be used by said medical practitioner for said remote assessment.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising:

requesting that said diagnostic equipment be allocated to said patient;

dispensing said diagnostic equipment to said patient and providing instructions on how to set up said equipment;

setting up said diagnostic equipment in said patient'"'"'s home in accordance with said instructions; and

returning said medical diagnostic equipment after use as prescribed by said medical practitioner.

21. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said diagnostic equipment comprises a pulse oximeter device.

22. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said recorded physiological data is blood oxygen level information and pulse rate information.

23. A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment to a patient to permit assessment by a medical practitioner, said method comprising:

identifying a need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up;

establishing a data link between said diagnostic equipment and said patient;

using said diagnostic equipment for recording diagnostic data allowing said assessment of said patient; and

using said link to automatically match said diagnostic data with a corresponding patient file, for performing said assessment.

24. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said establishing a link comprises:

uploading a patient identification information into said diagnostic equipment;

and wherein using said link comprises;

downloading said patient identification information from said diagnostic equipment and using it to retrieve said patient file.

25. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said diagnostic equipment is set up at a patient'"'"'s home.

26. A method as claimed in claim 23, wherein said recorded diagnosis data is patient physiological data.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein said recorded physiological data is blood oxygen level information and pulse rate information.

28. A method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising:

requesting that said diagnostic equipment be allocated to said patient;

dispensing said diagnostic equipment to said patient and providing instructions on how to set up said equipment;

setting up said diagnostic equipment in said patient'"'"'s home in accordance with said instructions; and

returning said diagnostic equipment after use as prescribed by said medical practitioner.

29. A method for providing medical diagnostic equipment to a patient to permit remote assessment by a medical practitioner, said method comprising:

identifying a need for a particular diagnostic equipment to be set up;

requesting that said diagnostic equipment be allocated to said patient;

establishing a link between said diagnostic equipment and an analysis protocol;

using said diagnostic equipment for recording diagnostic data allowing said remote assessment of said patient; and

using said link to select an analysis protocol for analyzing said diagnostic data for said patient before providing said remote assessment.