Method and system for capturing and monitoring a physiological parameter and movement within an area of at least one person

• US 20060178567A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CADI Scientific Pte Ltd.
• Original Assignee: CADI Scientific Pte Ltd.
• Inventors: Goh, Zenton, Neo, Sian Sheng, Lim, Soh Min, Ng, Hon Cheong
• Granted Patent: US 8,795,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0231 Emergency, distress or locator beacons
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0294 Trajectory determination or predictive filtering, e.g. target tracking or Kalman filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method for capturing and monitoring at least one physiological parameter and movement within an area of at least one person are disclosed. The area is divided into cells having respective location identifiers. Each person is provided with a respective device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of the person. The physiological parameter is indicative of whether the person has a physical condition. Each device has a device identifier. The device is used to at least intermittently measure a physiological parameter of the person using the respective device to obtain a physiological parameter reading for each measurement. The physiological parameter reading is associated with the respective device identifier of the device by which, the respective location identifier of the cell in which, and a time at which the physiological parameter reading is obtained. The associated information is stored at a remote location. A system and a physiological parameter device are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method of capturing and monitoring at least one physiological parameter and movement within an area of at least one person, the method comprising:

dividing the area into cells having respective location identifiers;

providing each person with a respective device for measuring at least one physiological parameter of each person, the physiological parameter being indicative of whether the person has a physical condition, each device having a device identifier;

at least intermittently measuring a physiological parameter of each person using the respective device to obtain a physiological parameter reading for each measurement;

associating each of at least a selected number of the physiological parameter readings with the respective device identifier of the device by which, the respective location identifier of the cell in which, and a time at which the physiological parameter reading is obtained; and

storing the associated physiological parameter reading, device identifier, location identifier and time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the monitoring is carried out from a remote location, the method further comprising:

transmitting the associated physiological parameter reading, device identifier, location identifier and time to the remote location prior to storing them thereat.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the physiological parameter reading with a first predetermined physiological parameter threshold value to determine if the person is wearing the device properly.

4. A method according to claim 3, further comprising identifying and locating the person using the device identifier and the location identifier associated with the physiological parameter reading if the person is determined not to be wearing the device properly.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the physiological parameter reading with a second predetermined physiological parameter threshold value to determine if the person has a physical condition.

6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising identifying and locating the person using the device identifier and the location identifier associated with the physiological parameter reading if the person is determined to have the physical condition.

7. A method according to claim 5, wherein the second predetermined physiological parameter threshold value is predetermined individually.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising adjusting the physiological parameter reading by a physiological parameter correction factor that is individually determined for the person prior to comparing the adjusted physiological parameter reading with the first or the second predetermined physiological parameter threshold value.

9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

matching a time and location identifier associated with at least one physiological parameter reading taken from a respective device of at least one other person with those of the identified and located person; and

identifying the other person to have been in physical proximity of the identified and located person if there is a match.

10-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A system for capturing and monitoring at least one physiological parameter and movement within an area of at least one person, comprising:

a remote control unit; and

a plurality of access stations provided in a spatial arrangement within the area, thereby dividing the area into respective cells, wherein each access station has a respective station identifier, is connected to the control unit and is adapted to receive a physiological parameter reading and a respective device identifier from at least one physiological parameter measuring device attached to a first person, and to transmit the received physiological parameter reading and the device identifier along with its station identifier to the control unit;

wherein the physiological parameter reading, device identifier, station identifier and a time at which the physiological parameter reading is obtained by the device are stored in a first record at the control unit, and

wherein the control unit is adapted to match a date, time and location identifier of at least another record obtained from another respective device of at least one other person with those in the first record; and

to identify the at least one other person to be in physical proximity of the first person if there is a match.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the control unit is adapted to compare the physiological parameter reading with a first predetermined physiological parameter threshold value to determine if the first person is wearing the device properly.

32. The system according to claim 31, wherein the control unit is further adapted to provide information corresponding to the device identifier and the location identifier associated with the physiological parameter reading for identifying and locating the first person if the first person is determined not to be wearing the device properly.

33. The system according to claim 30, wherein the control unit is adapted to compare the physiological parameter reading with a second predetermined threshold value to determine if the first person has a physical condition.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the control unit is further adapted to provide information corresponding to the device identifier and the location identifier associated with the physiological parameter reading for identifying and locating the first person if the first person is determined to have the physical condition.

35. The system according to claim 33, wherein the second predetermined physiological parameter threshold is predetermined individually for the first person.

36. The system according to claim 31, wherein the physiological parameter reading is adjusted to include a physiological parameter correction factor that is individually determined for the first person prior to comparing the adjusted physiological parameter reading with either the first or second physiological parameter threshold value.

37. The system according to claim 31, wherein the control unit is adapted to generate an alert message if the first person is determined either not to be wearing the device properly or to have the physical condition, the alert message including information corresponding to the station identifier and the device identifier.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the alert message is sent to a predetermined recipient via a communication network to which the control unit is connectable.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the communication network is a public communication network.

40. The system according to claim 30, wherein the control unit is adapted to instruct the device to transmit its device identifier and a physiological parameter reading measured therewith.

41. The system according to claim 40, wherein the control unit is adapted to instruct the device by broadcasting a corresponding instruction via at least one selected access station, the instruction being receivable by all devices in a coverage area of the at least one selected access station.

42. The system according to claim 30, further comprising at least one physiological parameter measuring device that is attachable to the first person for monitoring at least one physiological parameter of the first person, each device having a device identifier and being connected to the respective access station of the cell when it is within the cell.

43. A physiological parameter measuring device comprising:

a transducer;

a transmitter; and

a processor connected to the transducer and the transmitter, the processor being adapted to control the transducer to at least intermittently measure a physiological parameter of a person and to control the transmitter to transmit a reading corresponding to the measured physiological parameter when it is determined that the reading has deviated from at least a predetermined threshold value, said physiological parameter measuring device further comprising a housing including;

a first portion;

a second portion; and

a flexible medial portion connected between the first and the second portion,

wherein the processor, transmitter and receiver are accommodated within the first housing portion and the transducer is supported on the second housing portion.

44. The device according to claim 43, further comprising a receiver connected to the processor and wherein the reading is transmitted only if the processor receives an instruction to do so via the receiver.

45. The device according to claim 43, wherein the device is a thermometer.

46. The device according to claim 45, wherein the first and the second portion are bendable towards each other to define a U-shaped device for hooking on a piece of clothing so that the transducer is in contact with the abdomen of a person for measuring a temperature thereat.