Method and apparatus for monitoring patient compliance during dynamic motion therapy

• US 20070043310A1
• Filed: 07/14/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: American Medical Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Juvent, Inc.
• Inventors: Trandafir, Titi, Talish, Roger, Krompasick, Donald, Urgovitch, Kenneth
• Application Number:
  US11/486,538
• Publication Number:
  US 20070043310A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/90
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4848 Monitoring or testing the effects of treatment, e.g. of medication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6891 Furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/725 using specific filters therefor, e.g. Kalman or adaptive filters A61B5/316 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/005 Moveable platform, e.g. vibrating or oscillating platform for standing, sitting, laying, leaning
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0138 incorporated in furniture
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0149 Seat or chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5041 control is restricted to certain individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5043 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5048 Audio interfaces, e.g. voice or music controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5076 Frequency sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5084 Acceleration sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5092 Optical sensor
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5097 : wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0406 : Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0412 : Kneeling
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0425 : Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0431 : in 90°/90°-position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/80 : Weight
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/02 : with electric or magnetic drive
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 : using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 : Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• 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

Abstract

A system and apparatus for remote monitoring of data related to therapeutic treatment of tissue are provided. The system and apparatus includes a platform configured to support a body of the patient; an oscillator connected to the platform and configured to impart an oscillating force at a predetermined frequency on the platform for transmitting mechanical vibration energy through the patient'"'"'s body; and a processing device in operable communication with the platform for processing data related to the therapeutic treatment. The apparatus further includes a communication device in operative communication with the processing device.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring patient compliance of a patient undergoing therapeutic treatment of tissue in the patient'"'"'s body, the method comprising:

supporting the patient'"'"'s body patient on a platform at a treatment site;

oscillating the platform to impart an oscillating force on the body and to transmit mechanical vibration energy through the patient'"'"'s body for therapeutically treating the tissue in the body;

processing data related to the therapeutic treatment; and

transmitting the data to a remote monitoring station for monitoring thereof.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said data is related to at least one treatment parameter of the platform.

3. The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising transmitting a control signal from the remote monitoring station to at least one processing device at the treatment site for remotely controlling a value of the at least one treatment parameter.

4. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one treatment parameter is a calculated weight and further comprising comparing an apparent weight of the body to the calculated weight and determining if the calculated weight substantially deviates from the apparent weight.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, further comprising determining a posture of the body as being non-compliant if the calculated weight substantially deviates from the apparent weight;

and generating and transmitting a message instructing said patient to change posture.

6. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one treatment parameter is selected from a group consisting of oscillation frequency of the platform;

vibrational response of a musculoskeletal system of the patient;

amplitude of the frequency of the oscillating force; and

time interval of the treatment.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the data includes transmitting data via a communications medium.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting data includes transmitting data via a communication device operating in accordance with a communications protocol.

9. An apparatus for therapeutic treatment of tissue in a body of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a platform configured to support a body of the patient;

an oscillator operably connected to the platform and configured to oscillate and impart an oscillating force at a predetermined frequency on the platform for transmitting mechanical vibration energy through the patient'"'"'s body;

at least one processing device in operable communication with the oscillator for processing data related to the therapeutic treatment and controlling the oscillator; and

a communication device in operative communication with the at least one processing device and adapted for transmitting the data to a remote monitoring station via at least one network.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processing device is configured to adjust a treatment parameter to achieve a desired treatment in response to a signal received by the at least one processing device via the network.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the treatment parameter is selected from a group consisting of oscillation frequency of the platform;

vibrational response of a musculoskeletal system of the patient;

amplitude of the frequency of the oscillating force; and

time interval of the treatment.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the data is indicative of at least one treatment parameter during oscillation of the platform.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising support means operatively connected to the platform for supporting the patient'"'"'s body on the platform.

14. A system for monitoring a patient during dynamic motion therapy treatment, the system comprising:

a remote station in operative communication with at least one apparatus, the at least one apparatus comprising a platform configured to support the patient;

an oscillator operably connected to the platform and configured to oscillate and impart an oscillating force at a predetermined frequency on the platform; and

at least one processing device in operable communication with the oscillator for processing data related to the therapeutic treatment and controlling the oscillator; and

a communication device in operative communication with the at least one processing device of the at least one apparatus for transmitting data from the at least one apparatus to the remote station.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the communications device operates in accordance with a communications protocol.

16. The system as recited in claim 14, wherein the data includes a calculated weight, said remote station comprising at least one processor for comparing an apparent weight of the body to the calculated weight and determining if the calculated weight substantially deviates from the apparent weight.

17. The system as recited in claim 16, wherein the at least one processor determines a posture of the body as being non-compliant if the calculated weight substantially deviates from the apparent weight, and generates and transmits a message to the at least one processing device via the communication device, said message instructing said patient to change posture.

18. A support structure for providing vibrational treatment to a patient, the support structure comprising:

a non-rigidly supported platform capable of providing vibrational treatment to the patient in contact with the non-rigidly supported platform; and

a processor in operative communication with communications circuitry for transmitting treatment-related data via a network.

19. The support structure according to claim 18, wherein the data is patient monitoring data.

20. The support structure according to claim 19, wherein the patient monitoring data is received by a monitoring station having at least one processor for determining whether the patient is complying with a treatment regimen.

21. The support structure according to claim 19, wherein the patient monitoring data is received by a monitoring station having at least one processor for determining whether the patient is properly positioned on the non-rigidly supported platform.

22. The support structure according to claim 18, wherein the processor further receives data via the network.

23. The support structure according to claim 22, wherein the received data includes treatment-related data.

24. The support structure according to claim 22, wherein the received data includes Internet content.

25. The support structure according to claim 18, further comprising a video camera for providing video data to the processor, wherein the data transmitted by the processor is video data.

26. The support structure according to claim 18, further comprising a sensor for providing sensor data to the processor, wherein the data transmitted by the processor is sensor data.

27. A network system comprising:

a support structure having a non-rigidly supported platform capable of providing vibrational treatment to a patient in contact with the non-rigidly supported platform; and

a monitoring station in operative communication with the support structure via a network.

31. The system according to claim 27, wherein the monitoring station transmits data via the network to the support structure, wherein the data is selected from the group consisting of treatment-related data and Internet content.

28. The system according to claim 37, wherein the support structure includes communication circuitry for transmitting data to the monitoring station via the network.

29. The system according to claim 28, wherein the data transmitted to the monitoring station includes patient monitoring data indicative of whether a patient is compliant with a treatment regimen.

30. The system according to claim 28, wherein the data transmitted to the monitoring station includes data for determining whether the patient is properly positioned on the non-rigidly supported platform.

32. A method for communicating vibrational treatment-related data comprising:

providing vibrational treatment to a patient in contact with a non-rigidly supported platform; and

transmitting data related to the vibrational treatment to a monitoring station via a network.

33. The method according to claim 32, further comprising analyzing the treatment-related data for determining whether the patient is complying with a treatment regimen.

34. The method according to claim 32, further comprising analyzing the treatment-related data for determining whether the patient is properly positioned on the non-rigidly supported platform.

35. The method according to claim 32, further comprising transmitting data from the monitoring station after receiving the treatment-related data by the monitoring station.