Rechargeable smart card blood pressure recording method and apparatus

• US 20070057041A1
• Filed: 08/11/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pharma-Smart International, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pharmasmart LLC
• Inventors: Goodwin, Lisa, Sarkis, Fred, Sarkis, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 7,438,223 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/380
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/342 Cards defining paid or billed services or quantities
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/04 for anthropometrical measurements, such as weight, height, strength
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/025 by means, e.g. cards, providing billing information at the time of purchase, e.g. identification of seller or purchaser, quantity of goods delivered or to be delivered
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Enabling the providers of automated blood pressure readings, such as pharmacies, corporate work sites, health clubs and other customers, to charge a fee for the long-term use of a memory card to record non-invasive physiological test data and make the data available for health consultations. In an automated blood pressure system with one or more memory-card interface devices, a custom-formatted end-user memory card keeps track of the user'"'"'s non-invasive physiological test data, and a recharge memory card controls the provider'"'"'s recharging of the end-user memory card after the end-user memory card expires. The contents of the recharge memory card are updated in order to track its use by the provider of the readings.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording and tracking non-invasive physiological test data comprising:

a machine for automatically detecting non-invasive physiological test data of an individual;

means for recording the detected non-invasive physiological test data on a first transportable device adapted to receive and hold non-invasive physiological test data;

means for recording the date of each recording of non-invasive physiological test data on the first transportable device;

means for limiting the duration and number of recordings made on the first transportable device to a first period of time; and

means for recharging the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for accessing and printing a hard copy of the data contained on the first transportable device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for recording the detected non-invasive physiological test data and the date of each recording on a first transportable device further comprises a first reading and writing device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a first electronic smart card reading and writing device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a first flash memory reading and writing device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a first optical memory reading and writing device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a first magneto-optical memory reading and writing device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for accessing and printing a hard copy of the data contained on the first transportable device further comprises:

a means for accessing data entries contained on the first transportable device alongside the dates the data entries were recorded;

means for selecting a set of data entries, taking an average of the set of data entries, and displaying or printing the set of data entries including the date the entries were made and their average.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the selected data entries comprise the last ten entries.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the selected data entries comprise all the data entries on the card.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

a means for uploading the data entries onto a computer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for limiting the duration and number of recordings made on the first transportable device to a first period of time further comprises:

a machine-readable and machine-writable recording of expiration date information, stored on the first transportable device and specifying the end of the first period of time;

a source of current date information not stored on the first transportable device;

a software program for comparing the current date information with the expiration date information;

the results of a comparison between the expiration date information and the current date information.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first transportable device comprises an electronic smart card.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first transportable device comprises a flash memory card.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first transportable device comprises an optical memory device.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first transportable device comprises an magneto-optical memory device.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for recharging the first transportable device to extend the fixed period of time to a second period of time further comprises:

a second transportable device for limiting the number of recharge operations performed on one or more first transportable devices;

a machine-readable and machine-writable recording of the number of recharge operations, stored on the second transportable device and specifying the number of recharge operations remaining to be performed;

a software program for decrementing the number of recharge operations remaining to be performed;

the results of a comparison between the number of recharge operations remaining to be performed and zero;

a software program for resetting the expiration date information stored on the first transportable device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second transportable device comprises an electronic smart card.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second transportable device comprises a flash memory card.

21. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second transportable device comprises an optical memory device.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second transportable device comprises a magneto-optical memory device.

23. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the means for means for recharging the first transportable device further comprises a second reading and writing device.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a second electronic smart card reading and writing device.

25. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a second flash memory reading and writing device.

26. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a second optical memory reading and writing device.

27. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the first reading and writing device further comprises a magneto-optical memory reading and writing device.

28. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detected non-invasive physiological test data further comprise one or more of the group consisting of:

the systolic blood pressure of the individual;

the diastolic blood pressure of the individual;

the pulse rate of the individual;

the respiration rate of the individual;

the blood oxygen level of the individual;

the blood glucose level of the individual;

the blood cholesterol level of the individual;

one or more blood enzyme levels of the individual;

indications and a log of one or more classes of cardiac arrythmias of the individual;

the weight of the individual;

the percent body fat of the individual; and

the bone density of the individual.

29. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for encryption of the records of non-invasive physiological test data.

30. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for decryption of the records of non-invasive physiological test data.

31. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for destroying the records of non-invasive physiological test data.

32. A process for recording and tracking non-invasive physiological test data comprising the steps of:

detecting the non-invasive physiological test data of an individual;

recording the detected non-invasive physiological test data on a first transportable device adapted to receive and hold non-invasive physiological test data;

recording the date of each recording of non-invasive physiological test data on the first transportable device;

limiting the duration and number of recordings made on the first transportable device to a first period of time;

recharging the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time.

33. The process of claim 32, wherein the step of detecting the non-invasive physiological test data of an individual further comprises the steps of:

the systolic blood pressure of the individual;

the diastolic blood pressure of the individual;

the pulse rate of the individual;

the respiration rate of the individual;

the blood oxygen level of the individual;

the blood glucose level of the individual;

the blood cholesterol level of the individual;

one or more blood enzyme levels of the individual;

indications and a log of one or more classes of cardiac arrythmias of the individual;

the weight of the individual;

the percent body fat of the individual; and

the bone density of the individual.

34. The process of claim 32, wherein the step of recording the detected non-invasive physiological test data on a first transportable device further comprises the steps of:

at the time of routine use by a user, reading the expiration date of the first period of time stored on the first transportable device;

at the time of routine use by a user, comparing the expiration date to the current date;

when the expiration date has not been passed at the time of routine use by a user, recording the detected non-invasive physiological test data on the first transportable device.

35. The process of claim 32, wherein the step of limiting the duration and number of recordings made on the first transportable device to a first period of time further comprises the steps of:

at the time of recharging of the first transportable device, writing an expiration date of the first period of time onto the first transportable device;

at the time of routine use by a user, reading the expiration date of the first period of time stored on the first transportable device;

at the time of routine use by a user, comparing the expiration date to the current date;

when the expiration date has been passed at the time of routine use by a user, notifying the user of the first transportable device that said device requires recharging.

36. The process of claim 32, wherein the step of recharging the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time further comprises the steps of:

at the time of authorization of additional recharging operations for one or more first transportable devices, writing a count of recharge operations available onto a second transportable device;

at the time of recharging of the first transportable device, reading a count of recharge operations available from the second transportable device;

at the time of recharging of the first transportable device, decrementing the count of recharge operations available;

when the count of recharge operations available has reached zero, notifying the operator that the second transportable device requires authorization of further recharge operations;

when the count of recharge operations available has not reached zero, writing the expiration date of the second period of time onto the first transportable device.

37. An apparatus for recording and tracking usage information comprising:

a machine for automatically detecting parameters of usage of a service, resource or object;

means for recording parameters of the detected usage on a first transportable device adapted to receive and hold usage data;

means for limiting the duration and number of recordings made on the first transportable device to a first period of time; and

means for recharging the first transportable device to extend the first period of time to a second period of time; and

means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of usage information.

38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the parameters of usage comprise the time, date, and location of the usage.

39. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the service, resource, or object is selected from the list consisting of:

passage on a transit conveyance;

borrowing of a book, recording, or other document; and

rental of a piece of equipment.

40. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for encryption of the records of usage information.

41. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for decryption of the records of usage information.

42. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein the means for preventing access to or alteration of any component of the records of non-invasive physiological test data further comprises a means for destroying the records of usage information.