Verification technique for patient diagnosis and treatment

• US 20080004900A1
• Filed: 06/29/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gearbox LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D., Wood, Lowell L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,417,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/60 relating to nutrition control, e.g. diets
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provide a verification technique that facilitates administration of a health-related procedure to an intended recipient patient or group of patients. An interface template may be configured to establish verifiable matching engagement between the patient and various types of objects used to administer the health-related procedure.

Claims

1. A method for patient verification comprising:

establishing an interface template to serve as an identifier for a health-related issue involving a particular patient;

adopting a primary version of the interface template that is located in proximity to the particular patient;

adopting a secondary version of the interface template that is shaped for verifiable matching engagement with the primary version of the interface template; and

associating the secondary version of the interface template with a selected procedure intended for the particular patient.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template includes:

associating the secondary version of the interface template with a tangible object that is used in connection with the selected procedure.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said associating the secondary version with a tangible object includes:

incorporating the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part of the tangible object.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said associating the secondary version with a tangible object includes:

incorporating the secondary version of the interface template as an attachment to the tangible object.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing a locking mode to maintain secure engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template during a period involving usage of the tangible object for its intended purpose with the particular patient.

6. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

enabling attachment of the primary version of the interface template at a bodily patient location proximate to a functional usage position for the tangible object.

7. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

facilitating a verifiable matching engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template during one or more of the following time periods;

prior to functional usage of the tangible object, at the onset of functional usage of the tangible object, during functional usage of the tangible object, periodically during functional usage of the tangible object, continuously during functional usage of the tangible object.

8. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

providing a lockout-mode to prevent functional usage of the tangible object with respect to the particular patient during a time period of disengagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

enabling attachment of the primary version of the interface template to a bodily part of the particular patient.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making an arrangement for the primary version of the interface template to be integral with a patient identity tag secured to a bodily portion of the particular patient.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

making an arrangement for the primary version of the interface template to be coupled to an identity tag secured to a bodily portion of the particular patient.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a status indicator to confirm a verified matching engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing a status indicator to confirm a non-matching engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein said adopting the primary version of the interface template includes:

making an arrangement for locating the primary version of the interface template in proximity to the particular patient.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein said making the arrangement for locating the primary version includes:

making an arrangement for the primary version of the interface template to be integral with or attachable to a bed-like or chair-like support for the particular patient.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein said making the arrangement includes:

providing the primary version of the interface template to be integral with or attached to a mobile support for the particular patient.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template includes:

associating the secondary version of the interface template with a device for providing a dosage substance to the particular patient.

28. The method of claim 27 further comprising:

providing a receptor means for transferring the dosage substance to a designated bodily destination, which receptor means incorporates the primary version of the interface template.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising:

incorporating a junction coupling between the medication-type device and the receptor means to allow transfer of the dosage substance to the particular patient based on confirmation of the verifiable matching engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising;

incorporating an activation control means between the medication-type device and the receptor means to prevent transfer of the dosage substance to the particular patient based on non-matching engagement between the primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

84. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template with the selected procedure includes:

establishing an association of the secondary version of the interface template with a procedure of maintaining a patient data record.

85. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template with the selected procedure includes:

establishing an association of the secondary version of the interface template with a diagnostic or testing or treatment device used in connection with administration of the selected procedure.

86. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template with the selected procedure includes:

establishing the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part of a diagnostic or testing or treatment device used in connection with administration of the selected procedure.

87. The method of claim 1 wherein said associating the secondary version of the interface template with the selected procedure includes:

establishing an association of the secondary version of the interface template with a separate product component not integral with a diagnostic or testing or treatment device used in connection with administration of the selected procedure.

9-11. -11. (canceled)

17-23. -23. (canceled)

31. A system for patient verification comprising:

a primary version of an interface template that serves as an identifier for a health-related issue involving a particular patient;

a secondary version of the interface template that is associated with a selected procedure intended for the particular patient; and

a customized interface configuration that is incorporated on both the primary version and the secondary version of the interface template, which interface configuration is shaped for matching engagement to assure administration of the selected procedure to the particular patient.

32. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

a substance administration device used in connection with administration of the selected procedure, wherein the secondary version of the interface template is associated with the substance administration device.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said substance administration device includes:

the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part of the substance administration device.

34. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a separate product component not integral with the substance administration device, wherein the separate product component includes the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part.

35. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a status indicator that is operably coupled to said primary version or said secondary version of the interface template, wherein the status indicator confirms the satisfactory matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

36. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a control module operably coupled with the substance administration device to prevent activation of the substance administration device in the event there is no verifiable matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

37. The system of claim 32 further comprising:

a control module operably coupled with the substance administration device to allow activation of the substance administration device in the event there is confirmation of matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

38. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

a diagnostic or testing or treatment device used in connection with administration of the selected procedure, wherein the secondary version of the interface template is associated with said diagnostic or testing or treatment device.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said diagnostic or testing or treatment device includes:

the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part of the diagnostic or testing or treatment device.

40. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

a separate product component not integral with the diagnostic or testing or treatment device, wherein the separate product component includes the secondary version of the interface template as an integral part.

41. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

a status indicator that is operably coupled to said primary version or said secondary version of the interface template, wherein the status indicator confirms the satisfactory matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

42. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

a control module configured to prevent activation of the diagnostic or testing or treatment device in the event there is no verifiable matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

43. The system of claim 38 further comprising:

a control module configured to allow activation of the diagnostic or testing or treatment device in the event there is confirmation of matching engagement between said primary and secondary versions of the interface template.

44. The system of claim 31 further comprising:

a patient data record used in connection with administration of the selected procedure, wherein the secondary version of the interface template is associated with the patient data record.

45-83. -83. (canceled)

88. A computer program product comprising instructions encoded on media, which instructions implement a patient verification process that includes:

establishing verification of a matching engagement between an interface template associated with the particular patient and a complementary interface template associated with a health-related procedure to be rendered to a particular patient.

89. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the process further includes:

providing a status indication regarding whether the matching engagement has occurred between the interface template associated with the particular patient and the complementary interface template associated with the health-related procedure to be rendered to the particular patient.

90. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the process further includes:

preventing activation of the health-related procedure in the absence of satisfactory matching engagement between the interface template associated with the particular patient and the complementary interface template associated with the health-related procedure to be rendered to the particular patient.

91. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the process further includes:

allowing activation of the health-related procedure in the event there is confirmation of satisfactory matching engagement between the interface template associated with the particular patient and the complementary interface template associated with the health-related procedure to be rendered to the particular patient.

92. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the process further includes:

establishing a verifiable matching engagement of the interface template associated with the particular patient and the complementary interface template associated with a tangible object used in connection with the health-related procedure, which verifiable matching engagement is established during one or more of the following time periods;

prior to functional usage of the tangible object, at the onset of functional usage of the tangible object, during functional usage of the tangible object, periodically during functional usage of the tangible object, continuously during functional usage of the tangible object.

93. The computer program product of claim 88, wherein the instructions are encoded on storage media and/or on transmission media.