Medical information jewelry

• US 20080016738A1
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gayle Finer Talbott, William John Talbott
• Original Assignee: Gayle Finer Talbott, William John Talbott
• Inventors: Talbott, William John, Talbott, Gayle Finer
• Application Number:
  US11/455,484
• Publication Number:
  US 20080016738A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 40/633
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 5/0023 for therapeutic purposes

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment includes a solid state memory chip contained in or attached to various items of jewelry to be worn on the body of the user. The chip contains extensive medical information about the user, as well as contact and address information, and medical insurance information. The information on the microchip would be accessed by its contacts or by a small USB plug on the jewelry and connected to the memory chip inside. The jewelry would also contain on its surface a medical alert symbol. If the wearer of the jewelry is injured or has a medical emergency, the emergency medical technicians would recognize the medical alert symbol and would see the computer cable plug or open the chip container, and would plug in a computer or other device which could quickly read the medical information stored on the microchip.

Claims

1. A device for storing medical or other personal information about a user comprising:

(a) a flash solid-state memory chip containing medical or other personal information of the user,

(b) an openable and closable chip envelope comprised of metal, strong plastic, or other durable material and adapted to contain the chip,

(c) an item of jewelry means attached to, or comprising, the chip envelope, and adapted to be worn on or about the body of the user, and

(d) a caduceus or other widely recognized medical alert symbol on the chip envelope and having a position and size designed to attract the attention of a medical services provider,

whereby, in an emergency or other situation, a medical services provider is likely to recognize the medical alert symbol and open chip envelope and remove the chip and connect it to a personal computer or its equivalent readout means for information readout, or the user may connect it to a personal computer or equivalent readout means for information readout.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a shell bracelet comprised of two meshing or mating shells secured by one or more retaining pins, and wherein the closed shells contain the chip which is provided with a USB port.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a slider with slider tabs for engaging a necklace, bracelet, or similar elongate jewelry item.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a pendant with a pendant loop for attachment to a chain, bracelet, or necklace.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a dog tag.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a watch or watchband.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a charm.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a rigid bracelet.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a chain bracelet with hinged clasp containing the chip.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a mesh bracelet with hinged section containing the chip.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a stretchy mesh bracelet.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a hospital wrist or ankle band.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a ring.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a shell bracelet.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a pin.

18. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a one-piece chain.

19. The device of claim 14, further comprising a slot for an identification slip about the user.

20. A method for storing, or displaying, medical or other personal information of a user in an object adapted to be worn on or about the body of the user, comprising the steps of:

(a) storing such information on a flash solid-state memory chip using a personal computer or similar device,

(b) inserting the chip into the chip envelope of claim 1,

(c) removing the chip from the chip envelope, and

(d) connecting the chip to a personal computer or its equivalent readout means for displaying the information.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the memory chip has crucial medical information listed first or highlighted by type size, color or other similar attention-getting information display means.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising, in step (a), listing crucial medical information first in the display, or highlighting the crucial medical information by type size, color or similar attention-getting information display means.

23. The device of claim 1, further comprising a miniature radio transmitter connected to the chip for transmitting the information on the chip to an information display device.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of connecting the chip to the personal computer or its equivalent is done by transmitting the information by a miniature radio transmitter connected to the chip.

26. The device of claim 1, wherein the chip contains graphical displays of medical information comprising one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

X-rays, finger prints, MRI images, CAT scans, EKG'"'"'s, EEG'"'"'s, mammograms, sonograms, or similar graphical medical information displays.

28. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of transmitting the information on the chip by radio, cell phone, email, fax or similar electronic transmission method to other medical service providers.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the readout means equivalent to a personal computer is a PalmPilot™

or BlackBerry™

or similar hand-sized electronic device.

31. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is an ankle bracelet.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a hair accessory.

33. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is eyeglasses.

34. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is an earring.

35. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry a belt buckle.

36. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a belly button ring.

37. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is an eyeglasses strap.

38. The device of claim 1, wherein the item of jewelry is a string or bead holder.

2. A device for storing medical or other personal information about a user comprising:

(a) a flash solid-state memory chip containing medical or other personal information of the user,

(b) an openable and closable chip envelope comprised of metal, strong plastic, or other durable material and adapted to contain the chip,

(c) an item of jewelry attached to, or comprising, the chip envelope, and adapted to be worn on or about the body of the user, and

(d) a caduceus or other widely recognized medical alert symbol on the chip envelope and having a position and size designed to attract the attention of a medical services provider,

whereby, in an emergency or other situation, a medical services provider is likely to recognize the medical alert symbol and open the chip envelope and remove the chip and connect it to a personal computer or its equivalent readout means for information readout, or the user may connect it to a personal computer or equivalent readout means for information readout, and wherein the item of jewelry is an item selected from the group consisting of;

a slider with slider tabs for engaging a necklace, bracelet or similar elongate jewelry item;

a pendant with a pendant loop for attachment to a chain, bracelet or necklace;

a dog tag;

a watch or watchband;

a charm;

a rigid bracelet;

a chain bracelet with hinged clasp containing the chip;

a mesh bracelet with hinged section containing the chip;

a stretchy mesh bracelet;

a hospital wrist or ankle band;

a ring;

a shell bracelet;

a pin;

a one-piece chain;

ankle bracelets;

hair accessories;

eyeglasses;

earrings;

belt buckles;

belly button rings;

eyeglasses straps;

strings or bead holders, or other jewelry means.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the item of jewelry is a shell bracelet comprised of two meshing or mating shells secured by one or more retaining pins, and wherein the closed shells contain the chip which is provided with a USB port.

24. The device of claim 2, further comprising a miniature radio transmitter connected to the chip for transmitting the information on the chip to an information display device.

27. The device of claim 2, wherein the chip contains graphical displays of medical information comprising one or more items selected from the group consisting of:

X-rays, finger prints, MRI images, CAT scans, EKG'"'"'s, EEG'"'"'s, mammograms, sonograms, or similar graphical medical information displays.

30. A device for storing medical or other personal information about a user comprising:

(a) a flash solid-state memory chip containing medical or other personal information of the user,

(b) an openable and closable chip envelope comprising a shell bracelet comprised of metal, strong plastic, or other durable material and adapted to contain the chip, and

(c) a caduceus or other widely recognized medical alert symbol on the chip envelope and having a position and size designed to attract the attention of a medical services provider,

whereby, in an emergency or other situation, a medical services provider is likely to recognize the medical alert symbol and open chip envelope and remove the chip and connect it to a personal computer or equivalent readout means for information readout, or the user may connect it to a personal computer or equivalent readout means for information readout.