Personal healthcare assistant

• US 20080146277A1
• Filed: 10/29/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Radio Digital Technique Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Radio Digital Technique Incorporated
• Inventors: Anglin, Richard L., Tipler, Bradley T.
• Application Number:
  US11/980,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20080146277A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for providing remote healthcare are disclosed. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a transceiver that includes a camera, a display, a speaker, a microphone and embedded remote control. This transceiver may be used at home, at work, while traveling or in any other location that offers wired or wireless access to a network, such as the Internet or a cellular telephone system. The transceiver may be used to obtain information, treatment or medical care from a Healthcare provider.

In one embodiment, the transceiver includes diagnostic and treatment software. In another alternative embodiment, the invention may also include a variety of data devices which are connected to the cellular phone over a wired or wireless connection. In one embodiment, a healthcare provider or healthcare facility may partially or jointly control the transceiver and/or a data device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing;

a transceiver;

said transceiver being contained in said housing;

said housing including a camera (34A), a display (40A), a speaker (36A), and a microphone (36B);

said camera (34A), said display (40A), said speaker (36A) and said microphone (36B) being connected to said transceiver;

said transceiver for providing healthcare for a patient (12A);

said patient (12A) generally using said transceiver in a location which is remote from a healthcare facility;

said healthcare facility being staffed by a healthcare provider;

said transceiver for conveying information concerning said patient to said healthcare provider;

said healthcare provider for providing advice concerning said patient and for partially controlling said transceiver.

2. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is connected to a network using a wired connection.

3. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is connected to a network using a wireless connection.

4. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said wireless connection is established using a cellular telephone radio frequency.

5. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said wireless connection is established using a Wi-Fi radio frequency.

6. An apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said wireless connection is established using a WiMax telephone radio frequency.

7. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver further includes a diagnostic software program (18A).

8. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to provide triage for a patient (12A).

9. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is automatically activated when said housing is opened.

10. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used for health monitoring.

11. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a data device (94).

12. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is connected to said transceiver by a wireless connection (30A).

13. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said wireless connection (30A) is a Bluetooth®

connection (84A).

14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said wireless connection (30A) is a Wi-Fi connection (84B).

15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12, in which said wireless connection (30A) is an ultra-wide band connection (84C).

16. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is connected to said transceiver by a wired connection (30B).

17. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said wired connection (30B) uses a USB connector (84D).

18. An apparatus as recited in claim 16, in which said wired connection (30B) uses a FireWire connector (84E).

19. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is controlled remotely by said health care provider.

20. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a thermometer (94A).

21. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is an acoustic sensor (94B).

22. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a weight measurement device (94C).

23. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a blood pressure measurement device (94D).

24. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a device (94E) which measures the level of oxygen in the blood.

25. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a device for obtaining an electrocardiograph (94F).

26. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is a glucose measurement device (94G).

27. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is an otoscope (94H).

28. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is an ultrasound imaging device (94I).

29. An apparatus as recited in claim 11, in which said data device (94) is an external camera (94J).

30. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used for conveying information in a veterinary practice.

37. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said housing is configured as a clamshell.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 2, in which said transceiver automatically connects to said network when said housing is opened.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver automatically sets up a Visual Virtual Visit when said housing is opened.

40. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver automatically sets up a Visual Virtual Visit when said housing is opened.

41. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to conduct a health check-up.

42. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used for health status monitoring.

43. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to automatically connect to a 911 operator when said housing is opened.

44. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used in a vehicle.

45. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further including a GPS device.

46. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to fit a prosthetic device.

47. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used for physical rehabilitation.

48. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used for athletic performance coaching.

49. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to fingerprint a criminal suspect.

50. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said transceiver is used to for soil sampling.

51. An apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a Visual Electronic Medical Record device.

52. An apparatus as recited in claim 17, in which said Visual Electronic Medical Record device connects to said housing said USB port.

53. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, in which said Visual Electronic Medical Record device is used for medical imaging.

54. An apparatus as recited in claim 45, in which said Visual Electronic Medical Record device is used to create a captured image (44);

said captured image (44) including a measurement scale (58) to aid in comparing a plurality of said images (44).

55. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, in which said Visual Electronic Medical Record device is connected to a computer terminal (64).

56. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, in which said Visual Electronic Medical Record device is partially controlled by said call center (28).

57. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, further comprising a fixed focus hood (48H) for monitoring a wound.

58. An apparatus as recited in claim 43, further comprising a fixed focus hood (48H) for monitoring a dermatological condition.

31. A method comprising the steps of:

using a healthcare transceiver means (16A) for collecting a set of data;

said healthcare transceiver means (16A) for collecting said set of data including an embedded software application (18); and

conveying said set of data from said healthcare transceiver means (16A) to a healthcare display and control means (24);

said healthcare display and control means (24) including a software application (26).

32. A method as recited in claim 31, further comprising the step of:

controlling said healthcare transceiver means (16A) using said healthcare display and control means (24).

33. A method comprising the steps of:

providing a website;

said website including a database of medical information;

offering a service which furnishes a user (12) with an access code;

said access code enabling said user to utilize said database of medical information on said website;

calling a call center (28);

said call center (28) being staffed by a health care provider (20C); and

supplying interactive advice to said user from said call center (28).

34. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising the step of:

using a healthcare transceiver means to provide information to said call center (28);

said transceiver including a microphone (36B), a speaker (36A) and a camera (34).

35. A method as recited in claim 33, further comprising the step of:

providing data to said call center (28) using a data device (94);

said data device (94) being connected to said transceiver.

36. A method as recited in claim 33, in which said data device (94) is partially controlled by said call center (28).