Methods and systems for providing a nutraceutical program specific to an individual animal

• US 20080243553A1
• Filed: 06/06/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bionutritional LLC
• Original Assignee: Bionutritional LLC
• Inventors: Goldstein, Robert S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,856,326 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/3
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to methods and systems for providing an animal with a nutraceutical program that is specifically tailored to address the deficiencies and/or needs of the particular animal. Blood is drawn from the animal and analyzed at a lab to obtain blood test results. The blood test results are scored to obtain at least one blood test score for at least one corresponding blood parameter. If the at least one blood test score falls within a normal range but outside of an optimal range, one or more nutraceuticals needed to bring the animal within the optimal range for the at least one corresponding blood parameter are identified. A prescribed dosage amount is then calculated for at least one of the one or more identified nutraceuticals for the animal. The calculation of the prescribed dosage amount is based on at least the blood test score for the corresponding blood parameter and a deviation of the blood test score from the optimal range.

Claims

1. A system for providing a nutraceutical program specific to an individual animal, comprising:

a blood analyzer for analyzing a blood sample of an animal to obtain blood test results;

a database containing historical blood test scores for a plurality of animals, said historical blood test scores defining normal ranges for corresponding blood parameters and defining corresponding optimal ranges within said normal ranges for the corresponding blood parameters; and

a processor in communication with said blood analyzer and said database, said processor adapted to;

score the blood test results to obtain at least one blood test score for at least one corresponding blood parameter;

determine if the at least one blood test score falls outside the normal range defined for the corresponding blood parameter;

if said at least one blood test score falls within said normal range but outside of the optimal range;

identify one or more nutraceuticals needed to bring the animal within said optimal range for the at least one corresponding blood parameter; and

calculate a prescribed dosage amount for at least one of said one or more identified nutraceuticals for the animal based on at least said blood test score for said corresponding blood parameter and a deviation of the blood test score from the optimal range;

wherein if said at least one blood test score falls outside of said normal range, standard nutrients or medications are prescribed for the animal in order to bring the at least one blood test score within said normal range.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor identifies said one or more nutraceuticals based on at least one of animal type, animal physiology, animal biochemistry, data describing a physical condition of the animal, and data describing a medical diagnosis of the animal.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said processor calculates the prescribed dosage amount for a particular identified nutraceutical by:

calculating a pre-cap dosage amount based on said blood test score, said deviation of the at least one blood test score from the optimal range, animal type, animal weight, dosage strength information, and dosage limit information; and

comparing said calculated pre-cap dosage amount to a low-cap dosage amount and a high-cap dosage amount for the particular animal;

wherein;

if the pre-cap dosage amount is between the low-cap and high-cap dosage amounts, the prescribed dosage amount is equal to the pre-cap dosage amount;

if the pre-cap dosage amount is greater than the high-cap dosage amount, the prescribed dosage amount is equal to the hi-cap dosage amount; and

if the pre-cap dosage amount is less than the low-cap dosage amount, the prescribed dosage amount is equal to the low-cap dosage amount.

4. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein:

the low-cap dosage amount is the minimum amount of an identified nutraceutical prescribed for an animal regardless of the animal weight or the deviation of the at least one blood test score from the optimal range; and

the high-cap dosage amount is the maximum amount of an identified nutraceutical prescribed for an animal regardless of the animal weight or the deviation of the at least one blood test score from the optimal range.

5. A system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said pre-cap dosage amount is equal to a dosage strength S times the weight of the animal.

6. A system in accordance with claim 5, wherein said dosage strength S is defined as:

S=slope (blood score−

maximum range value)+High dosage.

7. A system in accordance with claim 6, wherein:

said database stores information regarding a plurality of severity levels indicating a range of blood test scores which deviate from said optimal range, a negative severity level indicating a range of blood test scores below a minimum of said optimal range, and a positive severity level indicating a range of blood test scores above a maximum of said optimal range.

8. A system in accordance with claim 7, wherein:

if the at least one blood test score falls within a negative severity level;

the maximum range value is the highest value of the negative severity level closest to said optimal range; and

a minimum range value is the lowest value of the negative severity level furthest from said optimal range; and

if the at least one blood test score falls within a positive severity level;

the maximum range value is the highest value in the positive severity level furthest from said optimal range; and

the minimum range value is the lowest value in the positive severity level closest to said optimal range.

9. A system in accordance with claim 8, wherein slope is defined as:

slope=(high dosage−

low dosage)/(maximum range value−

minimum range value).

10. A system in accordance with claim 9, wherein:

said low dosage indicates a minimum nutraceutical strength prescribed for an animal regardless of the animal weight or the severity level of said at least one blood test score; and

said high dosage is approximately double said low dosage.

11. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said database is updated with information regarding said animal type, said animal weight and said blood test scores.

12. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said blood parameters comprise at least one of white blood cell information, red blood cell information, and blood chemistry information.

13. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said blood parameters correspond to the function of one or more organs of the animal.

14. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nutraceuticals comprise at least one of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, homeopathic supplements, herbal supplements, and raw glandular supplements.

15. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein:

the blood test results are electronically communicated from said blood analyzer at a lab to said processor at a service provider;

the prescribed dosage amounts are electronically communicated from the service provider to a compound pharmacist; and

the compound pharmacist prepares a prescription containing the one or more identified nutraceuticals in accordance with the prescribed dosage amounts and ships the prescription to an owner or veterinarian for administration to the animal.

16. A system in accordance with claim 13, wherein the organs include muscle, pituitary, hypothalamus, brain, thyroid, parathyroid, lung, heart, bone, liver, pancreas, stomach, intestines, ovary, uterus, prostate, testes, kidney, spleen, lymphatic system, mammary gland, and urinary bladder.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the blood test results are scored to obtain blood test scores relating to the function of at least three of the organs.

18. A system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one corresponding blood parameter comprises at least three blood parameters.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the at least three blood parameters correspond to at least three organs.

20. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the calculating of the prescribed dosage amount for a particular identified nutraceutical is based on said blood test score, a deviation of the blood test score from an optimal range, animal type, animal weight, dosage strength information corresponding to the animal type, and dosage limit information corresponding to the animal type.