Device, method and/or system for monitoring the condition of a subject

• US 20090009341A1
• Filed: 07/05/2007
• Published: 01/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LSI Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: LSI Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Gak, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/822,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20090009341A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A device, method, and/or system for monitoring the condition of a subject includes an input member for generating one or more signals, a processor for receiving one or more signals from the input member and measuring a time elapsed since the last signal, and a monitor for indicating a severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, or no distress condition for the subject based on the time elapsed.

Claims

1. A device for monitoring the condition of a subject, comprising:

a) an input member for generating one or more signals;

b) a processor for receiving said one or more signals from said input member and measuring a time elapsed since the last signal; and

c) a monitor for indicating a condition of the subject.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) the condition of the subject is indicated by an audio signal, a visual signal, or an audio-visual signal.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein:

a) said visual signal and said audio-visual signal each comprises a color-coded signal.

4. The monitoring device of claim 3, wherein:

a) said color-coded signal comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of red, orange, yellow, green, and a combination thereof.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein:

a) the red, orange, yellow, and green signals indicate severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress conditions, respectively, for the subject.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein:

a) the time elapsed comprises a plurality of periods each of a predetermined duration.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein:

a) the periods comprise short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods generally corresponding to zero to about 5 minutes, more than about 5 to about 15 minutes, more than about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, and more than about 30 minutes, respectively.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein:

a) the short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods correspond to red, orange, yellow, and green signals.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said input member comprises a portable counter, a pointing device, a data entry device, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable computing device, a remote control device, or a combination thereof.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said monitor is located remotely from the subject.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said input member comprises said processor.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein:

a) said input member comprises said processor and said monitor.

13. A device for monitoring the condition of a subject, comprising:

a) an input member for generating one or more user-initiated signals;

b) a processor for receiving said one or more signals from said input member and measuring a time elapsed since the last signal; and

c) a monitor for indicating a condition of the subject, the condition comprising at least one of severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein:

a) the condition of the subject is indicated by an audio signal, a visual signal, or an audio-visual signal.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein:

a) said visual signal and said audio-visual signal each comprises a color-coded signal.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein:

a) said color-coded signal comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of red, orange, yellow, green, and a combination thereof.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein:

a) the red, orange, yellow, and green signals correspond to severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress conditions, respectively, for the subject.

18. The device of claim 16, wherein:

a) the time elapsed comprises a plurality of periods each of a predetermined duration.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein:

a) the periods comprise short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods generally corresponding to zero to about 5 minutes, more than about 5 to about 15 minutes, more than about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, and more than about 30 minutes, respectively.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein:

a) the short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods correspond to red, orange, yellow, and green signals.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein:

a) said input member comprises a portable counter, a pointing device, a data entry device, a telephone, a cell phone, a personal data assistant (PDA), a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a portable computing device, a remote control device, or a combination thereof.

22. The device of claim 13, wherein:

a) said monitor is located remotely from the subject.

23. The device of claim 13, wherein:

a) said input member comprises said processor.

24. The device of claim 13, wherein:

a) said input member comprises said processor and said monitor.

25. A device for monitoring the condition of a subject, comprising:

a) an input member for generating one or more signals;

b) a processor for measuring a time elapsed since receiving the last signal from said input member; and

c) a monitor for indicating a condition of the subject.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein:

a) said one or more signals are generated by a user.

27. The device of claim 25, wherein:

a) the time elapsed comprises a plurality of periods each of a predetermined duration.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein:

a) the periods comprise short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods corresponding to severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress conditions, respectively, for the subject.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein:

a) said monitor indicates a moderate distress condition for the subject when the short period elapses.

30. The device of claim 28, wherein:

a) said monitor indicates a mild distress condition for the subject when the intermediate period elapses.

31. The device of claim 28, wherein:

a) said monitor indicates a no distress condition for the subject when the longer period elapses.

32. The device of claim 28, wherein:

a) said monitor indicates a no distress condition for the subject when the longest period elapses.

33. A system for reporting the condition of a subject, comprising:

a) an input member for generating one or more user-initiated signals;

b) a processor for receiving said one or more signals from said input member and measuring a time elapsed since the last signal; and

c) said processor recording time and frequency data for the signals over a predetermined period.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a) a monitor for indicating a condition of the subject.

35. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

a) an online database server.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising:

a) a computing device.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein:

a) said computing device comprises said processor.

38. The system of claim 36, wherein:

a) said processor is in communication with said server and said computing device by an Internet connection.

39. An outpatient painful distress reporting system, comprising:

a) a patient input member for generating one or more signals in each instance of the occurrence of a painful stimulus;

b) a processor for receiving said one or more signals from said patient input member and measuring a time elapsed since the last signal;

c) a monitor for indicating a condition of the patient in each instance a signal is received by said processor, the condition comprising at least one of severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress; and

d) said processor recording time and frequency data for the signals and the condition of the patient over a predetermined period.

40. The system of claim 39, further comprising:

a) an online database server.

41. The system of claim 40, further comprising:

a) a computing device.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein:

a) the condition of the patient is indicated by an audio signal, a visual signal, or an audio-visual signal.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein:

a) said computing device comprises said processor.

44. The system of claim 41, wherein:

a) said processor is in communication with said server and said computing device by an Internet connection.

45. A method of monitoring the condition of a subject, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an input member to a user for generating a signal in each instance of the occurrence of a stimulus;

b) measuring a time elapsed since receiving the last signal from the input member; and

c) indicating a condition of the subject based on the time elapsed as measured in step b).

46. The method of claim 45, wherein:

the step b) comprises measuring a plurality of periods each of a predetermined duration.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein:

the periods comprise short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods generally corresponding to zero to about 5 minutes, more than about 5 to about 15 minutes, more than about 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, and more than about 30 minutes, respectively.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein:

the short, intermediate, longer, and longest periods correspond to first, second, third, and fourth conditions for the subject.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the first condition for the subject when the time elapsed is within or equal to the short period.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the second condition for the subject when the short period elapses.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the second condition for the subject when the time elapsed is within or equal to the intermediate period.

52. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the third condition for the subject when the intermediate period expires.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the third condition for the subject when the time elapsed is within or equal to the longer period.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the step c) comprises indicating the fourth condition for the subject when the longer period expires.

55. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

d) repeating steps b) and c) in each instance of receiving a signal from the input member.

56. The method of claim 45, further comprising:

d) repeating steps b) and c) in each instance of the absence of a signal from the input member for a predetermined period.

57. The method of claim 48, wherein:

the first, second, third, and fourth conditions correspond to severe distress, moderate distress, mild distress, and no distress conditions, respectively, for the subject.

58. A method of reporting the condition of a subject, comprising the steps of:

a) providing an input member to a user for generating a signal in each instance of the occurrence of a stimulus;

b) measuring a time elapsed since receiving the last signal from the input member; and

c) indicating a condition of the subject based on the time elapsed as measured in step b); and

d) recording time and frequency data for the signals over a predetermined period.

59. The method of claim 58, further comprising:

e) providing access to the time and frequency data to a care provider via the Internet.

60. The method of claim 58, wherein:

the stimulus comprises a painful or well-being stimulus.