Method and Apparatus for Monitoring Body Temperature, Respiration, Heart Sound, Swallowing, and Medical Inquiring

• US 20090024004A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Chang-Ming Yang
• Original Assignee: Chang-Ming Yang
• Inventors: Yang, Chang-ming
• Application Number:
  US11/718,095
• Publication Number:
  US 20090024004A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• 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 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/083 Measuring rate of metabolism by using breath test, e.g. measuring rate of oxygen consumption
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/087 Measuring breath flow
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4205 Evaluating swallowing
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6816 Ear lobe
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/00 Instruments for auscultation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

The invention provides a method as well as a device for the monitoring of body temperature, respiration, heart sound, swallowing, and offering medical inquiries. It comprises a sensor, a monitoring device, and medical devices. Installing proper sensors on the user'"'"'s body and making the users wear necessary medical devices. The sensors attached to the user'"'"'s body will be sensing the physical conditions and send the data collected to the monitoring device for security and protection. It can also allow the user or the medical personnel conduct two-way inquiries or treatment through displaying device, or the monitoring device can control the medical devices and assist the treatment. Furthermore, the data can be transferred to the medical system in the distant end and the user'"'"'s data and be updated immediately and reduce errors happened in keying in the data. Doctors will be able to proceed with medical treatment according to the data and prevent abrupt accidents in patients as well as further protecting the security of the user.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring body temperature, respiration, heart sound, swallowing, medical inquiring, and offering immediate rescue, comprising the steps of:

disposing a suitable physical sensor in an user'"'"'s garment;

wearing suitable medical device;

detecting the physical conditions of the user, and sending the results monitored to a monitoring device when the physical condition meet a criterion;

the monitoring device, pre-stored physical data, comparing the results monitored with the pre-stored data, to determine the physical condition of the user; and

displaying a warning or an instruction via image, sound, or text to the user;

the monitoring device sending the results monitored to a distal-end medical system, for updating a personal data of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is pre-connected with a warning device to control the warning device, wherein the warning device comprises ultraviolet sensor, temperature sensor, humidity sensor, smoke sensor, CO sensor, and CO₂ sensor, or power switches of air conditioner, doors, windows, lights, video generating equipments, sound generating equipments, text generating equipments, and the warning devices of vehicles.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

choosing a medical personnel from the family members, friends, neighbors, or professional medical aids for helping the user under the instruction provided by the monitoring device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the user is unconscious or under emergency condition, the monitoring device contacting with doctors at an distal-end or the medical system for emergency help, and determining the position of the user by GPS.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of users are capable of using a unique outputting device to contact with the distal-end medical system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

measuring and continuously monitoring the date of ovulation or pregnancy, for determining if a woman is pregnancy.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

measuring an environment temperature and a body temperature at the same time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein when the monitoring device detects an abnormal swallowing of the user, the monitoring device noticing the user to stop breathing when the user is swallowing.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user and the medical personnel are capable of communicating with the monitoring device.

10. A medical apparatus, for monitoring body temperature, respiration, heart sound, swallowing, medical inquiring, and offering immediate rescue, comprising:

a sensor, disposed on a monitoring position of an user, for delivering an information of physical condition of the user;

a monitoring device, for receiving the information of physical condition of the user, and comparing the information with a pre-stored data to determine the user'"'"'s condition, and warning or guiding the user or a medical personnel via image, sound, or text; and

a medical device, worn by the user, for performing suitable rescue to the user according to an order sent by the monitoring device.

11. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor, disposed in a pacifier, an earphone, a conductive microphone, a protective garment, a belt, an elastic belt of underpants, or an underwear, for measuring a reference temperature of the user.

12. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is a respiration/heart sound/swallowing sensing device, disposed in a pacifier, an earphone, a conductive microphone, a protective garment, a belt, an elastic belt of underpants, or an underwear, the sensor comprising a sound amplifier, for recording the frequency, strength, time, amplitude of respiration and swallowing and further measuring the heartbeat and heart sound.

13. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed in a pacifier, for monitoring the mouth temperature, heart sound, respiration and swallowing, and determining the flow rate of breath.

14. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor is disposed in the pacifier, for monitoring the mouth temperature, heart sound, respiration and swallowing, and determining the flow rate of breath.

15. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed in a belt, for monitoring the body temperature and respiration of the user, wherein when the user is an expectant mother, the sensor is capable of monitoring the heart sound of the fetus.

16. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor is disposed in the belt, for monitoring the body temperature and respiration of the user, wherein when the user is an expectant mother, the sensor is capable of monitoring the heart sound of the fetus.

17. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed in an earphone, a conductive microphone, and a protective garment.

18. The medical apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor is disposed in the earphone, the conductive microphone, and the protective garment.

19. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed on a guiding tract inside the protective garment, and the monitoring device is capable of adjusting the position of the sensor on the guiding tract.

20. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is disposed in a protective garment, an underpants, and an underwear by clipping or hooking, adhering, inserting to the protective garment, the underpants, and the underwear, and the sensor is capable of being adjusted its position.

21. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the monitoring device further comprises a comparing database and an user database, wherein the comparing database stores a plurality of standard physical data to be compared with the information provided by the sensor;

and the user database storing a personal medical history of the user.

22. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a pressed airbag, for performing Heimlich Maeuver of CPR to the user, or clapping the user'"'"'s back when the user'"'"'s bronchus is obstructed by sputum.

23. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is an electric shock providing device, for rescuing the user by giving an electric shock.

24. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a pain generating device, for stimulating the user to wake up.

25. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is an oxygen providing device, for providing the user with oxygen.

26. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a sputum extracting device, for removing sputum from the user'"'"'s mouth and throat, and further collecting the sputum for testing or culturing.

27. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a steam providing device, for treating the user with steam.

28. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a drug supplying device, for providing oral medication, injection agent, or adhesive treatment.

29. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor comprises a conduit, disposed in the user'"'"'s mouth, for supplying essential substances to the user, and the conduit is capable of being disposed with a flow rate counter, for determining the vital capacity, the metabolic rate, and the concentration of CO₂ by monitoring the user'"'"'s breath.

30. The medical apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a transceiving device, carried by the user and medical personnel, for receiving the image, sound, and text sent by the monitoring device, and sending the results detected by the sensor to the monitoring device, and the transceiving device is a mobile phone, a GPS device, a GPRS device, a radio, an infrared rays device, a PDA, a pager, a phone, a calculator, or a Bluetooth device.

31. The medical apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an emergency switch, for sending an emergency message to the monitoring device when triggered by a specific criterion, which comprises a specific voice of the user.

32. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the medical device is a temperature adjusting device, disposed in a protective garment, for exchanging thermal energy, and the water in the temperature adjusting device is capable of providing the user with drinking water.

33. The medical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the sensor is fixed in the protective garment by mechanical means or gas-filled means, so as to contact the skin surface of the user.

34. The medical apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a rotatable video camera, disposed at the throat portion of the user, for a doctor to observe the user'"'"'s neck and chest to assist the determination of the user'"'"'s situation.