Patient Operable Data Collection System

• US 20090030286A1
• Filed: 07/26/2007
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ticker Medical, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: David Amitai
• Inventors: Amitai, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,768 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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

Abstract

A portable interface device and a system utilizing the same are disclosed. A probe interface connects the interface device to a probe that collects data related to a physiological condition of a user in response to commands input to the interface device on the user interface. The data processor stores information specifying a position on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to the probe interface is to be positioned. The data processor displays a graphic on a display screen indicating a location on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to the probe interface is to be placed. A data processor records data from the probe when the probe is positioned as indicated in the graphic. The recorded data is communicated over the computer network to a server on the network.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a display screen;

a probe interface that connects said apparatus to a probe that collects data related to a physiological condition of a user;

a user interface that receives commands from a user of said apparatus;

a data processor comprising a memory for storing information specifying a position on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to said probe interface is to be positioned, said data processor displaying a graphic on said display screen indicating a location on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to said probe interface is to be placed in response to a command being entered on said user interface, said data processor recording data from said probe when said probe is positioned as indicated in said graphic; and

a wireless network interface that connects said apparatus to a computer network, said data processor communicating said recorded data over said computer network.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a camera, said data processor comparing a picture of said user with said probe positioned on said user'"'"'s body with a stored picture of said user with said probe positioned on said user'"'"'s body to determine if said probe is correctly positioned on said user'"'"'s body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data processor stores a first set of exemplary readings from said probe when said probe is correctly positioned on said user'"'"'s body and wherein said data processor compares current readings from said probe with said first set to determine if said probe is correctly positioned on said user'"'"'s body.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said data processor stores a second set of exemplary readings from said probe when said probe is incorrectly positioned on said user'"'"'s body and wherein said data processor compares current readings from said probe with said second set in determining if said probe is correctly positioned.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said data processor displays information specifying how a user should move said probe to bring said probe into a desired position on said user'"'"'s body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data processor compares readings taken with said probe with expected readings that are stored in said data processor.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said data processor provides an indication to said user as to whether or not said compared readings are consistent with said expected readings.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a biometric sensor, said data processor identifying an authorized user of said apparatus by a biometric measurement made by said biometric sensor.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a cellular telephone.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a PDA.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said probe interface is wireless.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said data processor stores data on a general medical condition associated with said user and said data processor displays that data in response to a logon protocol having been completed on said apparatus.

13. A system for recording and processing medical data, said system comprising:

a plurality of portable interface devices, each interface device comprising;

a display screen;

a probe interface that connects said apparatus to a probe that collects data related to a physiological condition of a user;

a user interface that receives commands from a user of said apparatus;

a first data processor comprising a memory for storing information specifying a position on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to said probe interface is to be positioned, said data processor displaying a graphic on said display screen indicating a location on a user'"'"'s body at which a probe connected to said probe interface is to be placed in response to a command being entered on said user interface, said data processor recording data from said probe when said probe is positioned as indicated in said graphic; and

a wireless network interface that connects said apparatus to a computer network, said data processor communicating said recorded data over said computer network;

a server connected to said portable interface device by the Internet, said server comprising;

a second data processor and memory for storing said recorded data from a plurality of such portable interface devices; and

a security interface for limiting access to said recorded data to a predetermined list of individuals or devices associated with each of said portable interface devices.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said server also stores data related to a medical condition of an individual associated with each of said portable interface devices, said security interface providing access to said data related to said medical condition to individuals that have completed a logon procedure on said portable interface device associated with that individual.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said logon procedure defines different levels of access to said stored data, portions of said stored data not being available at one of said levels of access.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said server further comprises data analysis software and wherein said second data processor processes some of said recorded data with said data analysis software and returns a result to said portable interface device that sent said recorded data to said server.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said server also sends said result to an individual other than said user associated with said portable interface device.