REAL TIME COMPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM (RTCMS) FOR IN HOME MEDICAL REAL TIME COMPLIANCE MONITORING SYSTEM (RTCMS) FOR IN HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

• US 20100026499A1
• Filed: 03/23/2009
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ellen Kristie Lamb
• Original Assignee: Ellen Kristie Lamb
• Inventors: Lamb, Ellen Kristie
• Application Number:
  US12/409,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20100026499A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A compliance monitoring method and system provides more reliable compliance with the proper operation of in-home medical equipment such as a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) device. The system monitors the in-home medical equipment and when the system detects an alarm signal from the in-home medical equipment indicative of an anomalous operating condition the system will transmits an alarm signal to a responsible care giver.

Claims

1. A method for providing reliable operation of in-home medical equipment, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting an anomalous operating condition of the medical equipment; and

responding to said anomalous operating condition by providing a alerting signal to a care giver.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting an anomalous condition comprises monitoring said in-home medical equipment for an alarm signal

3. The method of claim 1 wherein detecting an anomalous condition comprises monitoring a signal indicative of the medical equipment'"'"'s power consumption.

4. A system for providing reliable use of in-home medical equipment, the system comprising:

an alarm processor responsive to a medical equipment alarm signal and generating an outgoing caregiver alert signal in response to the medical equipment alarm signal; and

,

a transmitter for transmitting said caregiver alert signal to a caregiver receiving device.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said processor is further responsive to activation of an inhibit function by a user and inhibits generation of the alert signal for a pre-determined period of time in response to said activation.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the caregiver receiving device responsive to the transmitted caregiver alert signal, said receiving device generating a stimulus to a caregiver in response to the transmitted caregiver alert signal.

7. The system of claim 4 further comprising an auxiliary power source capable of providing power to said processor and transmitter, said auxiliary power source being separate from a primary power source which provides for operation of the system, the auxiliary power source providing power in the event of a primary power outage.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein the processor is responsive to the on/off state of the operational power for the medical equipment and generates a caregiver alert signal to said transmitter if the equipment is turned off.

9. The system of claim 4 wherein the processor is responsive to the power consumption of the medical equipment and generates a caregiver alert signal when the medical equipment is consuming inadequate power to achieve the medical equipment'"'"'s objective.

10. The system of claim 4 wherein said processor is adapted to respond to one or more audio alarm signals provided by said medical equipment.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein said processor is adapted to respond to one or more electrical alarm signals provided by said medical equipment.

12. The system of claim 4 further comprising:

a video monitor system responsive to said caregiver alert signal and providing a video image of the user of said medical equipment to the caregiver in response to said alarm detection signal.

13. The system of claim 4 further comprising means to detect, store, and output data regarding the alarm signal.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said data regarding the alarm signal comprises the time, frequency, or duration of the medical equipment alarm.