REMOTE PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION

• US 20100121160A1
• Filed: 01/19/2010
• Published: 05/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Oyen, Duane, Mowery, Blair P., Stark, John G.
• Granted Patent: US 8,790,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/301
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/09 Rehabilitation or training
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/225 of the fingers, e.g. by monitoring hand-grip force
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4528 Joints A61B5/4533, A61B5/4538 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6812 Orthopaedic devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0134 with two orthogonal pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/016 in standing position
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2005/0167 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0125 the device articulating around a single pivot-point
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0006 Computerised comparison for qualitative assessment of motion sequences or the course of a movement
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/70 relating to mental therapies, e.g. psychological therapy or autogenous training
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

Instrumented orthoses with more sophisticated structures provide for coordinated support and rehabilitation of complex joints and multiple injured joints. Improved instrumented orthoses can include hinges that can rotate in multiple different planes. Particularly preferred embodiments include a shoulder brace with a hand hold and a lower extremities brace. Preferably, a control unit monitors the output Of transducers used to instrument the brace. A patient can be prompted by the control unit for the performance of a variety of different monitored exercises.

Claims

1. A medical device comprising

a physiological sensor for measuring a physiological response,

a display,

an input device,

a microprocessor operably connected to the physiological sensor, the display, and the input device,

memory associated with the microprocessor,

a download channel with an output portal, and

software stored on the memory,

wherein the software is programmed to execute on the microprocessor to automatically present questions comprising a word on the display to solicit from a patient answers directly concerning their psychological state with the answers being input through the input device for storage in the memory for subsequent downloading from the output portal and determine whether to modify the treatment program based on the answers and physiological measurements.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the microprocessor has analog to digital multiplexing capability.

3. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the output portal comprises an RS-232 port.

4. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the output portal comprises a radio transmitter.

5. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the questions relate to pain levels.

6. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the questions relate to the formation of a pain diagram.

7. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the questions relate to depression.

8. The medical device of claim 7 wherein a statistical analysis is performed on the depression questions to obtain an objective quantitative measure of depression.

9. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the device is further connected to an orthosis.

10. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the device is further connected to a pulse rate sensor, galvanic skin response or a blood pressure sensor.

11. The medical device of claim 1 having a size such that it can be held in the hand of a patient.

12. The medical device of claim 1 wherein the output is interfaced with a remote communication channel.

13. A method for monitoring a patient undergoing a treatment plan, the method comprising

automatically posing questions comprising a word to a patient using a device comprising

a physiological sensor for measuring a physiological response,

a display,

an input device,

a microprocessor operably connected to the physiological sensor, the display, and the input device,

memory associated with the microprocessor,

an output portal, and

software stored on the memory,

wherein the software is programmed to execute on the microprocessor to automatically present the questions on the display to solicit from the patient answers directly concerning their psychological state with the answers being input through the input device for storage in the memory for subsequent downloading from the output portal and determine whether to modify the treatment plan based on the answers and physiological measurements.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the questions relate to pain levels.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the questions relate to the formation of a pain diagram.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the questions relate to depression.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein a statistical analysis is performed on the depression questions to obtain an objective quantitative measure of depression.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein physiological measurements aid in the evaluation of the performance of target exercises.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the physiological sensor measures pulse rates.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the physiological sensor measures blood pressure.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the physiological sensor measures galvanic skin response.

22. The method of claim 13 further comprising modifying a treatment plan.

23. The method of claim 13 further comprising characterizing the patient'"'"'s answers prior to review by a health care professional.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the characterization is performed on the medical device.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the characterization is performed on a central processor.

26. The method of claim 13 wherein specific answers and physiological responses from the patient prompts an instruction to the patient to immediately contact a treatment professional.

27. The method of claim 13 wherein the output is interfaced with a remote communication channel.

28. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining the immediacy of the patient'"'"'s state.

29. The method of claim 13 further comprising instructing the patient to immediately communicate with a doctor.

30. A medical device for monitoring a patient undergoing a treatment program comprising

a physiological sensor for measuring physiological responses,

a treatment transducer,

a display,

an input device,

a microprocessor operably connected to the physiological sensor, the treatment transducer, the display and the input device,

memory associated with the microprocessor,

a download channel with an output portal, and

software stored on the memory,

wherein the software is programmed to execute on the microprocessor to automatically present questions comprising a word on the display relating to a psychological state of the patient with answers being input through the input device for storage in the memory, control treatment based on the treatment transducers, and download through the output portal information relating to the answers to the questions and the physiological measurements.