HOME HEALTHCARE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM AND HARDWARE

• US 20110015494A1
• Filed: 07/13/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Clear Lake Medical Foundation Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Microscopes International LLC
• Inventors: Spaulding, Glenn F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,891,851 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0004 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A home healthcare management system wherein a patient conducts self diagnoses and self testing, and manages their own medical records at home. A digital microscope is utilized as part of the system that is smaller, of lower cost, faster, of a higher dynamic range, and has a higher resolution than conventional microscopes. The microscope consists of an illumination source, a spatial sub-sampling device and a detector device. The digital microscope provides a vectored method of collecting images from a digital microscope that is independent of the optical resolution, and a slide based coordinate system, and a method of displaying images and communicating such images over the Internet in a file format that does not require a header or prior knowledge of magnification, coordinate system, or tiling structure. The system further includes an interface for physiological monitoring devices and a connection to the Internet for more comprehensive services.

Claims

1. A method for a patient to self diagnose a medical illness, the method comprising the steps of:

determining if the patient is symptomatic of an illness;

determining a cause for the patient'"'"'s illness;

choosing a diagnostic test based on the cause of the illness;

running the diagnostic test using a home healthcare management system;

running additional diagnostic tests, if the patient determines that further diagnostic tests are required; and

seeking treatment, if the patient determines that no further diagnostic tests are required.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the treatment is selected from the group consisting of over-the-counter medicine, obtaining prescription medicine, visiting a physician, and consulting with an insurance provider.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the cause of the patient'"'"'s illness is a result of the patient'"'"'s past experience, probability-based algorithms, patient'"'"'s research, or patient'"'"'s selection from a list or table of possible illnesses.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the home healthcare management system comprises:

a home computing device;

an analysis device adapted for communication with the home computing device; and

communication ports for connection with external devices for communication with the home computing device and the analysis device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the external devices are selected from the group consisting of a blood pressure device, multi-lead EKG device, temperature device, pulse oximetry device, otoscope device, opthalmoscope device, stethoscope device, web camera device, Doppler device, fetal heart monitor device, and microscope imaging and colorimetric device.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the home computing device is adaptable to connect to an internet communications system.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the home computing device is adaptable to connect to an insurance provider'"'"'s computer.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the microscope imaging and colorimetric device is a digital microscope.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the insurance provider evaluates the diagnostic test, refers the patient to a healthcare professional for consultation, and provides administrative support.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the insurance provider prescribes medication to the patient.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein consultation with a healthcare professional occurs via a web camera adapted for and in communication with the home computing device.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein the analysis device connectable to the home computing device is an imaging device for analyzing diagnostic slides comprising a light source, photodetection device, translation device, or a diagnostic slide.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the light source is an LED or laser.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the translation device includes movement in x, y, z and θ

directions.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein analysis of the diagnostic slide includes image analysis, colorimetric analysis, or both image and colorimetric analysis.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the colorimetric analysis includes a complementary panel of tests grouped on the diagnostic slide.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein colorimetric analysis includes ELISA based assays, fluorometric assays, enzyme assays, chemical assays, chemoluminescent assays, PCR assays, hybridization assays, genomic assays, and protein assays.

18. A method of improving image contrast in a digital microscope used with a home computing device comprising the steps of:

shortening an optical path leading to a photodetection device by adjusting the image to fit the photodetection device in a photodetection area;

scaling the photodetection area to collect only a high frequency portion of the image; and

discarding a part of the image that is not collected.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the adjustment of the image to fit the photodetection device is determined by computer design modeling, calibration targets, or both computer design modeling and calibration targets.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein magnification requirements are reduced.

21. A digital microscope suitable for capturing images and used with a home computing device comprising:

a translation device having gears for moving a diagnostic slide along both x and y axes;

a stepper motor in operable communication with the gears and configured for microstepping the gears;

an embedded processor configured to control the translation device and having backlash compensation for both the x and y axes; and

a device for capturing adjacent overlapping images.

22. The digital microscope of claim 21 having a preload device.

23. The digital microscope of claim 21 having electronic translation device operational in at least three different axes.

24. The digital microscope of claim 21 having a high dynamic range CMOS detector.

25. A method for capturing images utilizing a digital microscope and used with a home computing device comprising the steps of:

placing a diagnostic slide into the digital microscope, wherein the digital microscope has an x, y translational device;

capturing a first image and a second image during a movement of the digital microscope;

calculating a first motion vector and a first velocity vector from the first image and second image;

predicting a second motion vector;

calculating a time required for the digital microscope to move to a third image capture location based upon the predicted second motion vector;

capturing the third image when the calculated time is reached; and

tiling the first image and third image to provide a larger image.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a raster scanning method is used to generate a row and column matrix that are tiled to form a larger image based on row and column capture locations.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a captured image is assigned a filename comprising:

a unique identifier for the captured image; and

,

a location in the column and row that the images would occupy once assembled.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein a captured image is assigned a filename that is bit masked to become a pointer to a personal computer memory space for storing all captured images in a larger assembly.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the captured image is formatted for use in a Keyhole Markup Language.

30. A method of tiling digital microscope images using a filename, the method comprising;

assigning a unique identifier to a captured image; and

,

assigning a location in a column and row that the captured image will occupy once assembled.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the captured image filename is bit masked to become a pointer to a personal computer memory space for storing captured images in a larger assembly.

32. A digital device suitable for capturing high dynamic range images comprising:

a digital microscope, wherein the digital microscope is smaller than 200 cubic inches and includes an electronic translation device having at least three axes; and

a high dynamic range CMOS detector suitable for capturing the high dynamic range image, wherein the detector is positioned in an imaging path of the digital microscope.

33. The digital device of claim 32, wherein the captured high dynamic range images are stitched together.

34. The digital device of claim 32, wherein the captured high dynamic range images are transmitted via an internet communication system.

35. A method of real time image collection in a digital microscope comprising the steps of:

placing an imaging array with built in auto focusing in the imaging path of a digital microscope that is disposed to a motion translation device, wherein the digital microscope is small than 200 cubic inches and includes an electronic translation device operable in at least three axes;

programming the imaging array to continuously adjust focus;

monitoring the auto focusing signal for steady state;

capturing an image;

assigning an autofocus figure of merit based on the captured image;

controlling the motion translation device based upon the autofocus figure of merit;

determining if steady state is achieved based upon the autofocus figure of merit; and

collecting current image output and discarding images once steady state is achieved.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the captured images are stitched together.

37. The method of claim 35, wherein the imaging array is connected to a companion processor via a parallel port data connection and wherein the captured image is transferred to the companion processor for continuous auto focusing.

38. A digital microscope comprising:

a microscope slide stage, the microscope slide stage having a piezoelectric translation device disposed with the microscope slide stage, wherein frictional forces from the piezoelectric translation device are in planes substantially parallel to the microscope slide stage.

39. The digital microscope of claim 38, wherein a gravitational preload from the piezoelectric translation device is in substantially same plane the microscope slide stage.

40. The digital microscope of claim 38, wherein the digital microscope further includes a diagnostic vehicle.

41. A digital microscope for capturing images comprising:

two axes, wherein the two axes share an annular axis; and

a separate translational device dedicated to each axis.

42. The digital microscope of claim 41, wherein the captured images are stitched together.

43. The digital microscope of claim 41, wherein the captured image is transmitted via an internet communication system.

44. The digital microscope of claim 41, wherein the images are collected for diagnostic imaging and colorimetric analysis.

45. A method for focusing a digital microscope for capturing images comprising:

providing a stepper motor; and

providing a stepper motor shaft disposed in operable communication with the stepper motor, wherein the shaft includes an off-axis displacement device adapted to translate a focusing axis.

46. The digital microscope of claim 45, wherein the captured images are stitched together.

47. The digital microscope of claim 45, wherein the captured images are transmitted via an internet communication system.

48. The digital microscope of claim 45, wherein the captured images are collected for diagnostic imaging and colorimetric analysis.

49. A method for diagnostic digital microscopy comprising:

placing a diagnostic slide into a digital microscope wherein the digital microscope has imaging and colorimetric functionality and includes an x, y, and z translational device, wherein the diagnostic slide includes an imaging area for constituents and colorimetric indicators;

receiving via the diagnostic slide a sample having constituents for both imaging and colorimetric determinations; and

translating axes, via the digital microscope, to collect images of the imaging area and colorimetric indicators.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the number of colorimetric indicators on the diagnostic slide is between 1 and 1,000.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are demographically selected.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are related to the age of the patient.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are for a selected group of symptoms.

54. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are associated with urine analysis.

55. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are associated with hematology.

56. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are associated with constituents in feces.

57. The method of claim 49, wherein the imaging area and type of colorimetric indicators are associated with cerebral spinal fluid.

58. A digital microscope for capturing images comprising:

an x, y, z translational device; and

an LED light source, an objective, and a camera wherein each are disposed to the same translated axis via the translational device.

59. The digital microscope of claim 58, wherein the captured images are stitched together.

60. The digital microscope of claim 58, wherein the captured images are transmitted via an internet communication system.

61. The digital microscope of claim 58, wherein the captured images are collected for diagnostic imaging and colorimetric analysis.

62. A processing platform for image and or colorimetric analysis comprising:

providing a device for containing analytes for sample analysis, wherein the device is stacked;

translating the containing device to align analytic and sample constituents in upper stack with analytic and sample constituents in lower stacks, wherein analytics and sample constituents interact upon alignment;

determining a procedural method based upon an alignment sequence; and

analyzing colorimetrically and imaging the interacted analytics and sample constituents.

63. The processing platform of claim 62, wherein the device for containing analytes is disk shaped, wherein each disk includes the same annular axis about which the disc is translated for alignment.

64. The processing platform of claim 62 further comprising a magnet and magnetic beads.

65. The processing platform of claim 62 further comprising a thermal electric temperature control device.

66. The processing platform of claim 62 further comprising a wireless communication device.