METHODS FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCY INTERVENTION

• US 20110093287A1
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kent Dicks, Ralph Kent, Robert Tripp, Terry Bartlett, Thomas Crosley
• Original Assignee: Kent Dicks, Ralph Kent, Robert Tripp, Terry Bartlett, Thomas Crosley
• Inventors: Dicks, Kent, Bartlett, Terry, Tripp, Robert, Kent, Ralph, Crosley, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US12/940,930
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093287A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• 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

There are provided methods and systems for personal emergency Intervention, comprising determining that an event regarding a patient has occurred, and thereupon enabling a tracking mode in a device controlled by the patient; monitoring one or more conditions to determine whether the tracking mode should be disabled, and until the tracking mode is disabled, the device: obtains a data pairing, the data pairing comprising a location of the patient and a time related to the location of the patient, and stores the data pairing within a memory in the device; and formatting a report for transmission to a medical data server, the report comprising at least a patient identifier for the patient and the data pairing. This method can be practiced automatically to allow a device controlled by a patient or other subject to be monitored without requiring the patient to manually enter information. Methods and systems also provide for networked implementations of personal emergency tracking in a defined locality and relay of emergency assistance through audial communications with the patient.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining that an event regarding a patient has occurred, and thereupon enabling a tracking mode in a device controlled by the patient;

monitoring one or more conditions to determine whether the tracking mode should be disabled, and until the tracking mode is disabled, the device;

obtains a data pairing, the data pairing comprising a location of the patient and a time related to the location of the patient, and

stores the data pairing within a memory in the device; and

formatting a report for transmission to a medical data server, the report comprising at least a patient identifier for the patient and the data pairing.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

until the tracking mode is disabled, determining whether a measurement for an updated data pairing should be taken, and whereupon the determination is made that the measurement for the updated data pairing should be taken, the device;

obtains the updated data pairing comprising an updated location of the patient and a time related to the updated location of the patient; and

stores the updated data pairing in the memory in the device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the report includes the data pairing and one or more updated data pairings.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient passing a predetermined geographical position.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the device controlled by the patient passing a predetermined geographical position is detected when an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag in the device is sensed.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the device controlled by the patient passing a predetermined geographical position is detected when a signal emitted by the device is sensed.

7. The method of claim 4 wherein the device controlled by the patient passing a predetermined geographical position is detected when a signal emitted by a fixed beacon is sensed.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein the device controlled by the patient passing a predetermined geographical position is detected when proximity to a second device is sensed.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the patient not being within a predetermined proximity of a predetermined geographical location for a predetermined period of time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises determining that the patient has entered a request to enable the tracking mode through a user interface in the device.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises determining that the patient has entered a request to enable the tracking mode by speaking a command to enable the tracking mode.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises determining that the patient has experienced an increased risk to the patient'"'"'s safety.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein determining that the patient has experienced the increased risk to the patient'"'"'s safety further comprises at least one of:

determining that the patient is engaging in exercise;

determining that the patient is using a restroom facility;

determining that the patient is leaving a predetermined area;

determining that the patient is entering a predetermined area;

determining that the patient is located in a hazardous public situation;

determining that the patient is experiencing a predetermined perceived medical condition;

determining that the patient is experiencing a medical emergency;

determining that the patient is experiencing a failed connection to a medical telemetry device;

receiving a notification by a healthcare provider that the patient'"'"'s safety is compromised; and

receiving a notification by a law enforcement officer that the patient'"'"'s safety is compromised.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises receiving, by the device controlled by the patient, a command that instructs the device to enable the tracking mode.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detecting that a signal strength of a received RF signal has decreased below a previously determined level.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects a loss of communication with a medical service provider.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects that the device has been removed from a predetermined geographical area.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined geographical area comprises a residence for the patient.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the predetermined geographical area comprises a room for the patient within a facility for providing medical treatment.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects that the device has entered a predetermined geographical area.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the predetermined geographical area comprises a hazardous area.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the predetermined geographical area comprises a pathway for moving vehicles.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects an environmental parameter.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the device controlled by the patient detects the environmental parameter through one or more of a sensor and a user interface in the device.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the environmental parameter comprises one or more of a battery charge level, a temperature, a barometric pressure, a code relating to an accessory for the device, a data validity measurement, an elapsed time since a previous reading by the device, a test result parameter, a signal-to-noise parameter and a quality of service (QoS) parameter.

26. The method of claim 24 wherein the sensor comprises an accelerometer and detecting the environmental parameter comprises sensing a change in an output signal from the accelerometer.

27. The method of claim 24 wherein the sensor comprises a tilt switch and detecting the environmental parameter comprises sensing a change in an output signal from the tilt switch.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detecting acceleration exceeding a predefined threshold followed by detecting one or more of a predefined attitude for the device, a predefined change in attitude for the device and acceleration less than a predefined threshold for a predefined period of time.

29. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device prompting the patient for a response.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the prompting comprises one or more of the device vibrating, displaying a message, illuminating an indicator and announcing a message to the patient seeking the response.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein if the response is not received by the device within a predefined time or the response is received within the predefined time but otherwise constitutes a response indicting a predefined unfavorable condition for the patient, the device summons assistance for the patient.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the summons for assistance comprises one or more of sending a communication seeking such assistance to the medical data server or a healthcare provider.

33. The method of claim 2 wherein the determination of whether a measurement for an updated data pairing should be taken is performed automatically, manually, continuously, regularly, irregularly, randomly or in any combination of the foregoing.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects that the patient is moving after a predetermined time of day.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detects that the patient is moving before a predetermined time of day.

36. The method of claim 1 wherein the event comprises the device controlled by the patient detecting an abnormal medical condition for the patient.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the abnormal medical condition for the patient is detected by a sensor.

38. The method of claim 36 wherein the abnormal medical condition for the patient is detected by a remote service that has detected the abnormal medical condition for the patient by analysis of data regarding the patient.

39. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a command instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the command to instruct the device to halt the tracking mode is issued from one or more of the medical data server, a healthcare provider or the patient through a user interface in the device.

41. The method of claim 39 further comprising sending a communication confirming receipt of the command instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

42. The method of claim 1 further comprising passing a home gateway instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein the home gateway comprises one or more of an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag, a low power localized signal transmitter and a Wi-Fi hotspot for a home or other predefined location.

44. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device arriving within a geofenced boundary instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

45. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device arriving at a predetermined location instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

46. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device senses that the patient pushes a button instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

47. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device senses that the patient issues a verbal command that is recognized by a voice recognition system in the device to disable the tracking mode.

48. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device receives a command deactivating the tracking mode based on a predetermined condition.

49. The method of claim 48 further comprising sending a communication confirming receipt of the command instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

50. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device senses that a signal strength of a received RF signal has risen above a predetermined threshold instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

51. The method of claim 1 further comprising the device detects re-establishment of communication with a medical service provider instructing the device to halt the tracking mode.

52. The method of claim 1 wherein the device controlled by the patient comprises a global positioning service (GPS) sensor for obtaining the data pairing.

53. The method of claim 1 wherein the device controlled by the patient comprises a location-based service (LBS) sensor for obtaining the data pairing.

54. The method of claim 1 wherein the memory in the device controlled by the patient comprises a nonvolatile memory.

55. The method of claim 54 wherein the memory comprises a FLASH memory device.

56. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the report to at least one of a healthcare provider and the medical data server.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein transmitting the report further comprises transmitting the patient identifier and the data pairing to the medical data server accessible by the healthcare provider.

58. The method of claim 56 wherein transmitting the report further comprises transmitting the patient identifier and the data pairing to an intermediary device.

59. The method of claim 58 wherein the intermediary device comprises a wireless hub.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein the intermediary device comprises a docking station.

61. The method of claim 56 wherein transmitting the report further comprises transmitting data through at least one of a cellular telephony protocol, a local wireless data transmission protocol, and a wired digital communication protocol.

62. The method of claim 61 wherein the cellular telephony protocol comprises one or more of a General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) network, a wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network, an Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE) network, a Personal Communication Service (PCS) network, an Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS) network, a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network, a Wideband CDMA (W-CDMA) network, a Time Division-Synchronous CDMA (TD-SCDMA) network, a Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) network, and/or a satellite communication network.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the local wireless data transmission protocol comprises one or more of a Zigbee protocol, a Wibree protocol, an IEEE 802.11 protocol, an IEEE 802.15 protocol, an IEEE 802.16 protocol, an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) protocol, an Infrared Data Association (IrDA) protocol, a Bluetooth protocol.

64. The method of claim 1 wherein the report is transmitted to the medical data server once the data pairing is stored in memory.

65. The method of claim 2 wherein upon termination of the tracking mode, at least one of the data pairing and one or more of a plurality of the updated data pairings are included in the report which is transmitted to at least one of a healthcare provider and the medical data server.

66. The method of claim 65 wherein the report is transmitted following termination of the tracking mode and within a predefined time window.

67. The method of claim 65 wherein the predefined time window includes a time of day where lower cost of transmission is available.

68. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving, by the device controlled by the patient, a command indicating that certain information stored in the memory should be uploaded from the device.

69. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least one of the data pairing and one or more of a plurality of the updated data pairings to determine whether a predetermined safety threshold has been exceeded for the patient.

70. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least one of the data pairing and one or more of a plurality of the updated data pairings to determine a mobility profile for the patient.

71. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least one of the data pairing and one or more of a plurality of the updated data pairings to determine an exercise profile for the patient.

72. The method of claim 1 further comprising analyzing at least one of the data pairing and one or more of a plurality of the updated data pairings to determine a trend of patient movement over time.

73. The method of claim 72 wherein the trend of patient movement over time indicates whether the patient has entered a bathroom more or less than a predefined number of times in a predefined period of time.

74. The method of claim 72 wherein the trend of patient movement over time indicates whether the patient has remained stationary for more or less than a predetermined period of time.

75. The method of claim 72 wherein the trend of patient movement over time indicates whether the patient has remained in a predefined area for more or less than a predetermined period of time.

76. The method of claim 72 wherein the trend of patient movement over time indicates whether the patient has failed to reach a predetermined appointment location within a predetermined time period.