Systems and Devices for Emergency Tracking and Health Monitoring

• US 20110111736A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Activecare Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Activecare Incorporated (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Derrick, Peter, Dalton, James, Acton, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 8,942,676 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

The present disclosure provides for systems, devices, and methods which address needs of seniors, disabled persons, or any other similar users, at a stage in life when they can still live independently while benefiting from monitored care. Embodiments described herein enable a higher level of connectivity without requiring the member to be technologically savvy, and provides a simple mechanism for personalized emergency support. Embodiments utilize at least one personal communication device which may allow for remote interactions with medical and concierge personnel in a monitoring center or other emergency contacts, in order to fulfill requests for everyday needs, ranging from providing directions to a locations, to health alerts based on health and status measurements collected electronically and remotely.

Claims

1. A monitoring and communication system comprising:

a companion device communicatively coupled to a cellular network, said companion device configured to establish voice and data communication with a monitoring center via said cellular network, said companion device further configured to allow for communication between a user and at least one other designated source via said cellular network; and

a user device, said user device configured to be disposed proximate to said user and configured to communicate with said companion device, said user device further configured to actively monitor at least one user condition and to report said condition to said monitoring center through said companion device.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one fall detection device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said companion device is configured to contact said monitoring center upon receiving a signal indicating that said fall detection device has registered a user emergency.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising at least one health sensor selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure sensor, blood-oxygen sensor, blood-sugar level sensor, and pulse sensor.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said companion device and said user device are configured to receive configuration instructions from said monitoring center.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein said companion device is configured to receive GPS location information and to forward said GPS location information to said monitoring center.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said user device connects to said companion device using a Bluetooth-compliant communication device.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said user device connects to said companion device using a Zigby-compliant communication device.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein said companion device is configured to communicate with said monitoring center using GPRS protocol.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein said companion device is configured to communicate with said monitoring center using SMS protocol.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein said companion device is configured to transmit location information for at least one of said companion device and said user device automatically when an emergency contact is initiated between said companion device and said monitoring center.

12. A method for administering system for monitoring users of said system, said method comprising:

connecting a monitoring center to a plurality of companion devices over a cellular network, said plurality of companion devices configured to provide voice and data information corresponding to a users of said plurality of companion devices to said monitoring center;

configuring said monitoring center to receive and process voice and data corresponding to a user of one of said plurality of companion devices in response to a call being established between said monitoring center and said companion device.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing a user portal to connect a user to said monitoring center.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining location data of a companion device of said plurality of companion devices in response to a user request via said user portal.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising accepting updates of user account information and preferences via said user portal.

16. The method of claim 12 further comprising configuring said monitoring center to accept an automatic call from a companion device of said plurality of companion devices triggered by a pre-determined event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said pre-determined event is an impact detection.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein said pre-determined event is an update from a health sensor.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein said data information includes GPS information.

20. A method of tracking information corresponding to a monitored user, said method comprising:

accessing a monitoring center via a user portal;

requesting by a user of said user portal, information regarding said monitored user;

connecting, by a monitoring center, to a companion device associated with said monitored user, said companion device communicatively coupled to a cellular network, said companion device configured to establish voice and data communication with said monitoring center via said cellular network;

receiving, at said monitoring center, information from said companion device; and

relaying said information to said user portal.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said information is location information of said monitored user.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein said information is health-related information of said monitored user.