BIO-MEDICAL UNIT SYSTEM FOR MEDICATION CONTROL

• US 20110144573A1
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP PTE Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Broadcom Corporation (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rofougaran, Ahmadreza (Reza), Vorenkamp, Pieter, Karaoguz, Jeyhan
• Application Number:
  US13/030,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20110144573A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 604/66
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00029 externally powered, e.g. wireless
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0219 of externally powered implanted units
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4504 Bones A61B5/4547 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/10 Current supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals

Abstract

A system includes bio-medical units, a wireless communication module, and a wireless power source. A bio-medical unit includes a power harvesting module, a communication module, a processing module, and a medication control module for performing a medication control function and generating a medication response. The wireless communication module is operable to wirelessly communicate inbound and outbound wireless signals with the bio-medical unit. The wireless power source is operable to generate the electromagnetic signal, which the power harvesting module converts into a supply voltage that powers the other modules of the bio-medical unit.

Claims

1. A system comprises:

a plurality of bio-medical units associated with a body, wherein a bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units includes;

a power harvesting module for converting an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage;

a communication module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;

a processing module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into a medication control function;

convert a medication response into the outbound symbol stream;

a medication control module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

perform the medication control function; and

generate the medication response in response to performing the medication control function;

a wireless communication module operable to wirelessly communicate the inbound and outbound wireless signals with the bio-medical unit; and

a wireless power source operable to generate the electromagnetic signal.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprises:

the medication control function including an instruction to sample a body component for at least one of presence and concentration of a medication; and

the medication control module including;

a probe mechanism to sample the body component;

a testing module operable to test the body component for the at least one of the presence and concentration of the medication to produce the medication response; and

a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the probe mechanism and the testing module.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the wireless communication module is further operable to:

interpret the medication response to determine whether the medication is under-utilized, over-utilized, or appropriately utilized;

when the medication is over-utilized, determining an over-utilized response based on level of over-utilization; and

when the medication is under-utilized, determining an under-utilized response based on level of under-utilization.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprises:

the medication control function including an instruction to administer a medication; and

the medication control module including;

a medication canister for containing the medication; and

a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) controlled release module for releasing the medication in a controlled manner.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprises:

a first bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units operable to monitor at least one of presence and concentration of a first medication;

a second bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units operable to monitor at least one of presence and concentration of a second medication;

a third bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units operable to monitor a first type of bodily reaction to medication; and

a fourth bio-medical unit of the plurality of bio-medical units operable to monitor a second type of bodily reaction to medication.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the wireless communication module is further operable to:

receive the medication response to include one or more of;

data regarding the at least one of presence and concentration of the first medication,

data regarding the at least one of presence and concentration of the second medication,

data regarding the first type of bodily reaction to medication, and

data regarding the second type of bodily reaction to medication;

interpret the medication response to determine whether an undesired medication reaction is occurring; and

when the undesired medication reaction is occurring, determining a medication alert response regarding the undesired medication reaction based on level of the undesired medication reaction.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprises:

a wireless communication device that includes the wireless communication module and the wireless power source.

8. A bio-medical unit for in-vivo use comprises:

a power harvesting module for converting an electromagnetic signal into a supply voltage;

a communication module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert an inbound wireless signal into an inbound symbol stream;

convert an outbound symbol stream into an outbound wireless signal;

a processing module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

convert the inbound symbol stream into a medication control function;

convert a medication response into the outbound symbol stream;

a medication control module operable, when powered by the supply voltage, to;

perform the medication control function; and

generate the medication response in response to performing the medication control function.

9. The bio-medical unit of claim 8 further comprises:

the medication control function including an instruction to sample a body component for at least one of presence and concentration of a medication; and

the medication control module including;

a probe mechanism to sample the body component;

a testing module operable to test the body component for the at least one of the presence and concentration of the medication to produce the medication response; and

a cleaning mechanism for cleaning the probe mechanism and the testing module.

10. The bio-medical unit of claim 8 further comprises:

the medication control function including an instruction to administer a medication; and

the medication control module including;

a medication canister for containing the medication; and

a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) controlled release module for releasing the medication in a controlled manner.

11. A bio-medical application for execution by a wireless communication device that includes a processing module and memory, wherein the memory stores the bio-medical application in a computer readable format, the bio-medical application comprises operational instructions that, when executed by the processing module, causes the wireless communication device to:

generate a medication control function;

convert the medication control function into a wireless control signal;

transmit the wireless control signal to one or more bio-medical units, wherein at least one of the one or more bio-medical units;

recaptures the medication control function from the wireless control signal;

performs the medication control function;

generates the medication response in response to performing the medication control function; and

converts the medication response into a wireless response signal;

receive the wireless response signal; and

recapture the medication response from the wireless response signal.

12. The bio-medication application of claim 11 further causes the wireless communication device to, when the medication control function includes an instruction to sample a body component for at least one of presence and concentration of a medication:

recapture, as the medication response, at least one of the presence and concentration of the medication in a body component;

interpret the medication response to determine whether the medication is under-utilized, over-utilized, or appropriately utilized;

when the medication is over-utilized, determining an over-utilized response based on level of over-utilization; and

when the medication is under-utilized, determining an under-utilized response based on level of under-utilization.

13. The bio-medication application of claim 11 further comprises:

the medication control function including an instruction to administer a medication.

14. The bio-medication application of claim 11, wherein the receiving the wireless response signal and the recapturing the medication response further comprise:

receiving a plurality of wireless response signals; and

recapturing a plurality of medication responses from the plurality of wireless response signals, wherein;

a first medication response of the plurality of medication responses corresponds to at least one of presence and concentration of a first medication;

a second medication response of the plurality of medication responses corresponds to at least one of presence and concentration of a second medication;

a third medication response of the plurality of medication responses corresponds to a first type of bodily reaction to medication; and

a fourth medication response of the plurality of medication responses corresponds to a second type of bodily reaction to medication.

15. The bio-medication application of claim 11 further causes the wireless communication device to:

interpret the plurality of medication responses to determine whether an undesired medication reaction is occurring; and

when the undesired medication reaction is occurring, determining a medication alert response regarding the undesired medication reaction based on level of the undesired medication reaction.

16. The bio-medication application of claim 11 further causes the wireless communication device to:

generate the electromagnetic signal.