SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR AUTOMATED MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS

• US 20170323064A1
• Filed: 11/04/2016
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AdviNow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AdviNow, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, James Stewart
• Granted Patent: US 10,861,604 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• 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 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

Presented are systems and methods that provide patients with diagnostic measurement tools and clear and concise audio/video guidance to reliably and accurately perform clinical grade diagnostic measurements of key vital signs. In various embodiments, this is accomplished by using an automated remote (or local, e.g., in the form of a kiosk) end-to-end medical diagnostic system that monitors equipment usage for accuracy. The diagnostic system analyzes patient responses, measurement data, and patient-related information to generate diagnostic and/or treatment information that may be shared with healthcare professionals and specialists, as needed. Automation provides for timely, hassle-free, and cost-effective health care management that takes the stress out of doctor visits, while delivering personalized health care. The high accuracy of generated diagnostic data improves health care to patients and reduces the risk of medical malpractice for treating physicians.

Claims

1. An apparatus for self-diagnosis of a medical condition, the apparatus comprising:

at least one medical instrument and at least one sensor, the at least one medical instrument configured to be positioned at a preferred location relative to a user body and generate location information relative to a first location of the at least one medical instrument;

a receiver coupled to receive the location information from the at least one medical instrument;

a location processing element coupled to receive the location information from the receiver, the location processing element determines a position accuracy measurement of the first location of the at least one medical instrument relative to the preferred location on the user body and generates a response indicative of the position accuracy measurement;

a location verification element coupled to receive the response, the location verification element determines whether the position accuracy measurement is within a predefined numerical range;

a diagnosis processing element coupled to receive patient measurement data from the at least one medical instrument if the position accuracy measurement is within the predefined numerical range, the diagnosis processing element associates the patient measurement data with at least one medical diagnosis; and

a verification processing element coupled to receive the patient measurement data and the at least one medical diagnosis, the verification processing element generates a diagnostic rating value based at least partially on the position accuracy measurement, the patient measurement data, and the at least one medical diagnosis.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one medical instrument comprises an identifiable marker that generates the location information.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the identifiable marker is an IR LED that generates reference data that serves as a feedback signal that facilitates positioning the at least one medical instrument at the preferred location.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a camera that uses the reference data to identify the preferred location.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the patient measurement data comprises vital signs data.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnosis processing element further receives patient input data associated with one or more symptoms.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the verification processing element assigns a trustworthiness score to the patient input data.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnostic rating value is representative of an accuracy of the at least one medical instrument.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diagnosis processing element assigns a diagnosis probability to potential illness based on one or more weight factors.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor comprises at least one of an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnometer.

11. A system for self-diagnosis of a medical condition, the system comprising:

a patient interface coupled to receive patient data;

a medical instrument coupled to the patient interface, the medical instrument configured to be positioned at a target position relative to a user body to generate patient measurement data;

a sensor coupled to the medical instrument, the sensor configured to generate position information relative to a first position of the medical instrument;

a position processor coupled to receive the first position information to determine a position accuracy measurement that relates the first position to the target position and generates a response indicative of the position accuracy measurement;

a comparator coupled to the position processor, the comparator determines whether the position accuracy measurement is within a predefined numerical range;

a verification processor coupled to the comparator, the verification processor generates an accuracy score based on at least one of the position accuracy measurement and the patient measurement data; and

a diagnosis processor coupled receive the patient measurement data from to the medical instrument and at least one accuracy score from the verification processor to generate at least one medical diagnosis.

12. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a doctor interface coupled to the verification processor, the doctor interface receives the accuracy score from the verification processor.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the at least one medical diagnosis is used to output medical information to at least one of the patient interface and the doctor interface.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the diagnosis processor assigns diagnosis probabilities to potential illness based on one or more weight factors.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the diagnosis processor eliminates one or more of the potential illnesses based on one or more diagnosis probabilities.

16. A method for self-diagnosis of a medical condition, the method comprising:

in response to a medical instrument being positioned at a preferred location relative to a user body, receiving patient measurement data and position information relative to a first position of the medical instrument;

based on the first position information, determining a position accuracy measurement to relate the first position to the preferred position and generate a response indicative of the position accuracy measurement;

in response to determining that the position accuracy measurement being within a predefined numerical range, associating the patient measurement data with at least one medical diagnosis; and

generating a diagnostic rating value based on at least one of the position accuracy measurement, the patient measurement data, and the at least one medical diagnosis.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein further comprising assigning diagnosis probabilities to potential illness based on one or more weight factors.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising comparing the at least one medical diagnosis with one or more diagnoses in a treatment database to generate treatment information.

19. The method according to claim 16, further comprising receiving patient input data to generate a malpractice risk score associated with the patient input data.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising automatically populating an electronic health record with at least one of a diagnosis code and a treatment code in response receiving at least one of the patient measurement data and the patient input data.