SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEDICAL INSTRUMENT PATIENT MEASUREMENTS

• US 20170323069A1
• Filed: 11/15/2016
• Published: 11/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2016
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: AdviNow, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AdviNow, Inc.
• Inventors: Bates, James Stewart
• Application Number:
  US15/352,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20170323069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0077 Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6842 by marking the skin
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6844 Monitoring or controlling distance between sensor and tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7221 Determining signal validity, reliability or quality A61B5/7207 and A61B5/7217 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/003 Repetitive work cycles; Sequence of movements
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

Presented are systems and methods that provide diagnostic measurement tools that enable even laymen to reliably and accurately perform clinical-grade diagnostic measurements of key vital signs with little or no intervention by a health care professional. In various embodiments, this is accomplished by using an automated medical diagnostic system that provides clear and concise audio/video guidance to the patient and monitors the patient'"'"'s equipment usage to generate high-accuracy measurement data that may be analyzed locally and shared with health care professionals and specialists, as needed.

Claims

1. A medical data system to generate accurate medical instrument measured data associated with a physical condition comprising:

one or more processors coupled to receive medical instrument measured data from a medical instrument that has a position;

a reference signal indicative of at least one of the position and a preferred location relative to a user'"'"'s body; and

a feedback device coupled to the one or more processors, the feedback device uses a monitor to display at least one of the reference signal and a feedback signal that is representative of a difference between the position and the preferred location to allow a user to adjust the position relative to the preferred location and, thereby, increase data accuracy when the medical instrument is operated.

2. The medical data system according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is an identifiable marker.

3. The medical data system according to claim 2, wherein the feedback device comprises a camera that displays the identifiable marker on the monitor.

4. The medical data system according to claim 2, wherein the feedback device comprises a bolometer that generates the identifiable marker.

5. The medical data system according to claim 2, wherein the feedback device comprises one of an RF transmitter and an RF receiver that generates the identifiable marker.

6. The medical data system according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is generated by an IR LED device.

7. The medical data system according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is a heat signal that is generated by a heat source.

8. The medical data system according to claim 2, wherein the identifiable marker is generated by an RF reflective material that can be displayed on an RF imaging device.

9. The medical data system according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal is an RF beacon.

10. The medical data system according to claim 1, wherein the reference signal generated by a device that is removably attached to the medical instrument.

11. The medical data system according to claim 1, further comprising an inertial sensor coupled to the medical instrument, the inertial sensor outputs at least one of a motion signal and an orientation signal associated with the medical instrument.

12. The medical data system according to claim 11, wherein the inertial sensor is embedded into the medical instrument.

13. The medical data system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more processors combine at least one of the motion signal and the orientation signal with a medical instrument signal to improve sensor accuracy.

14. The medical data system according to claim 11, wherein the one or more processors combine at least one of the motion signal and the orientation signal with the medical instrument measured data to reduce motion artifacts.

15. The medical data system according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor that, in response to detecting a pressure associated with the medical instrument, generates a pressure reading.

16. The medical data system according to claim 1, further comprising an altimeter that generates altitude data.

17. A medical diagnosis system to generate accurate medical instrument measured data associated with a physical condition comprising:

one or more processors coupled to receive measured data from a medical instrument that has a position;

an identifiable marker that generates a reference signal indicative of at least one of the position and a preferred location relative to a user'"'"'s body; and

a feedback device coupled to the one or more processors, the feedback device uses a monitor to display at least one of the reference signal and a feedback signal that is representative of a difference between the position and the preferred location to allow a user to adjust the position relative to the preferred location and, thereby, increase data accuracy;

a communication controller coupled to the medical instrument to establish a wireless communication between the medical instrument and the one or more processors; and

power management unit coupled to the one or more processors to provide energy to the communication controller and the one or more processors.

18. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, wherein the monitor displays instructions related to using the medical instrument.

19. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, wherein the feedback device comprises one of a bolometer, an RF transmitter, and an RF receiver to generate the identifiable marker.

20. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, further comprising a proximity sensor that that determines determining a proximity of medical instrument to the user'"'"'s body.

21. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, wherein the medical instrument is a wearable device.

22. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, wherein the one or more processors generate an alert in response to the position relative to the preferred location exceeding a predetermined threshold.

23. The medical diagnosis system according to claim 17, wherein, in response to determining that the medical instrument is at the preferred location, one or more processors cause the monitor to display instructions to start a measurement.

24. A method for generating accurate medical instrument measured data associated with a physical condition, the method comprising:

monitoring a target location associated with a body part of interest;

using an identifiable marker to generate a reference signal;

determining a relationship between the reference and the target location;

associating inertial sensor data with a medical instrument;

using the inertial sensor data and the relationship to identify a relative position of the medical instrument;

based on the relative position, generating one or more instructions to guide a user in using the reference signal to place the medical instrument at the target location;

in response to determining that the medical instrument is at the target location, receiving medical instrument measured data by the medical instrument;

comparing at least one of the sensor data and the medical instrument measured data to model data to generate a comparison result;

based on the comparison result, assigning at least one of an accuracy score to the medical instrument and a reliability score to the medical instrument measured data; and

if one of the accuracy and reliability score falls below a threshold generating a request signal.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the model data is associated with expected measurement data.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the identifiable marker is comprised in an audio file.

27. The method according to claim 24, wherein the identifiable marker is outside the visible spectrum.

28. The method according to claim 24, further comprising superimposing, on a monitor, a representation of a user against a user model and mimicking movements of the user to provide feedback to the user in real-time.

29. The method according to claim 24, further comprising, based on the relationship, generating an error vector for one or more sensors to calculate a device usage accuracy score.