Method and apparatus for obtaining patient respiratory data

• US 6,190,326 B1
• Filed: 04/23/1999
• Issued: 02/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Westmed Inc. (SunMed Group Holdings LLC)
• Original Assignee: Medtrac Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolf, James L., Riley, Patrick L., McKinnon, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor, Cary
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARTER, RYAN CHRISTOPHER
• Application Number:
  US09/299,195
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/529, 600/532, 600/538, 128/200.24, 128/200.26
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/0871 Peak expiratory flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0878 using temperature sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance

Abstract

A system for collecting patient respiratory information includes a base unit and a removable mouthpiece unit. The mouthpiece unit includes sensors that sense parameters of a patient'"'"'s breath when the patient blows into the mouthpiece unit. The base unit receives and processes the information from the mouthpiece unit and stores it in chronological fashion for later analysis by a physician. The mouthpiece unit includes a memory for storing identification information for a patient who has been assigned the mouthpiece unit. When the mouthpiece unit is inserted into the base unit, the base unit reads the identification information from the mouthpiece unit and stores all measurement information in association therewith. In this manner, a single base unit can be used to collect information for a plurality of different patients without creating confusion as to which measurement results correspond to which patients. A cable assembly can be disposed intermediate the mouthpiece unit and the base unit to allow the patient to view a display on the base unit while simultaneously exhaling into the mouthpiece unit.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from a number of patients, comprising:

providing a base unit;

providing a first mouthpiece assembly;

providing a second mouthpiece assembly;

coupling said first mouthpiece assembly to said base unit;

obtaining first patient information for a first patient including receiving patient identification information by said base unit from said first mouthpiece assembly when said first patient identification information is present in said first mouthpiece assembly;

uncoupling said first mouthpiece assembly from said base unit;

coupling said second mouthpiece assembly to said base unit; and

obtaining second patient information for a second patient including receiving patient identification information by said base unit from said second mouthpiece assembly when said second patient identification information is present in said second mouthpiece assembly.

2. The method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing a base unit includes providing a base unit having a measurement module for processing raw measurement data received from a mouthpiece assembly coupled to said base unit.

3. A method, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said step of providing a base unit includes providing a base unit having a storage unit for storing measurement results generated by said measurement module.

4. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said base unit includes a processor and said first patient information includes first patient data related to at least one respiratory function of said first patient and said step of obtaining said first patient information includes correlating said first patient data with said first patient identification information.

5. A method, as claimed in claim 4, wherein:

said base unit includes a base unit memory and said first mouthpiece assembly includes a first mouthpiece memory and said step of obtaining said first patient information includes storing said first patient data correlated with said first patient identification information in said base unit memory.

6. A method, as claimed in claim 5, wherein:

said step of obtaining said second patient information includes storing second patient data correlated with said second patient identification information in memory locations of said base unit memory previously having said first patient data correlated with said first patient identification information.

7. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said step of obtaining said first patient information includes checking whether said first mouthpiece assembly has said first patient identification information.

8. A method, as claimed in claim 7, wherein:

said step of obtaining said first patient information includes establishing communication between a docking station and said first mouthpiece assembly when said first mouthpiece assembly does not have said first patient identification information and then downloading said first patient identification information to a first mouthpiece memory of said first mouthpiece assembly using said docking station.

9. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said step of obtaining said first patient information includes exhaling by the first patient into said first mouthpiece assembly and deciding by the first patient whether to store first patient data related to said exhaling step.

10. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said step of obtaining said first patient information includes entering, by the first patient, information related to a first patient symptom into a base unit memory of said base unit.

11. A method, as claimed in claim 10, wherein:

said entering step includes entering a magnitude by the first patient of said information related to the first patient symptom, with said magnitude being indicative of a degree of the first patient symptom.

12. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first mouthpiece assembly comprises a cable assembly including a proximal end and a distal end and having a length, wherein said step of coupling said first mouthpiece assembly includes connecting said proximal end of said cable assembly to said base unit, wherein said length of said cable assembly allows a patient blowing into a sensor unit of said first mouthpiece assembly to simultaneously view a display on said base unit.

13. A method, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said step of coupling said first mouthpiece assembly includes installing a cable assembly between said first mouthpiece assembly and said base unit.

14. A system for obtaining information from a number of patients related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a base unit including a processor and a base unit memory for storing patient information, said base unit being located at one of;

(i) a home of at least a first patient and (ii) a hospital;

a first mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a first mouthpiece memory that stores first patient identification information; and

a second mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a second mouthpiece memory that stores second patient identification information;

wherein said processor is used to obtain said first patient identification information from said first mouthpiece memory when said first mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit at said one of the home and the hospital and said processor is used to obtain said second patient identification information from said second mouthpiece memory when said second mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit at said one of the home and the hospital.

15. A system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said base unit includes a display for displaying information related to patient symptoms including at least one of the following;

dyspnea, phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

16. A system, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

said base unit includes input means for inputting at least one magnitude related to a first symptom and in which said one magnitude relates to a degree of the first symptom as determined by a patient using said base unit.

17. A system for obtaining information from a number of patients related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a base unit including a processor and a base unit memory for storing patient information;

a first mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a first mouthpiece memory that stores first patient identification information; and

a second mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a second mouthpiece memory that stores second patient identification information, and in which said base unit includes a controller that stores patient data related to patient exhalation into one of said first and second mouthpiece assemblies;

wherein said processor is used to obtain said first patient identification information from said first mouthpiece memory when said first mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit and said processor is used to obtain said second patient identification information from said second mouthpiece memory when said second mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit.

18. A system for obtaining information from a number of patients related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a base unit including a processor and a base unit memory for storing patient information;

a first mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a first mouthpiece memory that stores first patient identification information; and

a second mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a second mouthpiece memory that stores second patient identification information;

a docking station that communicates with at least said first mouthpiece assembly and in which said docking station is used to download said first patient identification information to said first mouthpiece memory; and

wherein said processor is used to obtain said first patient identification information from said first mouthpiece memory when said first mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit and said processor is used to obtain said second patient identification information from said second mouthpiece memory when said second mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit.

19. A system for obtaining information from a number of patients related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a base unit including a processor and a base unit memory for storing patient information;

a first mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a first mouthpiece memory that stores first patient identification information;

a second mouthpiece assembly that can be connected to said base unit and including a second mouthpiece memory that stores second patient identification information; and

a cable assembly for use in connecting said first mouthpiece assembly to said base unit, said cable assembly having a first connector that is compatible with a connector on said base unit and a second connector that is compatible with a connector on said first mouthpiece assembly, said cable assembly having a length that permits said first patient to view a display on said base unit while exhaling into said first mouthpiece assembly during a test;

wherein said processor is used to obtain said first patient identification information from said first mouthpiece memory when said first mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit and said processor is used to obtain said second patient identification information from said second mouthpiece memory when said second mouthpiece assembly is connected to said base unit.

20. A system for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from at least one patient, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece device into which the patient exhales and a mouthpiece memory that stores identification information for a first patient, said mouthpiece assembly being located at one of;

(i) a home of at least a first patient and (ii) a hospital; and

a base unit located at said one of the home and the hospital and being joined to said mouthpiece assembly, said base unit including a processor for reading said first patient identification information from said mouthpiece memory and a base unit memory for storing said first patient identification information with respiratory-related data from the first patient, with said processor correlating said patient data with said first patient identification information when storing said first patient data.

21. A system, as claimed in claim 20, further including:

a second mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece memory for storing identification information for a second patient different from the first patient and in which said second mouthpiece assembly is joined to said base unit after said first mouthpiece assembly is removed therefrom.

22. A system, as claimed in claim 20, further including:

a docking station in communication with said mouthpiece assembly for use in downloading said first patient identification information to said mouthpiece memory.

23. A system for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from at least one patient, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece device into which the patient exhales, a flow board connected to said mouthpiece device, and a mouthpiece memory associated with said flow board that stores identification information for a first patient; and

a base unit joined to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for reading said first patient identification information from said mouthpiece memory and a base unit memory for storing said first patient identification information with respiratory-related data from the first patient, with said processor correlating said patient data with said first patient identification information when storing said first patient data, said base unit including a display for displaying information related to symptoms of the first patient including at least one of the following;

dyspnea, phlegm, shortness of breath, and wheezing.

24. A system for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from at least one patient, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece device into which the patient exhales, a flow board connected to said mouthpiece device, and a mouthpiece memory associated with said flow board that stores identification information for a first patient; and

a base unit joined to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for reading said first patient identification information from said mouthpiece memory and a base unit memory for storing said first patient identification information with respiratory-related data from the first patient, with said processor correlating said patient data with said first patient identification information when storing said first patient data, said base unit including an input element that inputs at least one magnitude related to a first symptom, with said one magnitude related to a degree of the first symptom identified by the first patient.

25. A system for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from at least one patient, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece device into which the patient exhales, a flow board connected to said mouthpiece device, and a mouthpiece memory associated with said flow board that stores identification information for a first patient; and

a base unit joined to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for reading said first patient identification information from said mouthpiece memory and a base unit memory for storing said first patient identification information with respiratory-related data from the first patient, with said processor correlating said patient data with said first patient identification information when storing said first patient data, said base unit including a controler that stores in said base unit memory first patient data related to exhalation by the first patient using said mouthpiece assembly.

26. A system for obtaining information related to respiratory functions from at least one patient, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly that includes a mouthpiece device into which the patient exhales, a flow board connected to said mouthpiece device, and a mouthpiece memory associated with said flow board that stores identification information for a first patient; and

a base unit joined to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for reading said first patient identification information from said mouthpiece memory and a base unit memory for storing said first patient identification information with respiratory-related data from the first patient, with said processor correlating said patient data with said first patient identification information when storing said first patient data, said base unit including a display member and said mouthpiece assembly includes a cable assembly including a proximal connector, a cable member, and a distal connector, said proximal connector being disposed adjacent to said base unit, said distal connector being located at a distance from said display member of said base unit and said cable member being located intermediate of and connected to each of said proximal and distal connectors.

27. A system for obtaining information from at least one patient related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly including a mouthpiece device into which a patient exhales and a mouthpiece memory for storing patient identification information;

a base unit operatively connected to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for processing patient data, a memory for storing patient data, and a display for displaying at least patient instructions; and

a cable assembly operatively connected to said mouthpiece device, said cable assembly including a proximal connector located adjacent to said base unit, a distal connector located at a distance from said base unit, and a cable member interconnecting said proximal connector and said distal connector for carrying data between said mouthpiece device and said base unit, wherein said cable member has a length such that the patient is able to view said display when exhaling.

28. A system for obtaining information from at least one patient related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly including a mouthpiece device into which a patient exhales;

a base unit operatively connected to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for processing patient data, a memory for storing patient data, and a display for displaying at least patient instructions; and

a cable assembly operatively connected to said mouthpiece device, said cable assembly including a proximal connector located adjacent to said base unit, a distal connector located at a distance from said base unit, and a cable member interconnecting said proximal connector and said distal connector for carrying data between said mouthpiece device and said base unit, wherein said cable member has a length such that the patient is able to view said display when exhaling and said cable member has a length of at least 18 inches.

29. A system for obtaining information from at least one patient related to respiratory functions, comprising:

a mouthpiece assembly including a mouthpiece device into which a patient exhales;

a docking station that communicates with said mouthpiece assembly for use in downloading patient identification information thereto;

a base unit operatively connected to said mouthpiece assembly and including a processor for processing patient data, a memory for storing patient data, and a display for displaying at least patient instructions; and

a cable assembly operatively connected to said mouthpiece device, said cable assembly including a proximal connector located adjacent to said base unit, a distal connector located at a distance from said base unit, and a cable member interconnecting said proximal connector and said distal connector for carrying data between said mouthpiece device and said base unit, wherein said cable member has a length such that the patient is able to view said display when exhaling.