Portable telemedicine device

• US 6,409,660 B1
• Filed: 05/10/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortivus AB
• Original Assignee: Ortivus AB
• Inventors: Sjöqvist, Bengt Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US09/254,428
• Time in Patent Office: 1,142 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/481-486, 600/500-509, 600/544-545, 600/529, 600/538, 128/900, 128/903-904, 705/2, 705/3
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A portable telemedicine device used in prehospital, preliminary diagnostic procedures and treatments includes a data processing unit for receiving and processing data. Measurement devices for determining patient data relative to a predetermined patient. Presentation device for displaying patient data received from the measurement devices. Entry device for manually inputting manual data into the data processing unit. Communication equipment for permitting bidirectional communication with at least one central unit for transmitting manually entered manual data and patient data to the central unit and to receive information data from the central unit representing results from diagnoses, suggested care and previously stored data on the predetermined patient. A predetermined number of the data processing unit, measurement devices, presentation device, entry device and communication equipment being integrated into a portable unit. A device for assigning priorities to the information data, the patient record file data, physiological data, form data, numbers, images upon transmission of the data to the central unit for ensuring that a highest priority data in a predetermined situation is transmitted first.

Claims

1. A portable telemedicine device used in prehospital, preliminary diagnostic procedures and treatments comprising:

at least one measurement device for obtaining patient related information;

an entry device for manual input of information;

communication equipment for permitting bidirectional communication with at least one central unit for transmitting data to the central unit and to receive information data from the central unit; and

means for assigning priorities to different types of information upon transmission of data to the central unit, said priorities being based on the medical usefulness of the information type, and for ensuring that the information type of highest priority in a predetermined situation is transmitted first.

2. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein the device is used outside medical-care centers.

3. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein the device is used outside hospitals.

4. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein the device is used outside clinics.

5. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein the device is used outside nursing homes.

6. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein the communication is established via a wireless telecommunication network.

7. The telemedicine device according to claim 6, wherein the communication is established via GSM.

8. The telemedicine device according to claim 6, wherein the communication is established via MOBITEX.

9. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, further comprising means for docking the device with a base unit.

10. The telemedicine device according to claim 9, wherein the base unit is positioned onboard an ambulance.

11. The telemedicine device according to claim 9, and further including communication equipment operatively connected to said base unit for bidirectional communication with said central unit.

12. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein said bidirectional communication is established with a plurality of central units.

13. The telemedicine device according to claim 11, further including means for automatically selecting, for said bidirectional communication, a communication link among a plurality of communication links based on which is most efficient for the current application.

14. The telemedicine device according to claim 1, wherein said entry means includes a rotatable actuating member for controlling a cursor on the presentation means for highlighting alternative objects in a predetermined order by rotation of the actuation member and a depressible actuation member for activating the current highlighted objects by depression of said depressible actuation member.

15. The telemedicine device according to claim 14, wherein the rotatable and depressible actuating member is combined into one single actuating member.

16. The telemedicine device according to claim 15, wherein the option objects to be highlighted form a main menu wherein each object may comprise several levels of sub-menus and said entry means also includes a return button for return to the level above the current level.