Patient interface system

• US 6,409,662 B1
• Filed: 09/20/1999
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Alere Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Alere Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lloyd, Lester John, Prince, Melissa Ann
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino, Michael C
• Application Number:
  US09/399,982
• Time in Patent Office: 1,009 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/483, 600/513, 600/520, 128/903-904, 128/920-925, 705/2-3, 340/500, 340/540, 340/573, 340/666, 200/666, 200/85.R, 200/86.R
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1073 Measuring volume, e.g. of limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• 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

Abstract

A patient interface system for collecting and transferring data from a patient to a remote monitoring system, as well as methods for its use, are provided. The subject system comprises: (a) a data collection means comprising an edema sensing means and an interrogation means; (b) a processing means for processing the collected data; and (c) a communication means for transferring said collected data from said interface means to a remote monitoring system and receiving instructional data from a remote monitoring system. The subject system finds use in the remote monitoring of a variety of conditions, particularly in the remote monitoring of cardiac associated diseases.

Claims

1. A patient interface system for use in collecting and transferring data from a patient to a remote monitoring system, said system comprising:

(a) a patient data imput means comprising;

(i) a means for measuring edema in the patient; and

(ii) an interrogation means;

(b) a processing means for receiving and storing data from said patient data input means;

(c) a communication means for transferring said processed patient data from said processing means to a remote monitoring system and receiving instructional data from said remote monitoring system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the edema measuring means is selected from the group consisting of a volume displacement measurement means, a cross-sectional dimension measurement means, a pitting measurement means, and a circumferential measurement means.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said volume displacement measurement means comprises:

a container comprising a displaceable medium whereby a portion of said displaceable medium is displaced when an extremity of a patient is placed in the medium; and

a means for measuring said displaced medium and obtaining a measured amount value; and

a means for relating said measured amount value to the presence or absence of edema in said patient.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said displaceable medium is a liquid.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said cross-sectional dimension measurement means comprises:

a means for measuring a cross-sectional dimension of at least one limbic extremity of a patient; and

a means for relating said value to the presence of edema in the patient.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing means accepts and stores a new predetermined target value and series of questions from said remote monitoring system.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said question and answer means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a video display and an audio display.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein said question and answer means further comprises at least one of a keyboard, a plurality of buttons and a microphone.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said communication means comprises at least one of a modem, a serial interface, a LAN connection and a wireless transmitter.

10. A patient interface system for use in collecting and transferring data from a patient suffering from a cardiac associated disease to a remote monitoring system, said system comprising:

(a) a patient data input means comprising;

(i) a means for measuring edema in an extremity of the patient; and

(ii) and interrogation means;

(b) a processing means for;

(i) receiving and storing data from said patient data input means;

(ii) storing a predetermined target value and a series of questions;

(iii) comparing a measured edema value with said predetermined target value to determine a variance; and

(iv) accepting and storing a new predetermined target value and series of questions from said remote monitoring system; and

(c) a communication means for transferring said patient data from said processing means to a remote monitoring system and receiving instructional data from said remote monitoring system.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein said interrogation means comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a video display and an audio display.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said interrogation means further comprises at least one of a keyboard, a plurality of buttons and a microphone.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein said communication means comprises at least one of a modem, a serial interface, a LAN connection and a wireless transmitter.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring edema is a volume displacement means.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring edema is a cross-sectional dimension measurement means.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring edema is a pitting measurement means.

17. The system according to claim 10, wherein said means for measuring edema is a circumferential measurement means.

18. A patient interface system for remote monitoring of a patient, comprising:

(a) a patient data input means comprising a means for measuring edema in a patient, wherein the edema measuring means is selected from the group consisting of a volume displacement measurement means, a cross-sectional dimension measurement means, a pitting measurement means, and a circumferential measurement means;

(b) a process means for receiving and storing data from the data input means; and

(c) a means for communicating data to a remote monitoring system.

19. A method of remotely monitoring a plurality of patients, comprising:

(a) measuring a first patient at a first location for edema;

(b) processing data obtained in (a) to determine the degree of edema the patient has;

(c) communicating the data processed in (b) to a remote monitoring location; and

(d) repeating (a), (b), and (c) with the first patient and with a plurality of additional patients.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein said measuring is a pitting measurement method comprising:

contacting an extremity of the first and additional patients with a device comprising a planar surface and a probe extendable therefrom;

extending said probe from said planar surface until a specified force is reached, whereby a depression in the skin of said extremity at the site of said extended probe is produced;

maintaining said probe in constant position for a period of time and taking a plurality of force measurements;

generating a force profile from said plurality of force measurements; and

relating said force profile to the presence or absence of edema.

21. The method according to claim 19, wherein said measuring is a circumferential measurement method comprising:

measuring the perimeter value of at least one limbic extremity of the patient; and

relating the perimeter value to the presence of edema in the patient.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising asking the first patient and additional patients a series of questions to obtain data and comparing the data to a predetermined target value.

23. The method according to claim 19, further comprising determining a variance between the data obtained and the predetermined target value.

24. A method for collecting and transferring data from a patient having a condition related to edema to a remote monitoring system, said method comprising:

(a) collecting data associated with said condition by using a means for measuring edema and an interrogation means;

(b) processing said collected data with a processing means; and

(c) transferring said processed data with a communication means to a remote monitoring system.

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein said processing comprises comparing said collected data with a predetermined target value to determine a variance, wherein said processing means stores said predetermined target value and a series of questions.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said method further comprises changing at least one of said predetermined target value and series of questions in response to said data.

27. The method according to claim 25, wherein said condition is a cardiac associated disease.

28. A method for collecting and transferring data from a patient having a cardiac associated disease to a remote monitoring system, said method comprising:

(a) collecting data associated with said condition by;

(i) detecting the presence of edema with an edema detection means; and

(ii) presenting at least one question to said patient and obtaining at least one answer from said patient with an interrogation means;

(b) processing said collected data with a processing means; and

(c) transferring said data with a communication means to a remote monitoring system.