Portable remote patient telemonitoring system
First Claim
1. A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:
- a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said data signal for retransmission over a second, wireless communications link;
a base station unit disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver via said second communications link, said base station unit storing received health parameter data for retransmission over a third communications link; and
a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said base station unit via said third communications link, said remote monitoring station storing and displaying said health parameter data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring vital signs and capturing data from a patient remotely using radiotelemetry techniques. The system is characterized by a cordless, disposable sensor band with sensors form measuring full waveform ECG, full waveform respiration, skin temperature, and motion, and transmission circuitry for the detection and transmission of vital signs data of the patient. A small signal transfer unit that can either be worn by the patient, e.g., on his or her belt, or positioned nearby receives data from the sensor band, which it then forwards by e.g., radio transmission to a base station that can be located up to 60 meters away. The base station receives data transmissions from the signal transfer unit and is designed to connect to conventional phone lines for transferring the collected data to a remote monitoring station. The base station may also capture additional clinical data, such as blood pressure data, and to perform data checks. Patient safety is enhanced by the ability of the base station to compare clinical data, e.g., ECG, against given profiles and to mark events when appropriate or when the base station is programmed to do so. Such events are indicated to the physician and could be indicated to the patient by reverse transmission to the signal transfer unit. A remote monitoring station allows the presentation and review of data (including events) forwarded by the sensor band. ECG analysis software and a user-friendly graphical user interface are provided to remotely analyze the transmitted data and to permit system maintenance and upkeep. The system of the invention has useful application to the collection of patient clinical data during drug trials and medical testing for regulatory approvals as well as management of patients with chronic diseases.
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Citations
90 Claims
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1. A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:
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a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said data signal for retransmission over a second, wireless communications link;
a base station unit disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver via said second communications link, said base station unit storing received health parameter data for retransmission over a third communications link; and
a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said base station unit via said third communications link, said remote monitoring station storing and displaying said health parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:
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a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said health parameter data for retransmission of said data signal over a second, wireless communications link, said transceiver including a buffer which stores health parameter data received from said sensor band at least during times when said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or unreliable, said transceiver stopping data transmission when said second communications link becomes disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable, and said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over said second communications link from said transceiver at an increased transmission rate after said second communications link is restored as compared to a transmission rate before said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable; and
a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transmitter via said second communication link. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
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47. A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:
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a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter having a first antenna which transmits said data signal over a first wireless communications link;
a transceiver having a second antenns inductively coupled to said first communiations link so as to form a wireless inductive loop with said first antenna for reception of said health parameter data, said transceiver further retransmitting said data signal over a second wireless communications link; and
a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transmitter via said second wireless communications link. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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56. A health parameter data collection and monitoring system, comprising:
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a sensor band having a sensor assembly for application to a subject, said sensor assembly producing a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject, said sensor band further comprising a transmitter which transmits said data signal over a first communications link;
a transceiver coupled to said first communications link so as to receive said health parameter data for retransmission of said data signal over a second, wireless communications link; and
a remote monitoring station disposed so as to receive said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver via said second communications link, said remote monitoring station capturing said health parameter data and storing said health parameter data in a database with health parameter data from a plurality of other subjects, said remote monitoring station including a user interface which provides access to health parameter data in said database and processing of said health parameter data. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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67. A method of collecting health parameter data, comprising the steps of:
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applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link to a base station unit;
said base station unit storing said health parameter data until a designated time for transmission of said health parameter data to a remote monitoring station; and
said remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said base station unit via a third communications link and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject'"'"'s health parameters. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69, 70, 80, 81, 82, 83)
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84. A method of collecting health parameter data, comprising the steps of:
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applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link unless said second communications link becomes disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable;
said transceiver storing health parameter data received from said sensor band at least during times when said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or unreliable and retransmitting said data signal over said second communications link from said transceiver at an increased transmission rate after said second communications link is restored as compared to a transmission rate before said second communications link is disconnected, lost, or becomes unreliable; and a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject'"'"'s health parameters. - View Dependent Claims (85)
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86. A method of remotely collecting health parameter data continuously for at least a day, comprising the steps of:
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applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
said transceiver retransmitting said data signal over a second, wireless communications link;
a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject'"'"'s health parameters; and
temporarily buffering said health parameter data so as to prevent data loss in the event of transmission error over said first or second communications links. - View Dependent Claims (87)
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88. A method of continuously monitoring a subject'"'"'s health parameters during a drug/therapy trial, comprising the steps of:
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applying a sensor band having a sensor assembly to a subject whereby said sensor assembly produces a data signal including health parameter data indicative of values of at least one health parameter of the subject;
said sensor band transmitting said data signal over a first communications link to a transceiver which is disposed so as to receive said health parameter data;
providing a drug/therapy to the subject and electronically providing event data indicating that such an event has occurred and when;
said transceiver retransmitting said data signal and event data over a second, wireless communications link; and
a remote monitoring station receiving said retransmitted data signal and event data from said transceiver and capturing said health parameter data and event data for storage in a database as a continuous record of the subject'"'"'s health parameters during a trial period of said drug/therapy, whereby said subject'"'"'s physiological condition during said trial period may be monitored remotely. - View Dependent Claims (89, 90)
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Specification