Methods and apparatus for processing, transmitting, and receiving data from a modular electronic medical device
First Claim
1. A method of processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising the stages of:
- receiving medical information from the modular electronic medical device via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
processing the medical information for transmission over a network;
transmitting the medical information over the network;
receiving the medical information at a remote diagnostic site over the network;
processing the medical information for analysis and diagnosis at the remote diagnostic site; and
making the medical information available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
This disclosure describes systems and methods for processing medical information from an electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at one site for transmission and receipt over a network to a remote diagnostic site or medical processing center for a medical diagnosis. The systems and methods encompass any electronic medical device that produces a signal that may be communicated via a serial bus. The systems and methods prepare the signal from the serial bus for transmission over a network and entail the receipt of the signal at a remote diagnostic site or medical processing center. At the remote diagnostic site or medical processing center, the signal is then presented to a physician or other medical technician for analysis and diagnosis. After diagnosis of the signal at the remote diagnostic site or medical processing center the diagnosis may be provided to the patient. Systems and methods consistent with the present invention are compatible with electronic medical devices that communicate a signal via a serial bus, including but not limited to a universal serial bus, a high performance serial bus according to the IEEE 1394-1995 standard, or a high performance serial bus according to the IEEE P1394.1 standard.
-
Citations
48 Claims
-
1. A method of processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising the stages of:
-
receiving medical information from the modular electronic medical device via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
processing the medical information for transmission over a network;
transmitting the medical information over the network;
receiving the medical information at a remote diagnostic site over the network;
processing the medical information for analysis and diagnosis at the remote diagnostic site; and
making the medical information available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
3. A method of processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising the stages of:
-
inputting an analog signal from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
converting the analog signal into a digital signal at the remote patient site;
processing the digital signal via a serial bus;
constructing a data packet containing the digital signal at the remote patient site for transmission over a network;
transmitting the data packet at the remote patient site over the network;
receiving the data packet at the remote diagnostic site over the network;
deconstructing the data packet at the remote diagnostic site to obtain the digital signal;
converting the digital signal into an analog signal at the remote diagnostic site; and
making the analog signal available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or a medical technician. - View Dependent Claims (9)
-
-
7. A system for processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising:
-
a remote patent site receiving component configured to receive medical information from the modular electronic medical device via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
a remote patient site processing component configured to process the medical information for transmission over a network;
a transmitting component configured to transmit the medical information over the network;
a remote diagnostic site receiving component configured to receive the medical information at a remote diagnostic site over the network;
a remote diagnostic site processing component configured to process the medical information for analysis and diagnosis at the remote diagnostic site; and
a making component configured to make the medical information available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis. - View Dependent Claims (8, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A computer readable medium having computer readable code therein for processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, the computer readable code comprising:
-
a remote patient site receiving module configured to receive medical information from the modular electronic medical device via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
a processing module configured to process the medical information for transmission over a network;
a transmitting module configured to transmit the medical information over the network;
a remote diagnostic site receiving module configured to receive the medical information at a remote diagnostic site over the network;
a remote diagnostic site processing module configured to process the medical information for analysis and diagnosis at the remote diagnostic site; and
a making module configured to make the medical information available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis.
-
-
14. A system for processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device when received over a network, comprising the stages of:
-
a receiving component configured to receive a data packet containing medical information over a network at a remote location;
a processing component configured to process the data packet; and
an obtaining component configured to obtain from the medical information a signal, which originated from a moduler electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG. - View Dependent Claims (15, 47, 48)
a first converting component configured to convert the data packet into a digital signal; and
a second converting component configured to convert the digital signal into an analog signal at an analog/digital converter.
-
-
47. The system of claim 14, further comprising
a making component configured to make the signal available at the remote location for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or medical technician. -
48. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote location is a remote diagnostic site or a medical processing center.
-
16. A system for processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising:
-
an inputting component configured to input an analog signal from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
a remote patient site converting component configured to convert the analog signal into a digital signal at the remote patient site;
a processing component configured to process the digital signal via a serial bus;
a constructing component configured to construct a data packet containing the digital signal at the remote patient site for transmission over a network;
a transmitting component configured to transmit the data packet at the remote patient site over the network;
a receiving component configured to receive the data packet at the remote diagnostic site over the network;
a deconstructing component configured to deconstruct the data packet at the remote diagnostic site to obtain the digital signal;
a remote diagnostic site converting component configured to convert the digital signal into an analog signal at the remote diagnostic site; and
a making component configured to make the analog signal available at the remote diagnostic site for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or a medical technician. - View Dependent Claims (17)
-
-
18. A method of processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising the stages of:
-
inputting a digital signal representing medical information from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
constructing a data packet containing the digital signal at the remote patient site for transmission over a network;
transmitting the data packet at the remote patient site over the network;
receiving the data packet at a medical processing center over the network;
deconstructing the data packet at the medical processing center to obtain the digital signal; and
transmitting the digital signal from the medical processing center to a diagnosis location for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or a medical technician. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
storing the medical information at the remote patient site. -
21. The method of claim 18, further comprising
storing the medical information at the medical processing center. -
22. The method of claim 18, further comprising
providing for interactive communication between the remote patient site and the medical processing center for instant retrieval and diagnosis of medical information. -
23. The method of claim 18, further comprising
transmitting a diagnosis to the patient at the remote patient site. -
24. The method of claim 18, wherein the outputting stage further includes viewing an image representing the medical information about the patient.
-
25. The method of claim 18, further comprising
searching a medical database at the medical processing center. -
26. The method of claim 18, further comprising
billing the patient at the medical processing center. -
27. The method of claim 18, wherein the diagnosis location is at the medical processing center.
-
28. The method of claim 18, wherein the diagnosis location is at a remote diagnostic site.
-
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the transmitting stage further includes constructing a data packet at the medical processing center for transmission over a network and transmitting the data packet via an in/out module at the medical processing center over the network to the remote diagnostic site.
-
30. The method of claim 18, wherein the remote patient site is a home of the patient.
-
31. The method of claim 28, wherein the remote diagnostic site is a hospital.
-
-
32. A system for processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device, comprising:
-
an inputting component configured to input a digital signal representing medical information from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
a constructing component configured to construct a data packet at the remote patient site for transmission over a network;
a remote patient site transmitting component configured to transmit the data packet at the remote patient site over the network;
a receiving component configured to receive the data packet at a medical processing center over the network;
a deconstructing component configured to deconstruct the data packet at the medical processing center to obtain the digital signal; and
a medical processing center transmitting component configured to transmit the digital signal from the medical processing center to a diagnosis location for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or a medical technician.
-
-
33. A method of preparing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device for transmission over a network, comprising the stages of:
-
inputting an analog signal representing medical information from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
processing the medical information for transmission over a network; and
transmitting the medical information at the remote patient site over the network. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37)
receiving the analog signal at an input device via a serial bus; and
converting the analog signal into a digital signal at an analog/digital converter.
-
-
35. The method of claim 34, wherein the processing stage further comprises:
-
constructing a data packet containing the digital signal for transmission over a network at a network interface module; and
providing for transmission of the data packet via a physical network connector.
-
-
36. The method of claim 33, wherein the inputting stage further comprises receiving the analog signal at an input device via a serial bus.
-
37. The method of claim 36, wherein the processing stage further comprises:
-
converting the analog signal into a digital signal at an analog/digital converter;
constructing a data packet containing the digital signal for transmission over a network at a network interface module; and
providing for transmission of the data packet via a physical network connector.
-
-
38. A system for preparing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device for transmission over a network, comprising:
-
an inputting component configured to input an analog signal representing medical information from the modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG;
a processing component configured to process the medical information for transmission over a network; and
a transmitting component configured to transmit the medical information at the remote patient site over the network. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42)
a receiving component configured to receive the analog signal at an input device via a serial bus; and
a converting component configured to convert the analog signal into a digital signal at an analog/digital converter.
-
-
40. The system of claim 39, wherein the processing stage further comprises:
-
a constructing component configured to construct a data packet containing the digital signal for transmission over a network at a network interface module; and
a providing component configured to provide for transmission of the data packet via a physical network connector.
-
-
41. The system of claim 38, wherein the inputting component further comprises a receiving component configured to receive the analog signal at an input device via a serial bus.
-
42. The system of claim 41, wherein the processing component further comprises:
-
a converting component configured to convert the analog signal into a digital signal at an analog/digital converter;
a constructing component configured to construct a data packet containing the digital signal for transmission over a network at a network interface module; and
a providing component configured to provide for transmission of the data packet via a physical network connector.
-
-
43. A method of processing by a computer medical information obtained from a modular electronic medical device when received over a network, comprising the stages of:
-
receiving a data packet containing medical information over a network at a remote location;
processing the data packet; and
obtaining from the medical information a signal, which originated from a modular electronic medical device connected to a patient via a serial bus at a remote patient site, where the modular electronic medical device at the remote patient site further comprises a first module for receiving medical input data with a first connector having a first module serial bus and a second module for interfacing with a network connection with a second connector having a second module serial bus, wherein the first connector connects with the second connector, and where the type of medical input data is selected from the group consisting of a camera, a camcorder, a stethoscope, an EKG, and an EEG. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46)
converting the data packet into a digital signal; and
converting the digital signal into an analog signal at an analog/digital converter.
-
-
45. The method of claim 43, further comprising
making the signal available at the remote location for analysis and diagnosis by a physician or medical technician. -
46. The method of claim 43, wherein the remote location is a remote diagnostic site or a medical processing center.
Specification