Portable telemedicine device

• US 6,610,010 B2
• Filed: 04/08/2002
• Issued: 08/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ortivus AG
• Original Assignee: Ortivus AG
• Inventors: Sjöqvist, Bengt Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/117,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20020115916A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/481-486, 600/500-508, 600/529, 600/532, 600/549, 600/587, 600/316, 600/347, 600/365, 600/407, 128/897, 128/898, 128/903-904, 128/920, 705/2-4, 702/19, 340/573.1, 340/870.1, 340/870.07, 379/106--10, 607/27-32, 607/60
• 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 procedures and treatments comprising:

a data processing unit;

measurement means for obtaining measurement data from a patient;

presentation means;

entry means for manual input of information data;

communication equipment for bidirectional communication with at least one central unit for transmitting information data to the central unit and for receiving information data from the central unit, said information data representing results from diagnoses, suggested care and previously stored data on a patient;

a predetermined number of the data processing unit, the measurement means, the presentation means, the entry means, and the communication equipment being integrated into a portable unit; and

means arranged for assigning different priorities to different types of transmitted information data, upon transmission of the information data to the central unit for ensuring that information data having a 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, wherein the data processing unit is dockable with a base unit.

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

11. A telemedicine system used in prehospital, preliminary diagnostic procedures and treatments comprising:

at least one portable unit for obtaining patient related information;

a measurement device, said measurement device being adapted to obtain measurement data from a patient;

at least one central unit;

a communication link for permitting bidirectional communication between the portable unit and 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.

12. The telemedicine system of claim 11, wherein the communication link comprises a wireless telecommunication network.

13. The telemedicine system of claim 11, further comprising:

a plurality of communication links for permitting bi-directional communication between the portable unit and the central unit; and

means for automatically selecting, for said bi-directional communication, a communication link among the plurality of communication links based on which is most efficient for the predetermined situation.

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

at least one portable unit for obtaining patient related information;

a measurement device, said measurement device being adapted to obtain measurement data from a patient;

communication equipment for permitting bidirectional communication between the portable unit and at least one 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.

15. The telemedicine device of claim 14, wherein the communication equipment is adapted to communicate through a wireless telecommunication network.

16. The telemedicine device of claim 14, further comprising:

communication equipment for permitting bidirectional communication between the portable unit and the central unit on a plurality of communication links; and

means for automatically selecting, for said bidirectional communication, a communication link among the plurality of communication links based on which is most efficient for the current application.

17. A method for communicating data in prehospital, preliminary diagnostic procedures and treatments comprising:

providing a communication link for permitting bidirectional communication between a portable unit and at least one central unit;

providing a measurement device for obtaining measurement data from a patient;

assigning priorities to different types of information to be transmitted on the communication link, said priorities being based on the medical usefulness of the information type; and

ensuring that the information type of highest priority in a predetermined situation is transmitted first.