Interactive reward devices and methods

• US 6,699,188 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG (PHC Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Guidance Interactive Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wessel, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): ASTORINO, MICHAEL C
• Application Number:
  US10/116,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20030050537A1
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/309-310, 600/316, 600/322, 600/347, 600/365, 600/481, 600/500, 600/587, 600/595, 128/903-904, 702/19, 702/104, 379/106.1, 379/106.2, 434/235-238, 434/262, 273/429, 273/440, 273/459, 273/148.B
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0443 Modular apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/339 Displays specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6887 mounted on external non-worn devices, e.g. non-medical devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6896 Toys
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/40 for data related to laboratory analysis, e.g. patient specimen analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A patient is rewarded for performing a medical test or for maintaining medical test results within desired levels. Medical test data is generated and transferred for use by reward firmware in a cartridge, for example. Reward information is provided to the patient to motivate or encourage the patient to conduct medical tests and/or to maintain medical test results within certain levels. The cartridge can be inserted into an electronic controller, e.g. a handheld video-game controller, cellular telephone, or other device. Transmission of data and/or encouragement to and from a remote location provides additional advantages.

Claims

1. A medical monitoring system comprising:

a hand held computing device comprising an input device, an operating system, a power supply, and a physical interface connection for loading of different software programs; and

a module comprising;

a medical testing device for performing a medical test;

medical diagnostic circuitry, operably coupled with the medical testing device, for performing medical analysis;

video game circuitry for motivating or rewarding a user of the system, the medical diagnostic circuitry being adapted to send medical testing results data to the video game circuitry, the video game circuitry being adapted to store medical testing results data for determination of reward data to motivate the user, the video game circuitry further being adapted to receive electrical input from the hand held computing device;

a housing for both the medical diagnostic circuitry and the video game circuitry;

a display on the housing for displaying medical testing results;

an interface that provides a physical connection between the module and the physical interface connection of the hand held computing device to send reward data to the hand held computing device; and

a module power supply within the medical diagnostic circuitry;

wherein the module comprises a stand-alone medical testing cartridge adapted for insertion into the hand held computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand held computing device comprises a video-game controller for receiving video-game cartridges.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand held computing device comprises a cellular telephone.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the band held computing device comprises a wireless communication device.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical testing device comprises a blood-glucose testing device.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical testing device defines an aperture adapted to allow insertion of a medical blood test strip for performing a blood glucose analysis.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical testing results data comprises blood-glucose test data.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical testing results data comprises a determinant for progression within, regression within, completion of, or elimination from motivational stimuli provided td the user by the hand held computing device.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the motivational stimuli comprise a reward code and a video game.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface between the medical diagnostic circuitry and the video game circuitry, the interface comprising a hardwired interface or a wirelessly coupled interface.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein stored medical testing results data is stored in a specific memory location within the video game circuitry.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the hand held computing device comprises a display for displaying the reward data or information based on the reward data.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the display on the housing of the module is adapted to display the reward data or information based on the reward data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical testing cartridge defines a connection feature for connection to a second computing device independent of the hand held computing device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the connection feature comprises a USB port or a wireless communications port.

17. A method of using the system of claim 1, wherein the hand held computing device comprises a cellular telephone, the method comprising:

connecting the module to the cellular telephone;

transmitting the medical testing results data via a re-existing cellular telephone network to a remote location; and

transmitting a message from the remote location to the cellular telephone to provide direct feedback regarding the medical testing results data.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising charging a fee for each medical testing results data transmission.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the medical testing results data is blood-glucose data and the module is a blood-glucose monitoring device.

20. A method of using the system of claim 1, the method comprising:

generating a reward code based on the medical testing results data, wherein the medical testing results data, or a parameter based on the medical testing results data, is encrypted within the reward code; and

using the reward code to motivate the patient to manage a medical condition related to the medical testing results data.

8. The system of wherein the medical testing results data is selected from the group consisting of:

HbAlc test data, blood-pressure test data, lipids test data, cholesterol test data, peak-flow test data, oxygen-saturation test data, spirometer test data, exercise-based test data, heart-rate test data, body-fat test data, prescription-adherence test data, medical-laboratory test data, body-weight test data, chemotherapy-based test data, temperature-based test data, kidney-dialysis test data, and neuropathy test data.