Method and apparatus for collecting patient compliance data including processing and display thereof over a computer network

• US 6,730,024 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brava LLC (Bio-mecanica, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Brava LLC (Bio-mecanica, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kuru, Murat, Freyre, Carlos V., Khouri, Roger K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/809,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20020013516A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300-301, 600/309, 600/305, 600/481-486, 600/500-503, 600/558-559, 600/587-592, 600/38-41, 128/898-897, 128/903, 128/904, 128/920-925, 601/14, 601/6, 601/11, 705/2-4, 702/19, 340/573.1
• 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: A61H 2205/081 Back
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2230/00 Measuring physical parameters of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 9/005 Pneumatic massage
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry

Abstract

An apparatus and method for collecting and processing information relating to a patient'"'"'s compliance with a recommended treatment protocol is provided. A portable medical device is adapted to be worn by a patient. The medical device has a control for automatically collecting and processing information relating to the patient'"'"'s compliance with a recommended treatment protocol. A separate communications cradle is provided that is configured to connect to the control of the medical device. The cradle has a communications link to transmit the patient compliance information to a host.

Claims

1. A portable medical device adapted for applying a tensile force to a patient'"'"'s soft tissue and having a control for automatically collecting and processing information relating to patient compliance with a recommended treatment protocol when said medical device is applied to said patient'"'"'s soft tissue, and a separate communication cradle, said cradle being configured to connect to said control and having a communications link to thereby transmit said patient compliance information to a host.

2. The medical device of claim 1 wherein said communications link comprises an Internet connection.

3. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said control includes a battery and said cradle includes a battery charger, said battery charger being connected in circuit with the control battery when said control is connected to the cradle for charging thereof.

4. The medical device of claim 2 wherein said control has a micro-controller including a microcomputer for controlling its operation.

5. The medical device of claim 4 wherein said microcomputer further comprises a memory for storing the patient compliance information.

6. The medical device of claim 5 wherein said control further comprises a sensor for monitoring patient compliance and an alarm, said microcomputer being programmed to sound said alarm in response to an indication of non-compliance by the patient.

7. The medical device of claim 6 wherein the control further comprises an input to permit the patient to disable the alarm.

8. The medical device of claim 7 wherein the cradle further comprises an indicator for indicating a relative measure of patient compliance to the patient.

9. A portable medical device adapted for applying a tensile force to a patient'"'"'s soft tissue and having a control for automatically collecting and processing information relating to patient compliance with a recommended treatment protocol when said medical device is applied to said patient'"'"'s soft tissue, said control being configured to connect to a communications link to thereby transmit said patient compliance information to a host.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said control further comprises a micro-controller, said micro-controller including a microcomputer.

11. The medical device of claim 10 further comprising a sensor connected to the microcomputer for sensing patient compliance.

12. A method for collecting data corresponding to patient compliance with a recommended protocol for wearing a medical device, the method comprising the steps of providing a portable medical device adapted for applying a tensile force to a patient'"'"'s soft tissue, said medical device having a sensor for sensing when said device is being operatively worn by a patient wherein said sensor enables said medical device to automatically collect and process said patient compliance data when the medical device is applied to said patient'"'"'s soft tissue, providing a communication connection for transmitting data from said device over a communication link, and providing a data collector in the portable medical device for collecting and processing information relating to patient compliance with the recommended treatment protocol, said data collector being adapted to receive data over said communication link transmitted by said communication connection.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising a cradle, the communication connection being located within the cradle, and wherein the method further comprises the step of placing the device in the cradle for transmitting data.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said data collector further comprises a digital data processor, and the method further comprises the steps of processing the data by the digital data processor and providing restricted access to said processed data by at least said patient.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said communication link comprises the Internet, wherein the step of providing restricted access to said processed data includes the step of providing a restricted access web site on the internet which at least the patient can access to view his processed data.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the step of providing a restricted access web site includes the step of providing restricted access to a medical professional for all of the processed data on the web site relating to a number of patients.

17. A method for collecting data relating to a patient'"'"'s compliance with a recommended regimen for usage of a medical device adapted for applying a tensile force to a patient'"'"'s soft tissue and providing feedback to said patient relating to said compliance, said method comprising the steps of providing a sensor in said medical device for sensing operative use of said medical device as the medical device is applied to said patient'"'"'s soft tissue, communicating data corresponding to said operative use to a digital data processor, processing patient use data, and providing restricted access to said processed patient use data by said patient.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a cradle for receiving said medical device, and wherein the step of communicating data includes placing the medical device in the cradle.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the step of providing restricted access to said processed patient use data includes the step of posting the processed patient use data on a restricted access Internet web site.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing restricted access to said processed patient use data includes the step of providing restricted access to a medical professional for his patients.

21. A portable medical device adapted for applying a tensile force to a patient'"'"'s soft tissue and having a control for automatically collecting and processing information relating to patient compliance with a recommended treatment protocol when said medical device is applied to said soft tissue, and a cradle separate from the medical device for receiving and operatively connecting to the control of said medical device as said medical device is placed therein, said cradle having a communications link which is activated upon placing the control for the medical device therein, said communications link being adapted to activate and transmit data contained within the control to a predetermined destination over the communications link.

22. The medical device of claim 21 wherein the communications link comprises a link to the Internet.

23. The medical device of claim 22 wherein the control is separable from the medical device for placing in the cradle.

24. The medical device of claim 23 wherein the control includes a microcomputer and at least one sensor connected thereto, said microcomputer having a memory for storing data received from said at least one sensor.

25. The medical device of claim 24 wherein the communications link includes a modem and a telephone port for connection to a telephone line for transmitting data over the telephone line to said predetermined destination.

26. The medical device of claim 25 wherein said predetermined destination includes at least one server, and wherein said server is connected to the Internet at least intermittently and hosts a web site for displaying the patient compliance information.

27. The medical device of claim 26 wherein the medical device is a plurality of medical devices that are each connectable to their respective cradles for transmitting data to the at least one server, and said server web site is configured to display data for each patient using the medical device.

28. The medical device of claim 27 wherein said web site has a security layer for restricting access to said web site.