System for medical protocol management

• US 6,827,670 B1
• Filed: 10/11/1999
• Issued: 12/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stark, John G., Oyen, Duane, Tracey, Timothy, Backes, Steven, Manninen, Gary, Hanson, Timothy J. B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richman, Glenn E.
• Application Number:
  US09/416,192
• Time in Patent Office: 1,884 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1-9, 482/900-902
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5007 computer controlled
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5012 using the internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5015 using specific interfaces or standards, e.g. USB, serial, parallel
• 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 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/70 for mining of medical data, e.g. analysing previous cases of other patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/20 relating to practices or guidelines
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/90 Ergometer with feedback to load or with feedback comparison

Abstract

A system for treating orthopedic injuries by presenting a set of treatment protocols; approving a treatment protocol from among the presented set of treatment protocols; capturing information identifying the approved treatment protocol from among the set of presented protocols; and generating information from the captured information into a form compatible with a handheld computer adapted for connection to an orthopedic sensor system. The generated information includes parameters of the identified approved treatment protocol. The process may also include the steps of basing the presented set of treatment protocols upon a database of historic patients, orthopedic injuries, treatment protocols and outcomes, and retaining information about the current patient, the patient'"'"'s injury, treatment protocol and outcome.

Claims

1. A treatment control system comprising;

a) a first computer;

b) a communication system allowing communication between the first computer and another computer; and

c) an analysis interaction algorithm performed by the first computer, wherein the analysis interaction algorithm automatically evaluates and updates a patient'"'"'s treatment protocol.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis interaction protocol accesses a database of standardized orthopedic treatment protocols and patient outcomes and performs comparisons of potential outcomes for a patient to be treated.

3. The system of claim 2 and wherein the database includes medical literature, historic data on previous patients, and updated data from current patients.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis interaction algorithm performs real time intervention.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the communications at system is selected from the group consisting of:

communications between two servers;

communications between two central computers;

wireless communications between two microprocessors;

communications between a microprocessor and a central computer; and

Internet communications.

6. The system of claim 1 and wherein the communications is real time communications and the communications is via telephone lines (POTS).

7. The system of claim 1 and wherein the communications is real time communications and the communications is via Internet.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first computer is an ambulatory computer.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the ambulatory computer is operably connected to a personal orthopedic restraining device adapted for attachment to a patient.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the personal orthopedic restraining device includes sensors for monitoring patient exercise activity.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the sensors measure stress.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the first computer is a central computer.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the communication system provides for communication between the central computer and an ambulatory computer.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the automated update by the analysis interaction protocol comprises an increase or decrease of goals in prescribed exercise protocols based on a patient'"'"'s response to past exercise protocol goals.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the automated evaluation performed by the analysis interaction algorithm comprises:

a) providing a treatment protocol; and

b) comparing a patient'"'"'s exercise performance with prescribed goals.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the automated evaluation performed by the analysis interaction algorithm further comprises:

c) comparing a patient'"'"'s exercise performance with a benchmark; and

d) comparing a patient'"'"'s exercise performance with historic norms.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the analysis interaction algorithm provides an automated warning to treatment professionals of incidents of significance.

18. The system of claim 1 wherein the treatment protocol administers biological manipulation of a patient.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the biological manipulation is selected from the group consisting of:

chemical manipulation;

CNS stimulation of peripherally acting hormones (secretogogue);

parenterally administered peripherally acting hormones;

locally administered locally acting hormones;

locally administered drugs; and

orally administered drugs.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the biological manipulation is selected from the group consisting of:

biophysical stimulation;

heat;

vibration;

ultrasound;

electrical current, electromagnetic waves, and;

light.