Pain migration tracking and display method

• US 6,856,315 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2001
• Issued: 02/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PatientsLikeMe, Inc. (UnitedHealth Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: James B. Eberlein
• Inventors: Eberlein, James B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US09/888,787
• Publication Number:
  US 20020030682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 345440-443, 705/2, 600/557
• US Class Current: 345/440
• 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 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4824 Touch or pain perception evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method of obtaining and displaying pain information from a user connected to a pain-tracking computer through a computer network is provided. The invention provides a system that allows users, and health care professionals to track the location and intensity of a patient'"'"'s pain and the corresponding symptoms, lifestyle and medication usage over a period of time.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining or displaying patient information, comprising the steps of:

(a) receiving from a first user a first set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a first time period;

(b) receiving from the first user a second set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a second time period; and

(c) displaying a chronological chart related to information obtained with the first and second sets of medical information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second sets of medical information are received at a first computer connected to a computer network and transmitted to a pain tracking computer coupled to the computer network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the chronological chart is generated by the pain tracking computer at a location different from the first computer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the chronological chart is displayed on a web browser and is accessible by a health care professional at a location different from the location of the first user and the location of the pain tracking computer.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of displaying a chronological chart includes showing a chart of at least two variables.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least two variables includes pain characteristics, symptoms, lifestyle and medication.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein pain characteristics include at least one of pressure, throbbing, aching, sharp, and pulling.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein symptoms include at least one of urinating, breast tenderness and bloating.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein lifestyle include at least one of sleep, mood, wellness, and the effectiveness of medical intervention.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the medication includes at least two different medications.

11. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

(a) obtaining at least one alarm condition; and

(b) transmitting an alert when at least one of the alarm conditions have been met.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one alarm condition includes a quantity of medication taken over a period of time.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the at least one alarm condition includes a pain intensity level.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step includes sending an e-mail message.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step includes sending a page.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the transmitting step includes sending a phone call.

17. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

displaying a time-sequenced set of images that illustrates changes in information between the first time period and the second time period.

18. The method of claim 1, further including the steps of:

(d) receiving from a second user a third set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the second user during the first time period;

(e) receiving from the second user a fourth set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the second user during the second time period; and

wherein step (c) includes displaying a chronological chart related to information obtained with the first, second, third and fourth sets of medical information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the chronological chart comprises an aggregate of information obtained from the first user and the second user.

20. The method of claim 1, further including the step of providing feedback to the first user.

21. A computer programmed to perform the steps of:

(a) receiving from a first user a first set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a first time period;

(b) receiving from the first user a second set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a second time period; and

(c) causing a display device to display a chronological chart related to information obtained with the first and second sets of medical information.

22. A computer readable medium containing computer-executable instructions for performing the steps of:

(a) receiving from a first user a first set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a first time period;

(b) receiving from the first user a second set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the first user during a second time period; and

(c) receiving from a second user a third set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the second user during the first time period;

(d) receiving from the second user a fourth set of medical information describing a medical state experienced by the second user during the second time period; and

(e) causing a display device to display a chronological chart related to information obtained with the first, second, third and fourth sets of medical information.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22, wherein the chronological chart comprises an aggregate of information obtained from the first user and the second user.