Healthcare personal area identification network method and system

• US 7,051,120 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Uniloc 2017 LLC (SoftBank Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Yu, Philip Shi-lung, Willner, Barry E., Stern, Edith H., Greene, David P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Kim
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Alan S.
• Application Number:
  US10/033,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20030125017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,607 Days
• Field of Search: 709220-222, 709/250, 600/301, 600322-340, 600372-397, 600/407, 600/485, 600/508, 600/544
• US Class Current: 709/250
• 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 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0028 Body tissue as transmission medium, i.e. transmission systems where the medium is the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system, method, apparatus, and computer program code for delivering a treatment includes generating a personal area network associated with a patient, said personal area network transmitting a patient identifier associated with said patient, retrieving treatment data associated with said patient identifier, and operating a treatment device pursuant to said treatment data.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a treatment, comprising:

a patient wearing a first device which is not implanted in the patient;

bringing a second device in contact with the patient, said second device to selectively apply a proposed treatment to the patient;

said first device transmitting to said second device a patient identifier via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body, said patient identifier including information for identifying the patient;

said second device using said transmitted patient identifier to confirm that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient; and

said second device applying said proposed treatment to the patient after confirming that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said second device is not implanted in the patient.

3. A method for delivering a treatment, comprising:

a patient wearing a first device and a third device where the first device is not implanted in the patient;

said first device transmitting to said third device a patient identifier via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body, said patient identifier including information for identifying the patient;

bringing a second device in contact with the patient, said second device to selectively apply a proposed treatment to the patient;

said second device transmitting to said third device a message indicative of said proposed treatment, said message transmitted to said third device from said second device via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body;

said third device using said transmitted patient identifier and said transmitted message to confirm that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient;

said third device transmitting a return message to said second device; and

said second device responding to said return message by applying said proposed treatment to the patient.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said second device is not implanted in the patient.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said third device is not implanted in the patient.

6. An apparatus for delivering a treatment, comprising:

a first device worn by a patient and not implanted in the patient;

a second device in contact with the patient, said second device to selectively apply a proposed treatment to the patient;

said first device operative to transmit to said second device a patient identifier via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body, said patient identifier including information for identifying the patient;

said second device operative to;

use said transmitted patient identifier to confirm that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient; and

apply said proposed treatment to the patient after confirming that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said second device is not implanted in the patient.

8. An apparatus for delivering a treatment, comprising:

a first device worn by a patient and not implanted in the patient;

a second device in contact with the patient, said second device to selectively apply a proposed treatment to the patient;

a third device worn by the patient;

said first device operative to transmit to said third device a patient identifier via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body, said patient identifier including information for identifying the patient;

said second device operative to transmit to said third device a message indicative of said proposed treatment, said second device operative to transmit said message to said third device via an electrical current signal transmitted via the patient'"'"'s body;

said third device operative to;

use said transmitted patient identifier and said transmitted message to confirm that said proposed treatment is intended for the patient; and

transmit a return message to said second device;

said second device operative to respond to said return message by applying said proposed treatment to the patient.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said second device is not implanted in the patient.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said third device is not implanted in the patient.