Medical testing system and method

• US 7,194,371 B1
• Filed: 03/27/2000
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cardiobeat.Com, Co.
• Original Assignee: Cardiobeat.Com, Co.
• Inventors: Royce, Robert, McBride, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoff; Marc S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Charioui; Mohamed
• Application Number:
  US09/535,186
• Time in Patent Office: 2,549 Days
• Field of Search: 702/108, 702/116, 702/122, 702/141, 702/168, 702/176, 702/177, 702/183, 702/185, 702/189, 600/300, 600/301, 705/2, 709/203, 709/219, 607/23, 607/62
• US Class Current: 702/116
• 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 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A medical testing system and method is disclosed in which an Internet device is used to obtain test data from a patient automatically via sensor devices. The test program in the Internet device is downloaded from a web site via the Internet. After the test program has obtained the test data, the test data is uploaded to the web site server. At the server, the data is processed and the processed data is downloaded via the Internet to the patient'"'"'s Internet device and/or to other Internet devices.

Claims

1. A medical testing method comprising the steps of:

providing non-invasive test sensors for a subject;

coupling said test sensors to said subject;

coupling said test sensors to impedance measuring apparatus having access to the Internet;

operating said apparatus to automatically obtain test measurement impedance data from said test sensors;

uploading said test measurement impedance data via the Internet to a location remote from said subject;

providing a central server at said remote location;

processing said test measurement impedance data at said central server to produce processed impedance cardiography data;

downloading said processed impedance cardiography data from said central server to said apparatus, and

displaying said processed impedance cardiography data at said apparatus.

2. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

storing said processed impedance cardiography data in a database.

3. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 2, comprising:

storing additional processed data for said subject in said database.

4. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 3, comprising:

automatically storing processed impedance cardiography data for test measurement data obtained at different times for said subject as said additional processed data.

5. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 4, comprising:

providing an analysis program to analyze historical test measurement data obtained from said database to provide second processed impedance cardiography data.

6. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 5, comprising:

transmitting said second processed impedance cardiography data from said central server to said apparatus; and

displaying said second processed data at said apparatus.

7. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 6, comprising:

receiving a second request at said central server from second apparatus, said request being to obtain said second processed impedance cardiography data; and

transmitting said second processed impedance cardiography data to said second apparatus.

8. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 7, comprising:

receiving said second request via the Internet.

9. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 8, comprising:

transmitting said second processed impedance cardiography data to said second apparatus via the Internet.

10. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 9, comprising:

encrypting said second processed impedance cardiography data at said central server, and decrypting said encrypted data at said second apparatus.

11. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 6, comprising:

transmitting said second processed impedance cardiography data via the Internet.

12. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

receiving a request at said server from second apparatus having access to the Internet, said request being to obtain said processed impedance cardiography data; and

transmitting said processed impedance cardiography data to said second apparatus.

13. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 12, comprising:

receiving said request via the Internet.

14. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 13, comprising:

transmitting said processed data to said second apparatus via the Internet.

15. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

providing multimedia interface means at said apparatus; and

utilizing said multimedia interface means to communicate test instruction information to said subject.

16. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 15, comprising:

receiving said test instruction information via the Internet.

17. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 15, comprising:

receiving said test instruction information from a central server coupled to the Internet.

18. A medical testing method in accordance with claim 1, comprising:

downloading said processed impedance cardiography data via the Internet.