Service center system and method as a component of a population diagnostic for sleep disorders

• US 7,282,027 B2
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Apneos Corporation
• Original Assignee: Apneos Corporation
• Inventors: Sotos, John G., Branscum, John L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/214,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040030224A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,896 Days
• Field of Search: None
• 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: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/398 Electrooculography [EOG], e.g. detecting nystagmus; Electroretinography [ERG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4393 Sexual arousal or erectile dysfunction evaluation, e.g. tumescence evaluation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• 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 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A method for evaluating sleep disorders in mammals and distributing control information related to the sleep disorders through electronic communication networks. The method includes acquiring analog information related to physiological signals through a mobile device from a mammal user. The mammal user is at a geographic location outside of a sleep laboratory staffed by trained technicians. The mobile device is coupled to a sensing device, which is coupled to monitoring region(s) of the mammal. The method includes converting the analog information into a digital format using a signal processing device and transmitting information related to the physiological signals in the digital format to one or more service computers through an electronic communications network. Each of the service computers is operably coupled to a health information service facility. The method determines if the mammal user has related control information at one of the health information service facilities. The related control information is received through the communication network. The method processes the information related to the physiological signals at one or more of the service computers to provide a report associated with the information related to the physiological signals and the mammal user. The method communicates report information in the report associated with the information related to the physiological signals upon indication of receipt of at least control account information of the mammal user based upon the determining the related account information.

Claims

1. A method for evaluating sleep disorders in mammals and distributing control information related to the sleep disorders through electronic communication networks, the method comprising:

acquiring analog information related to physiological signals through a mobile device from a mammal user, the mammal user being at a geographic location outside of a sleep laboratory staffed by trained technicians, the mobile device coupled to one or more sensing devices, the sensing device(s) being coupled to one or more monitoring regions of the mammal, the sensing device(s) comprising at least an external microphone device for acquiring the analog information related to the physiological signals;

converting the analog information into a digital format using a signal processing device;

transmitting information related to the physiological signals in the digital format to one or more service computers through an electronic communications network, one or more of the service computers being operably coupled to a health information service facility;

determining if the mammal user has related control information at one of the health information service facilities, the related control information being received through the communication network;

processing the information related to the physiological signals at one or more of the service computers to provide a report associated with the information related to the physiological signals and the mammal user; and

communicating report information in the report associated with the information related to the physiological signals directed to evaluating a sleep disorder upon indication of receipt of at least control account information of the mammal user based upon the determining the related account information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location is the home or residence of the mammal user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the geographic location is a hospital room.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing includes identifying a sleep disorder, the sleep disorder being selected from at least one selected from sleep apnea, the upper airway resistance syndrome, periodic leg movements of sleep, or Cheyne-Stokes respiration.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the processing includes identifying a sleep disorder, the sleep disorder being snoring.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is provided before processing.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining is provided after or concurrently with processing.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more of the monitoring regions includes a neck portion.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the monitoring regions includes a suprasternal notch.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the monitoring regions is selected from regions of the thorax including the pericardium, the sternal area, the anterior chest, and the esophagus.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the monitoring regions is selected from forearm, hand, finger, leg, or toe.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the monitoring regions is selected from regions of the head including scalp, face, ear lobe, forehead, supra-orbital area, nares, mouth, philtrum, or submental area.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein one or more of the monitoring regions is selected from an abdomen or penis.

15. A system for evaluating sleep disorders in mammals and distributing control information related to the sleep disorders through electronic communication networks, the system comprising one or more memories, the one or more tangible computer readable memories including:

a code directed to acquiring analog information related to physiological signals through a remote device from a mammal user, the mammal user being at a geographic location outside of a sleep laboratory staffed by trained technicians, the remote device coupled to one or more sensing devices, the sensing device(s) comprising an external microphone device and being coupled to one or more monitoring regions of the mammal;

a code directed to converting the analog information into a digital format using a signal processing device;

a code directed to transmitting information related to the physiological signals in the digital format to one or more service computers through an electronic communications network, each of the service computers being operably coupled to a health information service facility;

a code directed to determining if the mammal user has related control information at one of the health information service facilities, the related control information being received through the communication network;

a code directed to processing the information related to the physiological signals at one or more of the service computers to provide a report associated with the information related to the physiological signals and the mammal user; and

a code directed to communicating report information in the report associated with the information related to the physiological signals directed to evaluating sleep disorder upon indication of receipt of at least control account information of the mammal user based upon the determining the related account information.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the geographic location is the home or residence of the mammal user.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the geographic location is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein the geographic location is a hospital room.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring regions is the neck.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring regions is the suprasternal notch.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring regions is selected from regions of the thorax including the pericardium, the sternal area, the anterior chest, and the esophagus.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring regions is selected from forearm, hand, finger, leg, or toe.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring regions is selected from regions of the head including scalp, face, ear lobe, forehead, supra-orbital area, nares, mouth, philtrum, or submental area.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein the one or more monitoring region is selected from abdomen or penis.

25. A controlled method for evaluating sleep disorders in mammals and distributing information including case data related to the sleep disorders through communication networks, the method comprising:

capturing analog information related to physiological signals through a remote device from a mammal user outside of a sleep laboratory staffed by trained technicians, the remote device including a receiving device comprising an external microphone device coupled to the mammal;

converting the analog information into a digital format using a signal processing device;

transmitting information related to the physiological signals in the digital format to one or more service computers through an electronic communications network, each of the service computers being geographically located at a service facility;

transferring case data information related to the physiological signals to the service center receiving the physiological signals;

processing the information related to the physiological signals at one or more of the service facilities to form an output associated with the information and the mammal user;

associating a portion of the case data information to signals associated with the output associated with the physiological signals to form a report; and

communicating report information in the report derived from the information related of the physiological signals directed to evaluating a sleep disorder and case data.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the geographic location is the home or residence of the mammal user.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the geographic location is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein the geographic location is a hospital room.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the associating includes processing the information related to the physiological signals with the portion of the case data.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the processing comprises identifying an age characteristic of the mammal user and using a predetermined process from a plurality of processes based upon the age characteristic.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the case data are physiological meta data.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein the case data are clinical data.

33. A controlled system for evaluating sleep disorders in mammals and distributing information including case data related to the sleep disorders through communication networks, the system comprising one or more memories, the one or more tangible computer readable memories including:

a code directed to capturing analog information related to physiological signals through a remote device from a mammal user outside of a sleep laboratory staffed by trained technicians, the remote device including a receiving device comprising an external microphone device coupled to the mammal;

a code directed to converting the analog information into a digital format using a signal processing device;

a code directed to transmitting information related to the physiological signals in the digital format to one or more service computers through an electronic communications network, each of the service computers being geographically located at a service facility;

a code directed to transferring case data information related to the physiological signals to the service center receiving the physiological signals;

a code directed to processing the information related to the physiological signals at one or more of the service facilities to form an output associated with the information and the mammal user;

a code directed to associating a portion of the case data information to the output associated with the physiological signals to form a report; and

a code directed to communicating report information in the report derived from the information related of the physiological signals directed to evaluating sleep disorder and case data.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the geographic location is the home or residence of the mammal user.

35. The system of claim 33 wherein the geographic location is a nursing home or skilled nursing facility.

36. The system of claim 33 wherein the geographic location is a hospital room.

37. The system of claim 33 wherein the associating includes processing the information related to the physiological signals with the portion of the case data.

38. The system of claim 33 wherein the processing comprises identifying an age characteristic of the mammal user and using a predetermined process from a plurality of processes based upon the age characteristic.

39. The system of claim 33 wherein the case data are physiological case data.

40. The system of claim 33 wherein the case data are clinical data.