Wireless, internet-based medical-diagnostic system

• US 7,396,330 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sotera Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Triage Data Networks
• Inventors: Schultz, Randon, Murad, Robert, Banet, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Astorino; Michael C
• Application Number:
  US10/752,198
• Publication Number:
  US 20050010087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,645 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 128903-905, 128/920, 705 1- 4, 340/539.1, 340/573
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/745 using a holographic display
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system for monitoring a patient'"'"'s vital signs that features a vital-sign monitor including sensors for measuring from the patient at least one of the following vital-sign data: O₂ saturation, blood pressure, electro-cardiogram, respirator rate, and blood glucose level. The system also includes a global positioning system that determines location-based data. A wireless transmitter, in electrical contact with the vital-sign monitor and global positioning system, receives the vital-sign and location-based data and wirelessly transmits these data through a conventional wireless network. A gateway software piece receives and processes the data from the wireless network and stores these data in a computer memory associated with a database software piece. The system also includes an Internet-based user interface that displays the vital sign data for both individual patients and care-providers.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

a vital-sign monitor comprising a sensor for measuring data characterizing O₂ saturation from the patient;

a global positioning system for determining location-based data;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the data and wirelessly transmit these data through a wireless network;

a gateway software piece that receives and processes the data from the wireless network;

a database software piece that communicates with the gateway software piece to receive the data and store them in a computer memory; and

an Internet-based user interface that displays the data and comprises a first interface that displays vital-sign and location-based data for a single patient and a second interface that displays vital-sign and location-based data for a plurality of patients.

2. A system for monitoring a patient, comprising:

a vital-sign monitor comprising;

sensors for measuring from the patient at least one of the following vital-sign data;

O₂ saturation, blood pressure, heart rate, electro-cardiogram, respiratory rate, temperature and blood glucose level;

a global positioning system that generates location-based data; and

a wireless component that transmits the vital-sign and location-based data and receives component code;

a wireless transmitter configured to receive the vital-sign and location-based data and wirelessly transmit these data through a wireless network;

a gateway software piece that receives and processes the vital-sign and location-based data from the wireless network;

a database software piece that communicates with the gateway software piece to receive the vital-sign and location-based data and stores them in a computer memory; and

an Internet-based user interface that displays the vital sign and location-based data and comprises a first interface that displays vital-sign and location-based data for a single patient and a second interface that displays vital sign and location-based data for a plurality of patients.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the Internet-based user interface comprises a login functionality that analyzes input information and in response renders either a first or second interface.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first interface is associated with a single entity, and the second interface is associated with a group of entities.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the input information comprises a user login and a password.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the second interface comprises a numerical table that displays the vital-sign and location-based data associated with the plurality of patients.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the second interface comprises a web page that displays an alert message associated with a patient.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising an application software piece that processes vital-sign data to generate the alert message.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the application software piece comprises an algorithm that compares vital-sign data to a pre-determined level to generate the alert message.

10. The system of claim 7, further comprising an application software piece configured to process multiple vital-sign data to generate the alert message.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the application software piece processes vital-sign data and a patient'"'"'s age to generate the alert message.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the application software piece processes vital-sign data and a patient'"'"'s gender to generate the alert message.

13. The system of claim 3, wherein the system further comprises a first software component that transmits an electronic file.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the vital-sign monitor further comprises a second software component that receives the electronic file.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the Internet-based user interface comprises a web page that sends an email or electronic message to a patient.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the email or electronic message is a pre-determined message stored in the computer memory.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the system automatically transmits the email or electronic message following analysis of the vital-sign and location-based data.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the system automatically transmits a report.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the database software piece is configured to generate the report.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the vital-sign monitor further comprises a display that displays an email or electronic message received from the Internet.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the second software component is configured to receive wirelessly transmitted computer code.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the second software component processes the wirelessly transmitted computer code to update an existing computer code in the vital-sign monitor.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the second software component processes the wirelessly transmitted computer code to load a schema into the vital-sign monitor.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the second software component processes the wirelessly transmitted computer code to modify the vital-sign monitor'"'"'s transmission properties.

25. The system of claim 24, where the second software component processes the wirelessly transmitted computer code to modify the vital-sign monitor'"'"'s transmission frequency.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein the second software component processes the wirelessly transmitted computer code to modify the data transmitted by the vital-sign monitor.

27. The system of claim 13, wherein the first software component is configured to transmit data formatted in an XML-based format.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the XML-based format is compatible with a second Internet-based software system.