Method and apparatus for remote blood alcohol monitoring

• US 7,462,149 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alcohol Monitoring Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Alcohol Monitoring Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Iiams, Michael Leonard, Hawthorne, Jeffrey Scott, Phillips, Brian Kirby, Farmer, Jr., Nolan James, Roushey, III, Williams James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg; Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): TOWA, RENE T
• Application Number:
  US10/441,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236199A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,031 Days
• Field of Search: 600300-301, 600/309, 600/353, 600/364, 600/583, 436/68, 436/132, 422/84, 128/920
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0406 specially shaped apparatus housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/145 Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissuemeasuring of blood pressure or blood flow A61B5/02; non-radiation detecting or locating of foreign bodies in blood A61B5/06
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/4972 Determining alcohol content for vehicle safety devices B60K28/06
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A tamper proof transdermal alcohol content monitoring device is made up of analog and digital sides which are securely attached to the human subject to be monitored. The analog side has a sampling circuit which draws a measured insensible skin perspiration sample from the skin of the subject and measured with an electrochemical fuel cell. A distance measurement of the device from the skin of the subject and temperature of the sample are monitored along with the transdermal alcohol content, and converted to digital signals which are transmitted to a modem when the monitor is in proximity to the modem. The signals are stored in the modem and uploaded to a central monitoring station. Automatic alerts may be sent from the central monitoring station to a supervising agency. The supervising agency may also access the information through secured dedicated websites via the Internet.

Claims

1. A system for continuous remote blood alcohol monitoring of a human subject comprising:

a monitor device adapted to be attached to the human subject, wherein said monitor device takes a plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings at predetermined time intervals according to a first schedule stored in a first memory in said monitor device without active participation by the human subject, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings are stored in said first memory;

a modem in communication with said monitor device, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said first memory are communicated from said monitor device to said modem at predetermined time intervals according to said first schedule through radio frequency signals without active participation by the human subject, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings are stored in a second memory in said modem;

a monitor network in communication with said modem, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said second memory are communicated from said modem to said monitor network at predetermined time intervals according to a second schedule stored in said second memory through a first communication link without active participation by the human subject, and further wherein said monitor network analyzes said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings to determine if an alert condition exists; and

a supervising agency in communication with said monitor network, wherein said monitor network communicates an alert to said supervising agency through a second communication link when said alert condition exists.

2. The system according to claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of monitor devices each of which are adapted to be attached to one of a plurality of human subjects, wherein each of said plurality of monitor devices takes a plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings at predetermined time intervals according to a plurality of first schedules stored in a plurality of first memories in said plurality of monitor devices without active participation by said plurality of human subjects, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings are stored in said plurality of first memories;

a plurality of modems, wherein each of said plurality of modems is paired with and in communication with one of said plurality of monitor devices adapted to be attached to said one of a plurality of human subjects, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said plurality of first memories are communicated from each of said plurality of monitor devices to its paired said plurality of modems at predetermined time intervals according to said plurality of first schedules through a plurality of radio frequency signals without active participation by said plurality of human subjects, wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings are stored in a plurality of second memories in said plurality of modems, and further wherein each of said plurality of modems is in communication with said monitor network wherein said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said plurality of second memories are communicated from said plurality of modems to said monitor network at predetermined time intervals according to a plurality of second schedules stored in said plurality of second memories through a plurality of first communication links; and

a plurality of supervising agencies in communication with said monitor network, wherein each of said plurality of human subjects are associated with one of said plurality of supervising agencies, and each of said plurality of supervising agencies can access through an internet connection to said monitor network said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings for each of said plurality of human subjects associated with said one of said supervising agencies.

3. The system according to claim 2 further comprising:

a monitoring station in communication with said monitor network through an internet connection, wherein said monitoring station has access to said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings communicated from each of said plurality of modems paired to said plurality of monitor devices for each of said plurality of human subjects.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said internet connection further comprises a secure internet connection, further comprising:

a dedicated website of said monitor network, wherein said monitoring station communicates with said monitor network through said secure internet connection to said dedicated website.

5. The system according to claim 3 wherein said monitoring station communicates automatically or on a periodic basis said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings communicated from each of said plurality of modems paired to said plurality of monitor devices for each of said plurality of human subjects to at least one individual at each of said plurality of supervising agencies.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein said monitor device communicates to said modem through said radio frequency signals any tamper indicators, errors, and diagnostic data.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein said modem, upon receiving at least one of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data, or upon a predetermined time interval occurring, will establish said first communication link with said monitor network and communicate said at least one of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data to said monitor network.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein said monitor network further comprises:

a web-hosted database server for storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data.

9. The system according to claim 8 wherein a monitoring station and said supervising agency access said web-hosted database server through an internet connection and a secure dedicated web site.

10. The system according to claim 6 wherein said monitor network analyzes said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data into a plurality of categories, and further wherein a rules based database applied to said plurality of categories communicates an automatic alert to at least one of a call center at said supervising agency and a previously designated individual associated with said supervising agency when a rule from said rules based database is satisfied.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein said automatic alert is one of an e-mail message, a facsimile transmission, a page to a pager, a text message, a call to a telephone, and a call to a cellular telephone.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein said supervising agency, through said web-hosted database server through said internet connection, customizes a frequency of taking said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings and customizes a method of notification for said automatic alert.

13. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings are time stamped by said monitor device.

14. The system according to claim 1 wherein said modem can transmit to said monitor device through radio frequency signals said first schedule comprising a monitoring schedule and a reporting schedule, and other operational information.

15. The system according to claim 1 wherein when said communication of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said monitor device to said modem fails at said predetermined time intervals, said monitor device repeats said communication attempt after waiting a specified time period until confirmation of transfer of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings is received from said modem.

16. The system according to claim 1 wherein when said communication of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said modem to said monitor network fails at said predetermined time intervals, said modem repeats said communication attempt after waiting a specified time period until confirmation of transfer of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings is received from said monitor network.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the continuous remote blood alcohol monitoring of a human subject is done twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

18. A method for continuous remote blood alcohol monitoring of a human subject comprising the steps of:

(a) attaching a monitor device to the human subject;

(b) taking a plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings by said monitor device at predetermined time intervals according to a first schedule stored in a first memory in said monitor device without active participation by the human subject;

(c) storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings in said first memory;

(d) communicating said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said monitor device to a modem at predetermined time intervals according to said first schedule through radio frequency signals without active participation by the human subject;

(e) storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings in a second memory in said modem;

(f) communicating said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said second memory from said modem to a monitor network at predetermined time intervals according to a second schedule stored in said second memory through a first communication link without active participation by the human subject;

(g) analyzing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings by said monitor network to determine if an alert condition exists; and

(h) communicating an alert to a supervising agency through a second communication link when said alert condition exists.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the steps of:

attaching each of a plurality of monitor devices to one of a plurality of human subjects;

taking a plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings by said plurality of monitor devices at predetermined time intervals according to a plurality of first schedules stored in a plurality of first memories in said plurality of monitor devices without active participation by said plurality of human subjects;

storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings in said plurality of first memories;

communicating said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said plurality of first memories from said plurality of monitor devices to a plurality of modems at predetermined time intervals according to said plurality of first schedules through a plurality of radio frequency signals, wherein each of said plurality of modems is paired with and in communication with a one of said plurality of monitor devices attached to said one of a plurality of human subjects;

storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings in a plurality of second memories in said plurality of modems;

communicating said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings stored in said plurality of second memories from said plurality of modems to said monitor network at predetermined time intervals through a plurality of first communication links;

analyzing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said plurality of modems by said monitor network to determine if any alert conditions exist; and

communicating a plurality of alerts to a plurality of supervising agencies through a plurality of second communication links when said alert conditions exist, wherein each of said plurality of human subjects are associated with a one of said plurality of supervising agencies, and each of said plurality of supervising agencies can access through an internet connection to said monitor network said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings for each of said plurality of human subjects associated with said one of said supervising agencies.

20. The method according to claim 19 further comprising the step of:

accessing by a monitoring station through an internet connection with said monitor network said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings communicated from each of said plurality of modems paired to said plurality of monitor devices for each of said plurality of human subjects.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said internet connection further comprises a secure internet connection, wherein said accessing step further comprises:

accessing by said monitoring station through said secure internet connection said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings through a dedicated website of said monitor network.

22. The method according to claim 20 further comprising the step of:

communicating by said monitoring station automatically or on a periodic basis said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings communicated from each of said plurality of modems paired to said plurality of monitor devices for each of said plurality of human subjects to at least one individual at each of said plurality of supervising agencies.

23. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

communicating by said monitor device to said modem through said radio frequency signals any tamper indicators, errors, and diagnostic data.

24. The method according to claim 23 further comprising the steps of:

establishing said first communication link with said monitor network upon receiving at least one of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data, or upon a predetermined time interval occurring; and

communicating said at least one of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data to said monitor network through said first communication link.

25. The method according to claim 24 further comprising the step of:

storing said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data in a web-hosted database server in said monitor network.

26. The method according to claim 25 further comprising the step of:

accessing said web-hosted database server by said monitoring station and said supervising agency through an internet connection and a secure dedicated web site.

27. The method according to claim 26 further comprising the steps of:

analyzing by said monitor network said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings, said tamper indicators, said errors, and said diagnostic data into a plurality of categories; and

applying a rules based database to said plurality of categories; and

communicating an automatic alert to at least a one of a call center at said supervising agency and a previously designated individual associated with said supervising agency when a rule from said rules based database is satisfied.

28. The method according to claim 27 wherein said automatic alert is a one of an e-mail message, a facsimile transmission, a page to a pager, a text message, a call to a telephone, and a call to a cellular telephone.

29. The method according to claim 27 further comprising the step of:

customizing, by said supervising agency through said web-hosted database server through said internet connection, a frequency of taking said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings and a method of notification for said automatic alert.

30. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

time stamping by said monitor device each of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings.

31. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

transmitting by said modem through radio frequency signals to said monitor device said first schedule comprising a monitoring schedule and a reporting schedule, and an other operational information.

32. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

when said communication of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said monitor device to said modem fails at said predetermined time intervals, repeating by said monitor device said communication attempt after waiting a specified time period until confirmation of transfer of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings is received from said modem.

33. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

when said communication of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings from said modem to said monitor network fails at said predetermined time intervals, repeating by said modem said communication attempt after waiting a specified time period until confirmation of transfer of said plurality of transdermal alcohol concentration readings is received from said monitor network.

34. The method according to claim 18 wherein steps (b) through (h) is performed twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.