Method and combination electronic communication and medical diagnostic apparatus for detecting/monitoring neuropathy
First Claim
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1. A portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device operable in a first operational mode as one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, and in a second operational mode for use in a medical diagnosis, the device comprising:
- an outer casing;
a vibratory component disposed within the outer casing for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, the vibratory component being adapted to generate vibration in the first operational mode of the device in response to a remote wireless signal when the device is operated as one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, the vibratory component being further adapted to generate vibration in the second operational mode of the device at one or more selected magnitudes when the device is used in a medical diagnosis;
a mode selector for selecting between the first operational mode of the device and the second operational mode of the device; and
a display for indicating the magnitude of vibration being generated by the vibratory component in the second mode.
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Abstract
A combination electronic communication and medical diagnostic apparatus includes a first component for transmitting or receiving a remote communication signal and a second component for generating vibration to be used in a medical diagnosis. The apparatus functions as a beeper/pager or cellular phone, as well as a medical diagnostic tool to detect and/or monitor neuropathy.
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Citations
53 Claims
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1. A portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device operable in a first operational mode as one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, and in a second operational mode for use in a medical diagnosis, the device comprising:
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an outer casing; a vibratory component disposed within the outer casing for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, the vibratory component being adapted to generate vibration in the first operational mode of the device in response to a remote wireless signal when the device is operated as one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, the vibratory component being further adapted to generate vibration in the second operational mode of the device at one or more selected magnitudes when the device is used in a medical diagnosis; a mode selector for selecting between the first operational mode of the device and the second operational mode of the device; and a display for indicating the magnitude of vibration being generated by the vibratory component in the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device operable in a first mode and in a second mode, comprising:
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an outer casing; a vibratory component disposed within the outer casing for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes and at least one frequency, the vibratory component being adapted to generate vibration at a preprogrammed magnitude and frequency in the first mode of the device, the component being adapted to generate vibration at a frequency and at one or more selected magnitudes in the second mode of the device; a selector for selecting one or the other of said first and second modes; a probe from transmitting vibration from the vibratory component to a subject; and a display for indicating one or more of the magnitude of vibration and the frequency of vibration in the second mode; wherein in the first mode the device functions as a portable electronic device comprising one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper; and wherein in the second mode the device operates to detect the presence or absence of neuropathy in a subject. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A medical diagnosis method, comprising:
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providing a portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device selectively operable in either a first operational mode or a second operational mode, the device comprising a component for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, an outer casing enclosing the component, the component being adapted to generate vibration in response to a remote wireless signal in the first mode when the device is operated as an electronic communication device comprising one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, the component being further adapted to generate vibration in the second mode when the device is used for medical diagnosis; selecting the second mode of the device; selecting one or more magnitudes of vibration to be used in medical diagnosis; generating vibration; applying the probe to a subject; and diagnosing a medical condition based on detection or non-detection of vibration by the subject. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A method of detecting neuropathy in a subject, comprising:
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providing a portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device selectively operable in either a first operational mode or a second operational mode, the device comprising a component for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, an outer casing enclosing the component and a probe extending outwardly from the outer casing, the probe being caused to vibrate by the component, the component being adapted to generate vibration in response to a remote wireless signal in the first mode when the device is operated as an electronic communication device comprising one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, the component being further adapted to generate vibration at a selected one or more selected magnitudes in the second mode when the device is used for medical diagnosis; selecting the second mode of the device; generating vibration and applying the probe to a subject; allowing the subject to indicate whether or not vibration can be detected; and determining the absence or presence of neuropathy by the subject'"'"'s ability to detect or not detect the vibration. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A medical diagnosis method, comprising:
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providing a portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device selectively operable in either a first operational mode or a second operational mode, the device comprising a component for generating vibration at one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, an outer casing enclosing the component and a probe extending outwardly from the outer casing, the probe being caused to vibrate by the component, the component being adapted to generate vibration in response to a remote wireless signal in a first mode when the device is operated as an electronic communication device comprising one or more of a cellular phone, pager, and beeper, the component being further adapted to generate vibration in the second mode when the device is used for medical diagnosis; selecting the second mode of the device; applying the probe to a subject and generating vibration at one or more selected magnitudes; and diagnosing a medical condition based on detection or non-detection of vibration by the subject.
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52. A method of detecting neuropathy in a subject, comprising:
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providing a portable multi-functional electronic communication and medical diagnostic device operable in a first operational mode and a second operational mode, the device comprising a component for generating vibration at a one or more of an available plurality of magnitudes, an outer casing enclosing the component, and a probe extending outwardly from the outer casing, the probe being caused to vibrate by the component, the component being adapted to generate vibration in response to a remote wireless signal in the first mode when the device is operated as an electronic communication device comprising one or more of a cellular phone, pager, beeper, the component, being further adapted to generate vibration at in the second mode when the device is used for medical diagnosis; selecting the second mode of the device; applying the probe to a subject and generating vibration at one or more selected magnitudes; allowing the subject to indicate whether or not vibration can be detected; and determining the absence or presence of neuropathy by the subject'"'"'s ability to detect or not detect the vibration.
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53. A portable electronic device comprising:
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an outer casing; a vibratory component disposed within the outer casing for generating vibration having at least one magnitude selectable from an available plurality of magnitudes; a mode selector for selecting between a first mode of the device and a second mode of the device; a magnitude selector for selecting at least one magnitude of vibration of the vibratory component in the second mode, wherein the selected at least one magnitude is a fixed magnitude, a linearly increasing or decreasing magnitude, a curvilinearly increasing or decreasing magnitude, a step-wise increasing or decreasing magnitude, or a combination thereof; and a display for indicating the magnitude of vibration generated by the vibratory component in the second mode; wherein in the first mode the device is operable as at least one of a cellular phone, a pager, and a beeper, and the vibratory component generates vibration in response to a remote wireless signal; and wherein in the second mode the device is operable as a medical diagnostic device and the vibratory component generates vibration of the at least one magnitude of vibration selected by the magnitude selector.
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Specification