Tele-diagnostic device

• US 7,753,845 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ineedmd.Com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ineedmd.Com, Inc.
• Inventors: Gopinathan, Govindan, Tilford, Arthur R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nasser; Robert L
• Application Number:
  US10/400,850
• Publication Number:
  US 20050075541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,665 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1455 using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/282 Holders for multiple electrodes for introduction into the body A61B5/287
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6806 Gloves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 7/003 Detecting lung or respiration noise
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry

Abstract

A system (10) for collecting a plurality of diagnostic information and transmitting the diagnostic information to a remote location. The system (10) comprises a glove member (12) adaptable to be worn on a person'"'"'s hand and an interface unit (20) in electrical communication with the glove member (12). The interface unit (20) is capable of transmitting information to, and receiving information from, a remote location. The glove member (12) comprises a palm portion (1), a wrist portion (3) and five phalange portions (5-13). The glove member (12) further comprises an EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse rate diagnostic device (54) and a temperature device (64). The glove member (12) may also further comprise a % O₂ diagnostic device (70) and an auscultation device (80).

Claims

1. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting electrical medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location via a diagnostic probe, the diagnostic probe comprising a member wearable on a person'"'"'s hand and contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand and having at least one diagnostic device and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface;

positioning the diagnostic probe on the first person'"'"'s hand to sense diagnostic signals from a person for collecting the medical diagnostic information from the first person at the first location, wherein the medical diagnostic information comprises EKG information;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location and transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the communication comprises medical advice pertaining to the first person based on the analysis of the diagnostic device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the medical diagnostic information further comprises blood pressure information.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the medical diagnostic information further comprises temperature and percent O₂ information.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the interface unit comprises a speaker for receiving and transmitting voice signals, the communication comprising voice signals from a second person at the second location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein a medical professional is at the second location to analyze the diagnostic information and transmit the communication to the first location and the medical professional communicates with the first person to ascertain medical information from the first person prior to the step of collecting at least one piece of medical diagnostic information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic probe comprises a plurality of diagnostic devices.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic device comprises at least one EKG sensor for collecting the EKG information.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the oral communication is transmitted directly from the second location to the first location.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the diagnostic probe is configured to send diagnostic signals from a person when placed on the person'"'"'s chest.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning the diagnostic device on the first person'"'"'s hand further comprises placing the diagnostic device on the first person'"'"'s hand to sense diagnostic signals from a person.

12. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting electrical medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location via a diagnostic probe, the diagnostic probe comprising a member wearable on a person'"'"'s hand and contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand and having at least one diagnostic device and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface;

positioning the diagnostic probe on a second person'"'"'s hand to sense diagnostic signals from the first person, wherein the second person wears the member and collects the diagnostic information from the first person at the first location;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location and transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

13. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting electrical medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location via a diagnostic probe, the diagnostic probe comprising a member wearable on a person'"'"'s hand and contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand and having a plurality of diagnostic devices and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface and the member comprises a glove that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that said member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand, the glove having a plurality of diagnostic sensors adapted to face away from the hand to sense diagnostic signals from the person;

positioning the diagnostic probe on the first person'"'"'s hand to sense diagnostic signals from a person for collecting the medical diagnostic information from the first person at the first location, wherein the diagnostic information comprises a plurality of diagnostic information obtained from the plurality of diagnostic devices, the diagnostic devices comprising an EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse diagnostic device, and a temperature device;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location and transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

14. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting EKG diagnostic information from a first person at a first location, wherein a diagnostic probe comprising a member contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, having a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand, has at least one diagnostic device and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface;

placing the diagnostic probe on the first person to sense diagnostic EKG signals from a person for collecting the EKG diagnostic information from the first person at the first location;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location, wherein the communication comprises medical advice pertaining to the first person based on the analysis of the diagnostic device.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the member comprises a plurality of diagnostic devices and the diagnostic information comprises a plurality of diagnostic information obtained from the plurality of diagnostic devices, the diagnostic devices comprising an EKG diagnostic device, a blood pressure and pulse diagnostic device, and a temperature device.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the member comprises a glove.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the member comprises at least two phalange portions having EKG sensors thereon.

18. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location via a diagnostic probe, the diagnostic probe comprising a member contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, having a surface including one or more sensors and configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the sensors having a sensing portion located on the surface, and having at least one diagnostic device for placing over the first person to sense diagnostic signals from the first person for collecting medical diagnostic information from the first person at the first location, wherein a second person wears the member and collects the diagnostic information from the first person;

transmitting the diagnostic information from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

further comprising analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the member has a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the member comprises a plurality of diagnostic devices.

21. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting EKG information from a first person at a first location, wherein a diagnostic probe comprising a member having a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand and having at least one diagnostic device capable of sensing diagnostic signals from a person and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon and the sensor having a sensing portion located on the surface, is provided for collecting the EKG information from the first person at the first location;

transmitting the EKG information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

22. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting EKG diagnostic information from a first person at a first location, wherein a diagnostic probe comprising a member contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand, having a shape that corresponds to at least a substantial portion of a person'"'"'s hand such that the member is capable of being worn on a person'"'"'s hand, and further having at least one diagnostic device capable of sensing diagnostic EKG signals from a person and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface, is provided for collecting the EKG diagnostic information from the first person at the first location, wherein the member comprises a glove;

transmitting the EKG diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the member comprises at least two phalange portions having sensors thereon.

24. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting electrical medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location via a diagnostic probe, the diagnostic probe comprising a member wearable on a person'"'"'s hand and contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand and having at least one diagnostic device and a surface configured to conform to a portion of the palm of the hand, the surface having at least one sensor thereon, wherein the sensor has a sensing portion located on the surface;

positioning the diagnostic probe on the first person'"'"'s hand;

placing the diagnostic probe on the person'"'"'s chest to sense diagnostic signals from a person for collecting the medical diagnostic information from the first person at the first location;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location and transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location.

25. A method of obtaining and transmitting medical diagnostic information from a remote location, said method comprising:

collecting electrical medical diagnostic information from a first person at a first location, wherein a diagnostic probe comprising a member wearable on a person'"'"'s hand and contoured to at least a portion of a person'"'"'s hand and having at least one diagnostic device to sense diagnostic signals from the first person is provided for collecting the medical diagnostic information from the first person at the first location, the diagnostic device being placed on the first person'"'"'s chest to collect the medical diagnostic information;

transmitting the diagnostic information via an interface unit in electrical communication with the member from the first location to a second location, the first location being remote from the second location; and

analyzing the diagnostic information at the second location and transmitting an oral communication from the second location to the first location, wherein a medical professional is at the second location to analyze the diagnostic information and transmit the communication to the first location, and wherein the medical professional communicates with the first person to ascertain medical information from the first person prior to the step of collecting at least one piece of medical diagnostic information.