Method and system for remotely administering a diuretic therapy

• US 7,792,689 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2007
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Duckert, David Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Koppikar; Vivek D
• Application Number:
  US11/673,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20080195414A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,303 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 600300-301
• US Class Current: 705/3
• 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 5/0537 Measuring body composition by impedance, e.g. tissue hydration or fat content
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/10 relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 70/60 relating to pathologies

Abstract

A diuretic titration system is disclosed herein. The diuretic titration system includes a server having an algorithm, a communication device operatively connected to the server, and a monitoring device operatively connected to the server. The algorithm is configured to evaluate input from the communication device and/or the monitoring device in order to provide a diuretic dosage recommendation for a remotely located patient. A corresponding method for monitoring and regulating the dosage of a diuretic medication administered to a remotely located patient is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A diuretic titration system for use with a patient, comprising:

a server located remotely from the patient and including an algorithm;

a communication device operatively connected to the server, the communication device configured to generate condition specific inquiries to the patient, receive responses from the patient to the inquiries, and provide the responses to the algorithm on the server; and

a monitoring device operatively connected to the server to provide monitored parameters of the patient to the algorithm;

wherein the algorithm is configured to evaluate the responses received from the patient through said communication device and the monitored parameters from said monitoring device in order to identify a plurality of symptoms and provide diuretic dosage recommendations for each of the symptoms,

wherein the algorithm is configured to resolve conflicting diuretic dosage recommendations by either assigning greater weight to one of the symptoms or selecting the most severe symptom to develop a single, final diuretic dosage recommendation that is conveyed to the patient through the communication device.

2. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic medical record transferable to the algorithm, wherein the algorithm utilizes the electronic medical record for the patient to provide the final diuretic dosage recommendation to the patient.

3. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, further comprising an evidence based guideline transferable to the algorithm, wherein the algorithm implements the evidence based guideline to evaluate the obtained responses and the monitored parameters.

4. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the algorithm is configured to convey the final diuretic dosage recommendation to a clinician before conveying the final diuretic dosage recommendation to the patient.

5. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a telephone system having interactive voice response technology.

6. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the communication device includes a computer system.

7. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a device configured to weigh the patient.

8. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a device configured to monitor patient motion.

9. The diuretic titration system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device includes a device configured to monitor patient water content.

10. A diuretic titration system for use with a patient, comprising:

a server located remotely from the patient and including an algorithm;

a communication device operatively connected to the server, the communication device configured to generate condition specific inquiries to the patient, receive responses from the patient to the inquiries, and provide the responses to the algorithm on the server;

a monitoring device operatively connected to the server to provide monitored parameters of the patient to the algorithm;

an electronic medical record transferable to the algorithm; and

an evidence based guideline transferable to the algorithm;

wherein the algorithm is configured to evaluate the responses received from the patient through said communication device, said monitored parameters from the monitoring device, said electronic medical record, and said evidence based guideline in order to identify a plurality of symptoms and provide diuretic dosage recommendations for each of the symptoms,

wherein the algorithm is configured to resolve conflicting diuretic dosage recommendations by either assigning greater weight to one of the symptoms or selecting the most severe symptom to develop a single, final diuretic dosage recommendation that is conveyed to the patient through the communication device.

11. The diuretic titration system of claim 10, wherein the algorithm is configured to convey the final diuretic dosage recommendation to a clinician before conveying the final diuretic dosage recommendation to the patient.

12. The diuretic titration system of claim 10, wherein the communication device includes a telephone system having interactive voice response technology.

13. The diuretic titration system of claim 10, wherein the communication device includes a computer system.

14. The diuretic titration system of claim 10, wherein the monitoring device includes a device configured to weigh the patient and a device configured to monitor patient motion.

15. A method for monitoring and regulating the dosage of a diuretic medication administered to a remotely located patient comprising:

providing a communication device to generate condition specific inquiries to the patient and obtain responses from the patient;

providing a monitoring device to obtain condition specific monitored parameters from the patient;

transferring the obtained responses and the monitored parameters to an algorithm operating on a server located remotely from the patient;

implementing an algorithm on the server to evaluate said obtained responses and monitored parameters to identify a plurality of symptoms and provide diuretic dosage recommendations for each of the symptoms;

resolving conflicting diuretic dosage recommendations by either assigning greater weight to one of the symptoms or selecting the most severe symptom to develop a single, final diuretic dosage recommendation; and

conveying the single, final diuretic dosage recommendation to the remotely located patient through the communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising conveying the final diuretic dosage recommendation to a clinician before said conveying the final diuretic dosage recommendation to the remotely located patient.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of obtaining patient information from an electronic medical record and utilizing the obtained patient information in the algorithm to provide the final diuretic dosage recommendation.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of implementing an evidence based guideline for purposes of evaluating said obtained responses and monitored parameters.