Medical device for delivering drug and/or performing physical therapy

• US 7,998,110 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Original Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Inventors: Lo, Samuel Chun-Lap, Leung, Wallace Woon-Fong
• Primary Examiner(s): Mendez; Manuel A
• Application Number:
  US11/790,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20080269570A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,574 Days
• Field of Search: 604/20, 604 65- 67, 604/131, 604/890.1, 604/19
• US Class Current: 604/67
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14539 for measuring pH
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4266 sweat secretion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/441 Skin evaluation, e.g. for skin disorder diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4839 combined with drug delivery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4878 Evaluating oedema

Abstract

Current methods of delivering drug usually require a certain degree of human intervention. For example, a doctor, a paramedic or a patient is required to inject insulin manually when the blood sugar level becomes low. This invention provides a medical device for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy to the patient. The device of this invention includes a sensor for measuring at least one parameter from the patient, an analyzer for analyzing the parameter to determine appropriate function to be carried out on the patient by said medical device, and at least one actuator to perform at least one of the functions of delivering drug and performing physical therapy.

Claims

1. A medical device for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering a drug and applying a physical therapy to the patient, the device including:

at least one sensor for measuring at least one parameter of the patient, wherein the at least one parameter is indicative of a pain and an inflammation being experienced by the patient;

an analyzer for analyzing the parameter to determine appropriate function to be carried out on the patient by said medical device; and

at least one actuator to perform at least one of the functions of delivering the drug and applying the physical therapy in response to the analyzed parameter.

2. The medical device of claim 1 further including a drug storage unit for storing at least one drug, said drug storage unit being operatively connected to the actuator for delivering said drug to the patient.

3. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof.

4. The medical device of claim 3, wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof.

5. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, electrical stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength.

6. The medical device of claim 1 including an attachment means for attaching the medical device to the patient.

7. A method for use with a patient for performing at least one of the functions of delivering a drug and applying a physical therapy to the patient using a medical device, said method including the steps of:

measuring at least one parameter of the patient, wherein the at least one parameter is indicative of a pain and an inflammation being experienced by the patient;

analyzing the parameter to determine an appropriate function to be carried out on the patient; and

performing at least one of the functions of delivering the drug and applying the physical therapy in response to the analyzed parameter.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the medical device includes a drug storage unit for storing at least one drug, said drug storage unit being operatively connected to the actuator for delivering said drug to the patient.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the parameter is selected from a group including electrical current or resistance, temperature, pressure, tension, humidity, flow circulation in blood vessels, pH, intensity of at least one predetermined wavelength of electromagnetic wave, sonic signal, concentration of at least one chemical compound, and their combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said chemical compound is selected from a group including glucose, sodium chloride, dimethyl sulfoxide, azone, isopropyl myristate, propylene glycol, Carbomer resins, gelling agents and their combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the physical therapy is selected from a group including mechanical stimulus, temperature stimulus, electrical stimulus, ultrasonic stimulus, magnetic stimulus, and irradiation of at least one predetermined wavelength.

12. The method of claim 7 further including the step of attaching the medical device to the patient by an attachment means.