Health monitoring and diagnostic device and network-based health assessment and medical records maintenance system

• US 8,257,654 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2011
• Issued: 09/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Polymer Technology Systems Incorporated (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Polymer Technology Systems Incorporated (Sinocare, Inc.)
• Inventors: Maus, Christopher T., Coad, Craig A., Connolly, Jackson B., Coad, Noah M., Moody, James L., Nesbitt, Kenn A., Clegg, Kenneth D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIEFKE, SAMUEL P
• Application Number:
  US13/166,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20110251856A1
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 422/68.1, 422/82.01, 422/500
• US Class Current: 422/68.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150022 for capillary blood or interstitial fluid
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150305 Packages specially adapted for piercing devices or blood sampling devices kits for diabetes A61M5/003; packaging in general B65D
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150358 Strips for collecting blood, e.g. absorbent optical reagent test strips G01N21/8483; chemical reagent test strips G01N33/4875, G01N33/52
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150786 Optical identification systems, e.g. bar codes, colour codes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/150854 long distance, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/15117 comprising biased elements, resilient elements or a spring, e.g. a helical spring, leaf spring, or elastic strap
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1519 comprising driving means, e.g. a spring, for propelling the piercing unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/157 Devices characterised by integrated means for measuring characteristics of blood
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7435 Displaying user selection data, e.g. icons in a graphical user interface
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3271 Amperometric enzyme electrodes for analytes in body fluids, e.g. glucose in blood amperometry per se G01N27/49; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent C12Q1/001
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48792 Data management, e.g. communication with processing unit for in vivo diagnostics A61B5/0002; transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/66 involving blood sugars, e.g. galactose
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 : stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 : ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 : for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 : for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 436/811 : Test for named disease, body condition or organ function

Abstract

A health monitoring and diagnostic device (LIFESTREAM cholesterol meter) configured as a self-contained testing and diagnostic unit in a clam-shell type case. One side of the case includes a spring-loaded finger stick and a compartment for carrying one or more packages of disposable items including a test strip, a needle for the finger stick, and an alcohol swipe. The other half of the case includes a test strip reader, a key pad, and a liquid crystal display. The meter reads a test strip carrying a droplet of blood and receives additional diagnostic information from the patient, such as age, gender, weight, and family history of heart disease. Within minutes, the meter displays test results, including total cholesterol levels. The meter also displays additional diagnostic results, such as the patient'"'"'s “cardiac age,” recommended weight loss, and a cardiac risk assessment. The meter also works in connection with a network-based comprehensive health analysis and reporting system. The meter writes patient data to a smartcard. This patient data typically includes patient identification information, the test results, the diagnostic information, and the diagnostic results. A computer station reads the smartcard and establishes a network connection with a health report server over the Internet. The computer then downloads the patient data to the health report server, which prepares a comprehensive health report. Within minutes, this report is transmitted back to the computer station, where it is printed out and delivered to the patient.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and storing health records, the system comprising:

a plurality of health monitoring devices, the plurality of health monitoring devices including a first test media reading device, the first test media reading device configured to read a first type of test media and a second type of test media, the first type of test media and the second type of test media each having different calibration data, the first type and second type of test media returning first and second medical data;

a computer station configured to receive medical data, including the first and second medical data, from the plurality of health monitoring devices;

a health report server, the health report server receiving the medical data from the at least one computer, and said health report server providing and receiving information from a patient'"'"'s physician or other medical personnel; and

a secure medical records maintenance server, receiving the medical data from the health report server and storing the medical data securely.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first type of test media and the second type of test media are test strips.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the first test media reading device includes a first test strip reader and a second test strip reader.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the first test strip reader is configured to analyze cholesterol and the second test strip reader is configured to analyze glucose.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein, at the request of a user, the health report server produces a health report.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the health report includes trend information for a blood analyte.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one computer station provides an account number associated with a user related to the first medical data to the health report server.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein billing information is provided to the health report server in conjunction with the medical data.

9. A system for monitoring and storing health records, the system comprising:

at least one computer station configured to receive medical data, including the first medical data and the second medical data, from a plurality of health monitoring devices, the plurality of health monitoring devices including a first test media reading device, the first test media reading device configured to read a first type of test media and a second type of test media, the first type of test media and the second type of test media each having different calibration data, the first type and second type of test media returning first medical data and second medical data;

a health report server, the health report server receiving the medical data from the at least one computer, and said health report server providing and receiving information from a patient'"'"'s physician or other medical personnel; and

a secure medical records maintenance server, configured to receive the medical data from the health report server and storing the medical data securely.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the health report server is configured to provide access to the medical data by a doctor.

11. A system for monitoring and storing health records, the system comprising:

a health report server, said health report server configured to receive medical data through an interface for communication from a plurality of sources including a plurality of medical devices and at least one computer station, said plurality of sources having a plurality of locations, said health report server accessible via a network connection, said plurality of health monitoring devices returning medical data;

said health report server providing and receiving information from a patient'"'"'s physician or other medical personnel, said health report server providing a menu driven user interface for the patient'"'"'s physician or other medical personnel via a local computer; and

said health report server providing the medical data to a secure medical records maintenance server configured to receive the medical data from said health report server and storing the medical data securely.

12. The system of monitoring and storing health records of claim 11 wherein the plurality of health monitoring devices include a first test media reading device, the first test media reading device for reading a first type of test media and a second type of test media, the first type of test media and the second type of test media each having different calibration data, the first type and second type of test media producing first and second results, and the medical data including the first results and the second results.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the first type of test media and the second type of test media are test strips.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of health monitoring devices are selected from a group consisting of blood pressure measuring devices, blood sugar testing devices, blood cholesterol testing devices, AIDS testing devices, heart monitoring devices, sleep respiration monitoring devices, reproductive cycle and pregnancy monitoring devices, and epileptic and other types of seizure monitoring devices.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein, at the request of a user, the health report server produces a health report.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the health report includes trend information for a blood analyte.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one computer station provides an account number associated with a user related to the first medical data to the health report server.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein billing information is provided to the health report server in conjunction with the medical data.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the billing information includes an account number.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface for communication is a data port and cable.

21. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface for communication is a computer station.

22. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface for communication is a wireless communication device.

23. The system of claim 11 wherein the interface for communication is a smartcard.