Weight loss or weight management system
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring a patient having a patient monitoring apparatus that is configured to weigh the patient, present queries to the patient, receive nonverbal answers from the patient, and electronically communicate that information to a remotely located central computer, the method comprising:
- pre-programming the patient monitoring apparatus before providing the patient monitoring apparatus to the patient with a plurality of question hierarchies, wherein each question hierarchy includes a plurality of questions and a corresponding identifier;
storing a patient'"'"'s first weight at the central computer;
receiving in the central computer from the patient monitoring apparatus information regarding the patient'"'"'s second weight and second time of the second weight;
storing in the central computer the patient'"'"'s second weight and second time;
calculating, by the central computer, a change in the patient'"'"'s weight between the second weight and the previously stored first weight;
comparing, by the central computer, the change in the patient'"'"'s weight to a threshold change in the patient'"'"'s weight;
triggering an alert by the central computer when the change in the patient'"'"'s weight exceeds the threshold change in the patient'"'"'s weight;
transmitting to the patient monitoring apparatus;
a first identifier corresponding to a first question hierarchy in the plurality of question hierarchies; and
a sequence set, wherein the sequence set is a set of data defining an order in which a first group of questions in the first question hierarchy is to be asked by the patient monitoring apparatus to the patient;
causing the patient monitoring apparatus to query the first group of questions to the patient based on the order defined by the sequence set;
receiving in the central computer non-verbal responses from the patient to the first group of questions; and
notifying a caregiver of the alert and sending the responses to the caregiver, wherein the patient'"'"'s first and second weights, the first group of questions, and the non-verbal responses are automatically displayed to the caregiver only when the alert is triggered;
whereby the caregiver can review the alert and the patient'"'"'s answers to determine if the patient requires medical treatment;
whereby the caregiver can select a second group of questions from the plurality of question hierarchies for presentation to the patient; and
whereby the caregiver can cause the patient monitoring apparatus to query the second group of questions to the patient.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for weight loss or weight management of a person may include a monitoring unit and remote computing system. The monitoring unit includes a transducer arranged to generate a signal representative of the patient'"'"'s weight. It further includes a processor operatively coupled to the transducer and to a memory device. Further, an output device and an input device are operatively coupled to the processor. The memory device is programmed with a set of instructions causing the processor to cooperate with the output device to present questions directed toward weight loss and to cooperate with the input device to receive answers to the questions. The remote computing system is in communication with the monitoring unit. The remote computing system is programmed to receive the answers provided by the person and to receive the signal representative of the person'"'"'s weight. The remote computing system generates an alert on the basis thereof.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring a patient having a patient monitoring apparatus that is configured to weigh the patient, present queries to the patient, receive nonverbal answers from the patient, and electronically communicate that information to a remotely located central computer, the method comprising:
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pre-programming the patient monitoring apparatus before providing the patient monitoring apparatus to the patient with a plurality of question hierarchies, wherein each question hierarchy includes a plurality of questions and a corresponding identifier; storing a patient'"'"'s first weight at the central computer; receiving in the central computer from the patient monitoring apparatus information regarding the patient'"'"'s second weight and second time of the second weight; storing in the central computer the patient'"'"'s second weight and second time; calculating, by the central computer, a change in the patient'"'"'s weight between the second weight and the previously stored first weight; comparing, by the central computer, the change in the patient'"'"'s weight to a threshold change in the patient'"'"'s weight; triggering an alert by the central computer when the change in the patient'"'"'s weight exceeds the threshold change in the patient'"'"'s weight; transmitting to the patient monitoring apparatus; a first identifier corresponding to a first question hierarchy in the plurality of question hierarchies; and a sequence set, wherein the sequence set is a set of data defining an order in which a first group of questions in the first question hierarchy is to be asked by the patient monitoring apparatus to the patient; causing the patient monitoring apparatus to query the first group of questions to the patient based on the order defined by the sequence set; receiving in the central computer non-verbal responses from the patient to the first group of questions; and notifying a caregiver of the alert and sending the responses to the caregiver, wherein the patient'"'"'s first and second weights, the first group of questions, and the non-verbal responses are automatically displayed to the caregiver only when the alert is triggered; whereby the caregiver can review the alert and the patient'"'"'s answers to determine if the patient requires medical treatment; whereby the caregiver can select a second group of questions from the plurality of question hierarchies for presentation to the patient; and whereby the caregiver can cause the patient monitoring apparatus to query the second group of questions to the patient. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification