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Weight loss or weight management system

  • US 8,438,038 B2
  • Filed: 12/23/2003
  • Issued: 05/07/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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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:

  • 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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