Remote monitoring of a patient

• US 8,678,979 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2007
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: IZEX Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Stark, John G., Bybee, Thomas, Lohmann, Arthur M., Boyd, Joel L., Oyen, Duane P. M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GINSBERG, OREN ISAAC
• Application Number:
  US11/714,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20070155588A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,576 Days
• Field of Search: 705/2, 705/3, 600/301, 600/595, 600/300, 600/500, 600/59, 128/904, 128/903, 128/920, 482/51, 482/4, 482/5, 482/8, 482/9, 482/44, 482/115, 482/116, 482/139, 602/16, 602/23, 602/26
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/0102 specially adapted for correcting deformities of the limbs or for supporting them; Ortheses, e.g. with articulations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: G16B 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Orthoses with microprocessor control placed around the joint of a patient are used to perform and to monitor isometric, range-of-motion, proprioception and isotonic exercises of the joint. A variety of improved hardware elements result in an orthosis that is easier to use and interacts more efficiently with the controller to allow the monitoring of a greater range of motions while holding down cost and provide suitable accurate evaluation of the exercises. Efficient ways of programming the exercises, monitoring the exercises and evaluating the exercise provide a comprehensive program for the rehabilitation of an injured or weakened joint.

Claims

1. A portable controller comprising:

a keypad;

a display;

a communications port in communication with a remote health care facility through a communications channel, the communications port in communication with a sensor ambulatory with a patient that makes measurements of a physiological parameter of the patient; and

a computer processor communicatively coupled to the display and the sensor, the processor configured to;

prompt the patient to perform exercises in the form of a video game, the exercises selected by the computer processor from one of at least two sets of exercise routines programmed into the computer processor, the selection based upon the time elapsed since the start of a rehabilitation period,

send signals to the display that cause the display to show an object of the video game at a location on the display, the location the object is displayed at is a function of a signal received from the sensor, the signal received from the sensor is received in response to the patient attempting to perform the exercises,

present inquiries on the display and receive answers on the keypad,

correlate the answers and the measured physiological parameter of the patient with a time period, and

transmit the answers and measured physiological parameter over the communications channel to the remote health care facility,

wherein the inquiries comprise questions related to mental attitude of the patient; and

wherein the processor is configured to be reprogrammable at a location remote from the controller.

2. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the communications port comprises a modem.

3. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the communications port comprises a radio transmitter.

4. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein a question relates to a degree of pain.

5. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein a question relates to a location of pain.

6. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein a question relates to a change in pain.

7. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein additional questions relate to the prompted exercises, the prompted exercises being monitored using the controller based on the physiological parameter.

8. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the exercises relate to proprioception.

9. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the exercises relate to isometric exercises.

10. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the exercises are performed using an orthotic structure secured to the patient and wherein the exercises are monitored using a transducer associated with the orthotic structure.

11. The portable controller of claim 10 wherein the monitored exercise involves range-of-motion.

12. The portable controller of claim 10 wherein the monitored exercises involve closed chain exercises.

13. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the controller stores exercise routines and the controller displays the patient'"'"'s performance in comparison with a target performance.

14. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the controller warns the patient if excessive force is applied.

15. The portable controller of claim 1 wherein the controller downloads information to the remote health care facility.

16. A portable controller comprising:

a keypad;

a display;

a communications port in communication with a remote health care facility through a communications channel, the communications port in communication with a treatment device ambulatory with the patient, the treatment device including a sensor; and

a computer processor communicatively coupled to the display and the sensor, that is the processor configured to;

prompt the patient to perform exercises in the form a video game, the exercises selected by the computer processor from one of at least two sets of exercise routines programmed into the computer processor, the selection based upon the time elapsed since the start of a rehabilitation period,

send signals to the display that cause the display to show an object of the video game at a location on the display, the location the object is displayed at is a function of a signal received from the sensor, the signal received from the sensor is received in response to the patient attempting to perform the exercises,

monitor the performance of the exercises by the patient,

present inquiries on the display and receive answers on the keypad,

correlate the answers and the performance of the exercises by the patient with a time period, and

transmit the answers over the communications channel to the remote health care facility,

wherein the inquiries comprise questions related to mental attitude of the patient, and

wherein the processor is configured to be reprogrammable at a location remote from the controller to alter the treatment received by the patient.

17. The portable controller of claim 16 wherein a question relates to a change in pain.

18. The portable controller of claim 16 wherein additional questions relate to exercises that are also monitored using the controller.

19. The portable controller of claim 16 wherein the exercises are performed using an orthotic structure secured to the patient and wherein the sensor is associated with the orthotic structure, and the exercises are monitored using the sensor associated with the orthotic structure.