Interactive medical diagnosing with portable consumer devices

• US 8,894,209 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2014
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cochlear Limited
• Original Assignee: Orca Health, Inc.
• Inventors: Berry, Matthew M., Berry, Robert M., Chapman, Wesley D., Lybbert, Jacob S.
• Primary Examiner(s): DANG, HUNG XUAN
• Application Number:
  US14/189,180
• Publication Number:
  US 20140168606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 273 Days
• Field of Search: 351/223, 351/222, 351/239, 351/237, 351/246
• US Class Current: 351/223
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/02 Subjective types, i.e. testing apparatus requiring the active assistance of the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/024 for determining the visual field, e.g. perimeter types
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/028 for testing visual acuity; for determination of refraction, e.g. phoropters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/032 Devices for presenting test symbols or characters, e.g. test chart projectors A61B3/036 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/18 Arrangement of plural eye-testing or -examining apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/12 Audiometering
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44505 Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Medical tests and examinations are performed with consumer computing devices. The medical tests and examinations are selected and customized in accordance with conditions present in the testing environment, as well as physical characteristics of a user taking the test. The tests can include visual acuity tests, colorblindness tests and other medical tests, such as hearing tests.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for conducting a medical examination at a portable consumer device, the method comprising:

receiving, at the portable consumer device, an instruction from a remote computer system, the remote computer system being configured to enable a medical professional to remotely administer a medical examination through the portable consumer device, the instruction instructing the portable consumer device to perform the medical examination, the instruction being initiated by the medical professional at the remote computer system;

identifying, by the portable consumer device and based at least in part on receiving the instruction, one or more medical tests to perform as part of the medical examination;

conducting, at the portable consumer device, the medical examination, including presenting one or more test elements of the one or more medical tests;

receiving, at the portable consumer device, user input responsive to the one or more test elements; and

sending, by the portable consumer device, one or more results of the one or more medical tests to the remote computer system for analysis by the particular medical professional.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying, by the portable consumer device, one or more contextual conditions for configuring the one or more medical tests.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein presenting the one or more test elements of the one or more medical tests comprises adjusting at least one test element based on the identified contextual condition.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

instructing, by the portable consumer device, the user to adjust their physical context in relation to the portable consumer device based on the identified one or more contextual conditions.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the one or more contextual conditions are selected from the group comprising an environmental condition, and a contextual relationship between the user and the portable consumer device.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the portable consumer device detects the one or more contextual conditions based on user input, a microphone, a camera, or a proximity sensor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more one or more medical tests comprise one or more vision tests.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein at least one test element comprises a visual test element.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one test element is selected from the group comprising a Snellen chart, an Amsler grid, and a colorblindness test.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more one or more medical tests comprise one or more hearing tests.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one test element comprises an audible test element.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the one or more medical tests to perform as part of the medical examination comprises identifying the one or more medical tests based on one or more of:

metadata obtained locally at the portable consumer device, or metadata obtained from the remote computer system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable consumer device is configured to enable the medical professional to be in live communication with the user through during the medical examination.

14. A computer program product comprising one or more hardware storage devices having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of portable consumer device, cause the portable consumer device to conduct a medical examination, including at least the following:

receiving an instruction from a remote computer system, the remote computer system being configured to enable a medical professional to remotely administer a medical examination through the portable consumer device, the instruction instructing the portable consumer device to perform the medical examination, the instruction being initiated by the medical professional at the remote computer system;

identifying, based at least in part on receiving the instruction, one or more medical tests to perform as part of the medical examination;

conducting the medical examination, including presenting one or more test elements of the one or more medical tests;

receiving user input responsive to the one or more test elements; and

sending one or more results of the one or more medical tests to the remote computer system for analysis by the particular medical professional.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, further comprising:

identifying one or more contextual conditions for configuring the one or more medical tests.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein presenting the one or more test elements of the one or more medical tests comprises adjusting at least one test element based on the identified contextual condition.

17. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the portable consumer device detects the one or more contextual conditions based on user input, a microphone, a camera, or a proximity sensor.

18. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein identifying the one or more medical tests to perform as part of the medical examination comprises identifying the one or more medical tests based on one or more of:

metadata obtained locally at the portable consumer device, or metadata obtained from the remote computer system.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the portable consumer device is configured to enable the medical professional to be in live communication with the user through during the medical examination.

20. A computer system, comprising:

one or more processor; and

one or more storage medium having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processor, implements a method comprising;

receiving an instruction from a computer system associated with a particular medical professional, the instruction instructing the portable consumer device to perform the medical examination, the instruction being initiated by the particular medical professional at the computer system;

identifying, based at least in part on receiving the instruction, one or more medical tests to perform as part of the medical examination;

conducting the medical examination, including presenting one or more test elements of the one or more medical tests;

receiving user input responsive to the one or more test elements; and

obtaining one or more results of the one or more medical tests for analysis.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the method further includes analyzing the one or more results of the one or more medical tests.

22. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the analyzing further includes providing a prescription corresponding to the medical examination and one or more results.

23. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the analyzing further includes formulating a diagnosis of the one or more results.

24. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the analyzing further includes recommending a specialist for treating a condition associated with the one or more results.

25. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the method further includes modifying the one or more medical tests based on input received from one or more medical professional.

26. The computer system of claim 21, wherein the method further includes sending the one or more results to the computer system associated with the particular medical professional.