Medical data collection apparatus

• US 8,909,832 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2011
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Braemar Manufacturing LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Braemar Manufacturing LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Vlach, Erich, McNamara, Anna, Gropper, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsai, Henry
• Assistant Examiner(s): BORROMEO, JUANITO C
• Application Number:
  US13/287,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20120110228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 710/74
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/25 Bioelectric electrodes therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/303 Patient cord assembly, e.g. cable harness
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/335 using integrated circuit memory devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 13/4068 Electrical coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2206/1014 One time programmable [OTP] memory, e.g. PROM, WORM
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0619 in relation to data integrity, e.g. data losses, bit errors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0655 Vertical data movement, i.e. input-output transfer; data movement between one or more hosts and one or more storage devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0679 Non-volatile semiconductor memory device, e.g. flash memory, one time programmable memory [OTP]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/00 ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/60 for the operation of medical equipment or devices
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A physiological data collection device obtains physiological data from a subject interface on a subject. The physiological data collection device includes a data connector such as a USB connector for connecting directly to a computer. When the physiological data collection device is connected to the computer, the physiological data is uploaded to a remote data processing center for computer-based analysis and review by a medical professional. A report can be provided to the subject based on the analysis and review. When the subject interface is physically connected to the physiological data collection device, the data connector is prevented from being connected to an external device such as the computer.

Claims

1. A physiological data collection device comprising:

an electro-cardiogram (ECG) lead-wire set;

a data collection unit comprising;

a male USB data connector for connecting to an external computing device,

a lead-wire set connector for connecting to the ECG lead-wire set, and non-volatile memory coupled with the male USB data connector and the lead-wire set connector, and

a processor programmed to obtain ECG data from the ECG lead-wire set and store the obtained ECG data in the non-volatile memory;

wherein the ECG lead-wire set or the data collection unit or both have one or more structural components that prevent a connection between the male USB data connector and the external computing device when the ECG lead-wire set is connected to the data collection unit and vice versa; and

wherein the male USB connector is configured to rotate into a recess in the data collection unit; and

when the male USB connector is rotated into the recess, the lead-wire set connector is exposed so that the lead-wire set can be connected to the data collection unit via the lead-wire set connector and the recess blocks a connection of the male USB connector to the external computing device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lead-wire set comprises a female receptacle that is configured to receive the male USB connector when the lead-wire set is connected to the data collection unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the lead-wire set comprises a male electrode connector having lead-wire set contacts;

wherein the lead-wire set connector comprises an electrode connector receptacle having data collection unit contacts; and

wherein the electrode connector receptacle is configured to receive the electrode connector such that the lead-wire set contacts make contact with the data collection unit contacts when the lead-wire set is connected to the data collection unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the male USB connector comprises standard USB contacts and customized data collection unit contacts;

and wherein the lead-wire set connects to the male USB connector such that the lead-wire set connector interfaces with the lead-wire set via the customized data collection unit contacts in the USB connector.

5. An electro-cardiogram (ECG) self-assessment kit comprising:

an ECG subject interface comprising one or more electrode leads;

multiple ECG electrodes configured to connect to the one or more electrode leads;

a power source;

a portable subject ECG data collection unit comprising;

a USB connector configured to interface with a USB port on a computer,

non-volatile memory coupled with the USB connector, and

a processor powered by the power source and programmed to obtain ECG data from the electrode leads and to store the ECG data in the non-volatile memory;

a medium storing program code that when run by the computer supports access to a remote data processing center for uploading the ECG data from the non-volatile memory to the remote data processing center when the USB connector is connected to a computer connected to a network;

wherein the ECG subject interface is configured to be physically attached to the ECG data collection unit; and

when the ECG subject interface is connected to the ECG data collection unit, the USB connector is blocked so that the USB connector cannot be connected to the computer.

6. The kit of claim 5, wherein the data collection unit includes the medium storing program code.

7. The kit of claim 6, wherein the program code when run by the computer supports access to the remote data processing center for uploading the ECG data without installing a software application on the computer.

8. The kit of claim 7, wherein the program code comprising a link to a website where the ECG data can be uploaded.

9. The kit of claim 6, wherein the program code when run by the computer supports access to the remote data processing center by automatically initiating an application for uploading of the ECG data upon determining that the USB connector is connected to the computer.

10. The kit of claim 7, wherein the program code supports access to the data processing center by supporting a download from a remote server system to the computer of a user application for uploading the ECG data to the remote data processing center.

11. The kit of claim 5, wherein the USB connector comprises male USB connector that is received into a receptacle in the subject interface when the subject interface is connected to the data collection unit.

12. The kit of claim 5, wherein the non-volatile memory has sufficient memory to store ECG data for a predefined time period;

and wherein the power source has sufficient power to power the data collection unit for the predefined time period.

13. The kit of claim 5, wherein the program code, when run by the computer, obtains and presents an ECG assessment report from the data processing center.

14. The kit of claim 5, wherein the subject interface comprises:

a clip for securing the subject interface to the data collection unit; and

a lanyard that allows the data collection unit to be hung from the neck of a subject when the subject interface is secured to the data collection unit.

15. The kit of claim 5, wherein the subject interface comprises the power source.